第20部分(第3/7 頁)

e　never　would’ve　said　sober；　like　how　he’d　be　out　in　the　alfalfa　fields　at　school；　look　up　at　the　sun；　and　think　of　her；　and　how　he　stole　a　copy　of　Breakfast　at　Fred’s　from　the　school’s　rumpus　room　so　he’d　always　have　her　picture。

“Serena。”　Nate　smiled　a　slow　smile　and　pulled　her　closer　to　him；　then　blinked；　just　in　case　this　was　a　dream。　But　Serena　looked　very　real。　“Hi；”　he　added　incredulously。　Seeing　Serena　naked　reminded　him　of　the　first　time　he’d　seen　her　naked；　back　when　they　were　fifteen…year…old　virgins。　But　even　then；　it　had　never　been　awkward　between　them。　They’d　laughed　about　the　clumsiness　of　it　all；　and　it　was　the　same　this　time。　It　was　as　if　no　time　had　passed；　and　their　bodies　had　just　melded　into　each　other。　He　kissed　her　smooth；　bare　shoulder。

“Hi；　you；”　Serena　murmured。　Finally；　her　one…bedroom　apartment　felt　like　home。　She’d　lived　here　for　almost　a　year；　but　it　was　unfurnished　save　for　her　childhood　bed；　a　gauzy　lilac　curtain　tacked　carelessly　over　the　window；　a　cactus　she’d　bought　at　the　bodega　downstairs；　and　a　few　childhood　photos。　She’d　always　meant　to　decorate；　but　there　just　hadn’t　seemed　to　be　a　point。　It　had　sort　of　felt　like　a　hotel　room—nice　to　stay　in；　but　nowhere　you　yearned　for。　But　now；　she　never　wanted　to　leave。　She　and　Nate　could　just　stay　here　forever；　calling　in　for　takeout　and　taking　turns　going　downstairs　to　pick　up　new　Netflix　movies　from　the　mailbox。

“Do　you　want　anything？”　Serena　swung　her　long　legs　onto　the　floor。　She　was　naked　but　didn’t　feel　embarrassed。　“I　think　I　have　water；”　she　continued　as　she　walked　toward　the　short　hallway　to　the　small　eat…in　kitchen。　The　ancient　radiator　hissed。　Despite　having　been　renovated　before　she　moved　in；　the　apartment　still　had　an　old…time　feel；　with　marble　floor　tiles　in