第16部分(第2/7 頁)

level。

It　was　all　like　a　fairy　tale；　with　Hollis　as　her　indie　prince。　He　hadn’t　even　told　her　how　expensive　it　was；　assuring　Vanessa　that　her　tiny　contribution　to　the　rent　from　her　student　job　working　in　the　digital　film　archives　at　school　would　more　than　cover　her　share。

At　first；　Vanessa　had　protested。　It　felt　so　terribly　cliché。　She　was　practically　a　kept　woman！　Although　it　wasn’t　her　fault　Hollis’s　film　Between　the　B　and　the　A；　a　ing…of…age　story　about　a　twenty…one…year…old’s　spiritual　journey；　had　been　the　darling　at　Sundance　and　a　surprise　indie　hit　the　summer　before。　It　was　pretty　obvious　he　wasn’t　exactly　living　off　a　TA　salary　anymore。　And　Hollis　had　countered　Vanessa’s　protests　by　explaining　that　his　success　was　her　success　and　vice　versa。　They　were　a　team。　Even　though　it　was　sort　of　corny；　she　couldn’t　help　but　swoon　a　little。

She　wandered　over　to　the　large　arching　windows；　where　she　could　just　make　out　the　East　River　rushing　by　in　the　distance。　She　could　hear　Williamsburg　denizens　on　the　sidewalk　below；　just　getting　started　on　their　New　Year’s　Eve　festivities。　Vanessa　was　happy　she　and　Hollis　weren’t　going　out。

There　are　plenty　of　ways　to　have　fun　staying　in。

Hollis　hoisted　himself　up　from　the　couch　and　wrapped　his　strong；　lean　arms　around　her。　Vanessa　smiled　and　leaned　back　into　him；　feeling　safe　and　protected。　Before　Hollis；　she’d　always　been　a　teenager　dating　other　teenagers。　Even　when　she　and　Dan　were　serious；　it　had　always　felt　to　her　like　they　were　still　so　young；　still　so　unformed。　But　now；　Vanessa　felt　like　an　adult。　And　she　was　surprised　by　how　much　she　liked　that　feeling。

“What　are　you　thinking？”　Hollis　murmured　in　her　ear。

“That　I’m　happy。”　Vanessa　tilted　her　chin　up　to　kiss　him；　enjoying　the　way　hi