第43部分(第1/7 頁)

Or　maybe　not。

Nate　smiled　as　the　giant　tree　grew　out　of　the　slick　black　stage　of　the　New　York　State　Theatre。　That　used　to　be　Blair’s　favorite　scene。　After　that；　she’d　get　antsy　and　they’d　usually　skip　the　second　act　to　drink　cappuccinos　in　the　lobby　and　spy　on　the　couples　walking　around　the　promenade　below。

Nate　closed　his　eyes；　imagining　what　it　would　be　like　if　Blair　was　here。　She’d　looked　terrific　at　her　mom’s　dinner　party。　And　so　had　Serena。　It　had　been　unnerving；　the　way　they’d　kept　giggling　whenever　they　glanced　toward　him　and　Jenny。　And　then　they’d　excused　themselves　to　the　terrace　and　when　they　finally　reentered；　they　smiled　sneakily　at　him。　He　knew　them　too　well　and　was　pretty　sure　they’d　been　talking　about　him。　And　no　matter　how　much　he　loved　Jenny；　he　wanted　to　know　what　they’d　been　saying。

Nate　realized　everyone　around　him　was　clapping。　Was　the　first　act　over　already？　He　clapped　politely。　“Want　a　cappuccino？”　he　asked　Jenny。　Suddenly；　he　didn’t　really　feel　like　being　there。

“Sure。”　Jenny　shrugged；　looking　so　innocent　and　sweet　that　Nate　felt　a　weird　lump　in　his　throat　like　he　was　going　to　cry。

Imagine　if　he　was　stoned…。

“So；　what　did　you　think　of　the　show？”　Jenny　asked　later。　They　were　in　the　library　of　Nate’s　town　house；　sitting　side　by　side　on　the　tan　calfskin　couch；　drinking　merlot　out　of　Riedel　glasses。　A　sailboat　documentary　played　on　the　flat　screen　in　front　of　them。　Nate　had　been　quiet　for　the　rest　of　the　show；　even　during　the　romantic　end　when　Clara　and　the　prince　are　finally　together；　happily　ever　after。

“Nate？”　Jenny　asked　again；　realizing　he　was　sound　asleep；　his　head　flopped　against　his　shoulder。　Jenny　sighed　in　frustration。　This　was　not　how　she’d　expected　the　evening　to　play　out。　She’d　been　ho