第13部分(第5/7 頁)

acks；　you　couldn’t　tell　how　old　they　were。　They　looked　like　they　were　searching　for　danger。

Hollis　tenderly　cupped　Vanessa’s　chin　and　pulled　her　into　him。　“This　is　what　I’ve　been　wanting　to　do　since　the　party；”　he　whispered。　She　felt　his　stubble　against　her　cheek。　They　weren’t　kissing；　but　their　lips　were　millimeters　apart。　Vanessa　leaned　in；　and　her　lips　touched　his。

Cut！

“We’ve　had　a　great　day　together；　haven’t　we；　sonny？”　The　truck　driver；　whose　real　name　was　Hank；　asked　as　he　rested　his　beefy　arm　on　Dan’s　shoulder。　The　truck　pulled　onto　the　West　Side　Highway。

Yeah；　right；　Dan　thought。　The　whole　time；　Hank　had　given　Dan　life　lessons　on　women。　“You　can　just　drop　me　off　at　Ninety…sixth　Street；”　Dan　said　hurriedly。　“Actually；　here’s　fine。”　Close　enough。

“Okay；”　Hank　said；　looking　disappointed　as　he　reached　over　Dan　to　open　the　door　of　the　truck。

“Thanks！”　Dan　yelled　as　he　slung　his　duffel　bag　over　his　shoulder　and　began　making　his　way　to　his　apartment　three　blocks　up。　New　York　was　freezing；　but　the　air　felt　redemptive。　He　felt　like　he　could　run　up　a　mountain。

He　bounded　up　the　stairs　two　at　a　time。　Maybe　it　had　been　the　outdoor　air；　but　he　barely　felt　winded　as　he　reached　the　fifth…floor　landing　outside　the　apartment。　Or　maybe　it　was　the　fact　that；　unlike　his　roommate　at　Evergreen；　who’d　hooked　up　with　almost　every　girl　in　the　Victoria　Woodhull　Vegan　Womyn’s　Co…Op；　Dan　would　never　have　to　go　through　his　life　uncertain　that　he　was　loved　and　in　love。　He　dug　into　his　khakis　and　found　his　keys；　held　on　a　simple　lanyard　key　chain　that　Jenny　had　made　one　summer　at　craft　camp。

He　opened　the　door　and　heard　the　muted　sound　of　a　film　playing　in　Vanessa’s　room。　He　couldn’t　wait　to　see　her　face　when　he　surprised　her。

“H