第29部分(第6/7 頁)

　Ever　since　they？d　gotten

together　at　Serena？s　wild　New　Year？s　Eve　party　six　weeks　ago；　this　had　bee　their　little　ritual。

Aaron　would　meet　Serena　after　school　and　they？d　amble　down　Fifth　Avenue　arm　in　arm；　drinking

soy　lattes　and　stopping　now　and　then　to　kiss。　New　Year？s　Eve　had　been　a　total

fuck…it…we？re…both…in…the…mood…so…why…not…hook…up？　spontaneous　sort　of　thing；　but　over　the　past

month　they？d　spent　every　out…of…school　moment　together；　and　they　were　now　known　as　the

best…looking　and　most　adorable　couple？well；　threesome；　if　you　included　Mookie？on　the　Upper

East　Side。

Suddenly　a　ray　of　bright　winter　sun　flashed　on　Serena？s　cool　blond　head　as　she　pushed　open　the

school　doors；　skipped　down　the　stairs　in　her　Stephane　Kelian　brown　suede　boots　and　navy　blue

Les　Best　pea　coat；　and　stepped　out　onto　the　snowy　sidewalk。　Her　whole　face　glowed　with　angelic

excitement　when　she　caught　sight　of　Aaron　and　Mookie。

？Hi；　pup！？　she　squealed　as　Mookie　wriggled　up　to　her　and　nuzzled　her　cashmere…gloved　hands。

She　squatted　down　and　let　the　dog　lick　her　face　as　she　stroked　his　head。　？You　lookso　handsome

today。？

Aaron　watched　them　with　a　lazy　sense　of　pride。Yep；　that？s　my　girlfriend。　Yep；　isn？t　she

gorgeous？

Serena　stood　up　and　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　The　air　around　them　filled　with　the　heady；

sandalwood…and…patchouli？based　scent　of　the　custom…blended　essential　oil　mixture　she　always

wore。　？You　know　what　I？ve　been　thinking　about　all　day？？　she　gushed；　planting　a　kiss　on　Aaron？s

thin；　dark　red　lips　with　her　full；　peach…glossed　ones。

Aaron　splayed　his　feet　to　keep　from　stumbling　backward　and　spilling　the　lattes。？Me？？　he　guessed。

Seren