第2部分(第4/7 頁)

！”　Pete’s　sister…in…law　Sarah　piped　up　from　the　corner　of　the　room；　stroking　her　Lilly　Pulitzer–patterned　eight…months…pregnant　belly。　“I　remember　when　I　heard　the　Carlson　rule；　I　had　a　great　time　with　the　Theta　girls。　We　went　to　Cancún！”A　look　of　happy　reminiscence　crossed　Sarah’s　lightly　tanned；　heart…shaped　face。

“You　did？”　Randy　asked；　shooting　a　look　at　Sarah。　“I　didn’t　know　that。”

“Sorry；　son！”　Chappy　clapped　Pete　on　the　back。　“Sorry；　Scout！”

Blair　narrowed　her　eyes　at　a　painting　that　hung　over　the　fireplace；　of　a　ship　in　what　looked　like　an　exceptionally　violent　storm。　What　a　boring；　random　piece　of　art　to　hang　in　a　house。　Suddenly　she　hated　her　stupid　nickname。　Scout？

Out　would　have　been　more　appropriate。

“Blair；　I’m　sorry；”　Pete　said　simply。　“I　thought　you　understood…。”

“What？　I　knew　I　wasn’t　ing；”　Blair　lied；　smiling　fakely。　Her　stomach　was　churning　wildly。　For　a　brief　second；　she　wanted　to　excuse　herself；　run　to　the　second…floor　bathroom；　and　puke　everything　she’d　eaten　for　the　past　five　days。

“Blair；　darling；　here’s　your　hot　chocolate。　I　made　sure　to　put　some　extra　marshmallows　in　there。”　Jane　pushed　the　steaming　ceramic　mug　into　Blair’s　hands。　“Won’t　you　sit　down？”　She　gestured　to　one　of　the　fortable　overstuffed　forest　green　chairs。

“Thanks。”　Blair　nodded。　She　squared　her　shoulders　and　turned　to　the　waiting　Carlson　clan。　No　way　was　she　going　to　let　the　Brady　Bunch　see　her　sweat。　“You　all　ready　to　play？”　She　forced　herself　to　smile；　a　plan　already　forming。

“Maybe　I　will　have　a　wild　girls’　weekend；”　she　whispered　in　Pete’s　ear。　“I　haven’t　been　to　New　York　all　year；　except　those　two　weekends　with　you；　and　those　don’t　count；　since　we　never　even　left　the　hotel。”　His　face　fell　as　he　no　doubt　pictured