第33部分(第5/7 頁)

choice　for　tonight。

Instead；　he　pulled　his　cell　phone　out　of　the　pocket　of　his　old　tan　cords。　No　missed　calls。　Of　course。

He　idly　scrolled　through　his　phone　book。　He　didn’t　have　many　numbers　stored—just　some　other　creative　writing　majors　from　college；　his　dad；　Jenny；　and　Serena。　As　he　reached　the　end　of　the　list；　he　paused　at　the　lone　V。　Every　other　entry　had　a　first　and　last　name；　but　he’d　just　put　a　V　for　Vanessa　the　first　time　he’d　programmed　her　into　his　phone　and　never　bothered　to　change　it。　He’d　always　sort　of　loved　the　simplicity　of　it。　Why　would　he　ever　need　to　say　more　than　that？

Dan　gazed　at　her　number。　He　hadn’t　spoken　to　Vanessa　in　almost　two　years。　He’d　thought　that；　living　in　the　same；　geographically　small　city；　they　might　run　into　each　other。　But　then　again；　he　lived　way　uptown　and　rarely　left　the　neighborhood；　while　she　probably　spent　all　her　time　in　Brooklyn。　He’d　heard　she　was　still　dating　that　famous　indie　film　director。　She　probably　never　even　thought　about　Dan　anymore。　But　maybe　she　did。

WOULD　YOU　RATHER　EAT　MY　DAD’S　FONDUE　FOR　A　MONTH　OR　GO　SLEDDING　EVERY　DAY　FOR　A　YEAR？　he　wrote　quickly；　then；　without　thinking；　hit　send。　Jenny　tortured　him　with　the　would…you…rather　game；　ing　up　with　absurd　scenarios　like　would　he　rather　have　uncontrollable　back　hair　or　uncontrollable　nose　hair。　But　he　knew　Vanessa　liked　absurd　questions。　Besides；　it　was　just　a　little　innocent　blast　from　the　past。

And　since　when　are　blasts　from　the　past　ever　innocent？

love　don’t　live　here　anymore

“You　want　to　go　out？”　Vanessa　asked　Norma。　The　little　chow…poodle　mix　cocked　her　head　and　emitted　a　low…pitched　whine。　Vanessa　understood　what　she　was　trying　to　say：　that　she　was　bored　and　antsy　and　didn’t　know　what　to　do　with　herself。　Vanes