第10部分(第2/7 頁)

l　a　blue　sky。

“I　don’t　know　about　you　guys；　but　I’m　starving。　Let’s　go　out！”　she　announced　brightly；　sounding　like　an　overcaffeinated　camp　counselor。

Or　a　jealous　best　friend？

The　cab　pulled　up　to　Serendipity　on　Sixtieth　and　Third；　which　was　equally　famous　for　its　retro…kitschy　Tiffany　glass　lampshade　decor　as　it　was　for　its　high…calorie　desserts。　Once　they　were　seated；　Serena　glanced　down　at　the　cracked　hexagonal　floor　tiles　so　she　wouldn’t　have　to　watch　Blair　and　Nate　gazing　adoringly　at　each　other。　She　didn’t　get　it。　Didn’t　Blair　have　a　boyfriend？　And　wasn’t　Nate　supposed　to　be　off　sailing　the　world　still？

“So；　Nate；　where　the　hell　have　you　been？”　she　asked。　She　poked　the　ice　cubes　in　her　water　glass　down　with　her　straw　as　if　she　were　trying　to　drown　them。

“All　over。”　Nate　shrugged　unfortably。　He’d　been　everywhere；　from　sailing　around　Latin　America　to　exploring　the　Pacific　Northwest；　but　he　didn’t　know　where　to　start。　Besides；　no　matter　where　he　was；　he’d　been　thinking　about　both　of　them。　But　he　couldn’t　say　that　to　Serena　in　front　of　Blair。　Serena’s　navy　blue　eyes　gleamed；　and　she　looked　like　she　wanted　him　to　talk　for　hours。　But　he　didn’t　know　what　else　to　say。　“We　sailed　without　a　navigation　system。　It　was　really　cool；”　he　added　vaguely。

The　waiter；　a　chipper　man　who　had　way　too　much　energy　for　New　Year’s　Day　morning；　approached　the　table。　“Happy　New　Year！”　he　practically　shouted；　causing　droplets　of　spit　to　rain　on　the　table。　“Now；　where　are　you　folks　from？”

“I’ll　have　the　eggs　Benedict　and　coffee　and　he’ll　have　scrambled　eggs　and　bacon　that’s　just　a　little　crispy；”　Blair　said；　ignoring　the　waiter’s　inane　question。　How　embarrassing　to　be　taken　as　tourists。　Then　again；　this　was　a　tourist　trap。　Sure；　they　used　to　e　h