第3部分(第3/7 頁)

ip。　“So；　did　you　miss　me？”

“Miss　you？　The　question　is；　did　you　miss　me？”　Chuck　said。　“e

on；　babe；　spill。　What　are　you　doing　back　here？　What　happened？　Do

you　have　a　boyfriend？”

“Oh；　e　on；　Chuck；”　Serena　said；　squeezing　his　hand。　“You　know　I

came　back　because　I　want　you　so　badly。　I’ve　always　wanted　you。”

Chuck　took　a　step　back　and　cleared　his　throat；　his　face　flushed。

She’d　caught　him　off　guard；　a　rare　feat。

“Well；　I’m　all　booked　up　for　this　month；　but　I　can　put　you　on　the

waiting　list；”　Chuck　said　huffily；　trying　to　regain　his　posure。

But　Serena　was　barely　listening　to　him　anymore。　Her　dark　blue　eyes

scanned　the　room；　looking　for　the　two　people　she　wanted　to　see

most；　Blair　and　Nate。

Finally　Serena　found　them。　Nate　was　standing　by　the　doorway　to

the　hall；　and　Blair　was　standing　just　behind　him；　her　head　bowed；

fiddling　with　the　buttons　on　her　black　cardigan。　Nate　was　looking

directly　at　Serena；　and　when　her　gaze　met　his；　he　bit　his　bottom　lip

the　way　he　always　did　when　he　was　embarrassed。　And　then　he

smiled。

That　smile。　Those　eyes。　That　face。

“e　here；”　Serena　mouthed　at　him；　waving　her　hand。　Her　heart

sped　up　as　Nate　began　walking　toward　her。　He　looked　better　than

she　remembered；　much　better。

Nate’s　heart　was　beating　even　faster　than　hers。

“Hey；　you；”　Serena　breathed　when　Nate　hugged　her。　He　smelled

just　like　he　always　smelled。　Like　the　cleanest；　most　delicious　boy

alive。　Tears　came　to　Serena’s　eyes　and　she　pressed　her　face　into

Nate’s　chest。　Now　she　was　really　home。

Nate’s　cheeks　turned　pink。　Calm　down；　he　told　himself。　But　he

couldn’t　calm　down。　He　felt　like　picking　her