第9部分(第5/7 頁)

he　moon　cast　a　wide　shaft　of　light　on　his　Italian　cotton　duvet　and　part　of　her　was　eager　to　lie　down　and　have　Nate　ravish　her。　But　part　of　her—the　grown…up　part—needed　to　know　that　what　had　happened　four　months　ago　wouldn’t　happen　again；　that　Nate　really　was　hers　forever。　She　sat　on　the　bed；　knitting　her　perfectly　manicured　fingers　together　in　her　lap。

“You　really　hurt　me　this　summer；”　she　said　quietly。

It　was　funny。　In　the　past；　when　Blair　was　pissed；　she’d　scream　or　throw　a　Manolo。　Her　hesitant　manner　was　almost　worse。　“I　know　I　did。　I　feel　so　guilty　about　that。”　Nate　hoped　his　words　conveyed　how　sorry　he　was。　He’d　never　meant　to　hurt　her。　She　needed　to　know　that。　“I　just　had　to　figure　out　some　stuff。　But　I　know　what　I　want；　now。　You；”　he　said　huskily。　He　couldn’t　believe　the　words　he　was　saying。　They　seemed　so　cheesy；　like　lines　from　one　of　those　black…and…white　movies　Blair　used　to　force　him　to　watch。

A　single　tear　fell　on　the　hem　of　Blair’s　dress。　Normally；　she　never　let　anyone　see　her　cry。　“You　left　me。　You　left　me；　Nate；”　she　whimpered；　finally　letting　go　of　all　the　anger　and　frustrations　and　dashed　hopes　she’d　carried　with　her　for　the　past　four　months。

Nate　felt　his　heart　breaking　in　two　as　proud　tears　rolled　down　Blair’s　beautiful　cheeks。　He　wanted　to　kiss　her　again　and　again　until　everything　was　better。　Instead；　he　sat　beside　her　and　placed　his　hand　tentatively　over　hers。

“I’ll　never　leave　you　again。　Blair。　I　love　you。”　Nate’s　stomach　knotted；　willing　her　to　echo　his　feelings。

“I　love　you　too；”　Blair　said　finally；　another　tear　trickling　down　her　cheek。　She　wasn’t　sure　why　she　was　still　crying。　She　was　just　so　relieved　and　happy　and　homesick　and　excited；　all　at　once。　Nate　gently　wiped　the　tear　away　with　his　index　finger