第7部分(第5/7 頁)

ool。

How　the　mighty　have　fallen。

“Serena’s　dating　a　movie　star；”　Laura　offered；　taking　a　seat　on　one　of　the　bar　stools　next　to　Blair。　“I　read　about　it　in　the　Post。”

Blair　pretended　she　hadn’t　heard。　She　did　not　want　to　get　into　a　conversation　about　Serena’s　fabulous；　star…studded　life。　Was　she　dating　a　movie　star？　Was　she　with　him　right　now？　And　why　hadn’t　any　of　the　flannel…clad　guys　in　the　corner　even　noticed　her？　Blair　unhappily　drained　the　rest　of　her　drink。　She　pulled　out　her　iPhone　and　frowned　at　it。　WHERE　THE　FUCK　ARE　YOU？　she　texted；　then　quickly　pressed　send　with　a　nude…polished　fingernail。

“I’m　going　out　to　smoke；”　she　announced；　turning　on　her　knee…high　Sigerson　Morrison　boot　and　stomping　toward　the　terrace。

If　you　can’t　make　a　grand　entrance；　make　a　grand　exit。

fancy　meeting　you　here

Nate　shivered　and　stuffed　his　hands　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　blue　toggle　coat。　He　and　Chips　had　docked　in　Palm　Beach　in　the　morning；　and　Nate　had　hopped　an　afternoon　flight　back　to　New　York；　arriving　at　his　Upper　East　Side　town　house　in　the　early　evening。　He’d　taken　a　long　shower；　then　spent　hours　seated　on　the　floor　of　his　room；　unsure　what　to　do。　Aboard　the　Belinda　he　always　had　tasks。　But　back　in　the　city；　he　had　nothing　to　do　and　nowhere　to　go。　No　one　even　knew　he　was　here。　His　parents　were　in　St。　Barts　for　New　Year’s；　like　always；　and　Regina；　the　Archibalds’　housekeeper；　had　the　week　off。　It　would　be　cool　to　have　the　house　to　himself；　if　he　didn’t　feel　so　lonely。　Everything　in　his　room；　from　the　lacrosse　sticks　propped　in　the　closet　to　the　framed　photos　on　his　desk；　reminded　him　of　his　old　life。

Eventually；　Nate　had　gotten　dressed　in　a　dark　blue　Ralph　Lauren　sweater　and　a　pair　of　Diesel　jeans　and　left　the　house。　He