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第26部分（第1页）

“Don’t　be　mad。”　Hollis　put　his　hands　on　Vanessa’s　shoulders　and　whirled　her　Aeron　chair　around　so　she　faced　him。　His　gray　eyes　were　wide　with　concern；　and　his　chin　had　a　tiny　bit　of　the　five　o’clock　stubble　that　Vanessa　had　always　found　so　sexy。　“I　have　someone　for　you　to　meet。　This　is　Norma　Desmond。　She　sort　of　has　this　diva…ish　personality；　but　I　think　there’s　a　lot　going　on　beneath　the　surface。　She’s　certainly　a　charmer。”　He　scooped　up　the　tiny　puppy　and　waved　its　paw　at　her。

“You　decided　to　get　a　dog。　Any　other　decisions　you　made　today　that　you　didn’t　tell　me　about？”　Vanessa　asked　crisply。　She　gazed　down　at　Norma；　who　was　shaking　her　tiny　butt　uncontrollably。　The　name　was　from　Sunset　Boulevard；　a　film　Vanessa　and　Hollis　both　loved。

“Look；　Vanessa；　I　know　you’re　mad。　I’m　really；　really　sorry　about　the　way　everything　went　down。　I　should　never　have　had　you　pitch　the　film　to　Streetscape。”　Hollis’s　eyes　looked　so　sweet　and　sincere　that　Vanessa　wanted　to　believe　him。

“So　then　why　were　you　going　along　with　them？　Why　didn’t　you　leave　with　me？”　Vanessa　asked　sharply。　She　glanced　down　at　her　beat…up　Doc　Martens　so　she　wouldn’t　have　to　look　at　his　face　when　he　lied。　She　willed　her　boots　not　to　kick　him。

“Because　Streetscape　has　changed。　I　realized　that　when　I　saw　it　was　Stacy　handling　the　meeting。　Stacy　is　under　a　lot　of　pressure　to　make　movies　that　will　sell。　Before；　no　one　knew　who　she　was；　so　she　could　afford　to　take　risks。　Now；　she’s　known　in　Hollywood　and　she’s　scared　shitless。　That’s　why　she　called　that　other　exec　in。　I　know　the　demo　talk　is　bullshit；　but　it’s　the　formula　that　works。　I　mean；　I’m　still　building　my　career　and　they’re　the　best　and　I　trust　them；　but　I　know　they’re　not　the　best　for　you；”　Hollis　explained。　“And　I　just　got　Norma　because　I　felt　so　guilty　and　she’s　so　cute。　She’s　part　chow　and　part　poodle。　She’s　a　choodle；”　Hollis　explained　proudly。　“And　I　wanted　to　see　you　smile。”

The　puppy　was　adorable；　and　Vanessa　fought　a　smile。　She　didn’t　want　to　be　won　over　so　easily。　“Why　did　you　even　set　up　the　meeting？”

“I　got　excited。　I　love　your　story；”　Hollis　said　earnestly。　“But　what　they　want　to　do　isn’t　your　movie。　Once　I　saw　how　off…track　they　were　getting；　I　pushed　them　away　from　your　idea　on　purpose。　I　didn’t　want　you　to　wind　up　making　a　movie　that　would　promise　your　vision。”

“Really？”　Vanessa　grinned　shyly。　Now　that　she　thought　about　it；　Hollis　hadn’t　really　spoken　up　at　the　meeting　until　after　the　story　had　gotten　so　off…track—and　after　Stacy　had　made　it　clear　she　wasn’t　going　to　have　it　any　other　way。

“Of　course。　So　they　want　me　to　direct　the　film。　It’s　on　location—in　Iceland。　And　I’ll　have　to　go　to　Australia　too；　to　cast　the　Maoris。　The　twin　kids　evolved　into　a　whole　family；　like　Cheaper　by　the　Dozen　but　with　Maoris；　in　Iceland。　But　I　told　them　I　needed　to　think　about　it。　I’ll　drop　it　in　a　second　if　you　want　me　to。”　Hollis　gazed　down　at　Vanessa。

