第8部分(第1/7 頁)

Nate　blinked。　Chuck　Bass　never　did　anything　for　himself。

“Glad　you　made　it。　Let’s　head　inside；”　Chuck　suggested；　gesturing　toward　the　door。　Nate　nodded　dumbly　as　they　whooshed　through　the　revolving　door　and　into　the　vaulted…ceilinged；　marble…floored　lobby。　Instead　of　turning　left　toward　the　elevator　bank；　Chuck　perched　on　one　of　the　low…slung　black　leather　couches　in　the　dimly　lit　lobby。　“Sorry。　It　was　fucking　freezing　out　there。　I’m　used　to　California。”　Chuck　smiled。　“But　I’m　not　quite　ready　to　head　back　upstairs。　Want　to　chill　here　for　a　sec？”

Nate　gingerly　sat　on　an　ottoman。　“California？　What　were　you　doing　out　there？”

“Deep　Springs；　my　man。”　Chuck　nodded；　his　eyes　glazed　over　as　if　in　happy　reminiscence。

“Deep　what？”　Nate　parroted。　Was　that　some　sort　of　Playboy　resort？

Or　a　gay　spa？

“Deep　Springs；”　Chuck　repeated。　“The　all…male　college。　It’s　a　two…year　program　on　a　working　alfalfa　farm　in　California。　We　all　run　the　farm　and　the　school　in　between　humanities　classes；”　he　explained　patiently；　settling　back　into　the　couch。　Nate　glanced　down　and　noticed　he　was　no　longer　wearing　the　gold　pinky　ring　he’d　worn　since　sophomore　year；　after　he’d　starred　in　a　European　cologne　campaign。

“Oh。”　Nate　was　still　confused。

“Look；　I　didn’t　get　into　any　schools　and　I　didn’t　know　what　to　do。　My　dad’s　cousin　is　married　to　a　board　member　there　so　they　allowed　me　to　do　a　late　interview。　It　was　either　that　or　go　to　military　school；　and　I　just　couldn’t　leave　Sweetie。”　Chuck　named　his　snow　monkey。　“I　was　fucking　terrified　when　I　got　there。　They　made　me　give　away　my　Armani　sheets　to　use　as　tablecloths　in　the　boardinghouse。　I　had　to　get　rid　of　all　my　clothes　and　find　new　clothes　in　the　bone　pile；　which　is　all　the　clothing　left　from　guys