Vanessa　glanced　around　the　apartment—the　brand…new　ecochic　furniture；　the　clean；　bare　walls　they　hadn’t　decorated；　the　expansive　living　room　they　planned　to　throw　so　many　dinner　parties　in。　If　Hollis　went　to　Iceland；　it　would　be　a　long　time　before　they　really　lived　in　this　apartment　together。　But　dropping　a　Streetscape　project　was　equivalent　to　career　suicide。

Just　then；　Norma　whined　plaintively。　“Well；　I’m　going　to　take　Norma’s　protest　as　a　no；”　Hollis　shrugged；　scooping　up　the　puppy。

“No。”　Vanessa　shook　her　head　definitively。　They　had　plenty　of　time　to　build　a　life　together。　After　all；　she　was　only　a　sophomore。　“You　need　to　do　it。　I　want　you　to　do　it—we　both　do。”　Vanessa　reached　for　the　puppy　and　buried　her　nose　in　its　soft　and　fluffy　fur。　“How　long　will　you　be　gone？”　she　asked。

“A　few　months。　But　you　can　e　to　Reykjavík　whenever　you　want。　I　mean；　you　need　to。　I　don’t　know　what　I’ll　do　without　you。”

“You’re　not　gone　yet；”　Vanessa　murmured。　It　was　a　lot　to　process。　She　was　sad；　but　not　upset。　Yes；　Hollis　was　leaving；　but　somehow；　their　relationship　seemed　stronger　than　ever—strong　enough　to　stand　the　distance。　And　maybe　a　few　months　apart　would　be　good　for　her；　too。　She　could　concentrate　on　her　own　work。

“Thanks　for　bringing　me　a　friend；”　she　added；　still　cuddling　with　the　puppy。

“I’ll　miss　you　guys；”　Hollis　said　huskily。　He　kissed　Vanessa’s　forehead；　then　the　puppy’s。　“Take　care　of　each　other。　You　two　are　my　family　now。”

Vanessa　smiled。　“Absence　makes　the　heart　grow　fonder；　right？　And　a　few　months　isn’t　too　long；”　she　insisted。

Right。　And　Iceland　isn’t　very　far　away　at　all。

on　some　nights；　frenemies　beat　strangers

“Vodka　tonic；”　Blair　said　brusquely　to　the　Tribeca　Star　bartender；　a　pretty　platinum　blonde　who　looked　like　she’d　never　had　her　heart　broken　before。　Unlike　Blair；　who’d　had　her　heart　broken—five？　Seven？　Nine　times？—by　the　exact　same　guy。

“Another　one？”　The　bartender　arched　one　penciled…in　eyebrow。

“Yes；”　Blair　said　icily。　It　was　her　right　to　get　as　drunk　as　she　wanted　after　the　night　she’d　had。　She　pulled　out　her　cell　and　dialed　Pete’s　number　again。　Of　course　it　went　to　voice　mail。　Tears　pricked　her　eyes。　It　was　really　over。

Blair　felt　a　tap　on　her　shoulder。　She　whirled　around；　ready　to　tell　whoever　thought　it　was　a　good　idea　to　talk　to　her　to　fuck　off。

“You　okay？”

Blair　looked　up　and　into　the　eyes　of…　Chuck　Bass？　What　the　hell？　Where　was　his　pinky　ring？　Or　pet　monkey？　Blair　had　heard　that　Chuck　had　transformed；　but　seeing　it　in　person　was　so　shocking　she　almost　forgot　her　tragedy　of　a　life。　His　dark　brown　hair　was　cut　close　to　his　head；　and　his　dark　eyes　looked　serious　and　friendly　at　the　same　time。　He　wore　a　blue　cashmere　sweater；　khaki　pants；　and　loafers。　He　looked　surprisingly　good。

“Hi；”　Blair　said　finally。