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第42部分（第2页）

“You　can　take　it　off。”

Blair　reached　up　and　swept　the　blindfold；　which　was　actually　one　of　Chuck’s　flamingo　pink　ties；　off　her　forehead。　She　blinked　in　surprise。　Before；　the　one…bedroom　apartment　had　been　decorated　in　blacks　and　grays；　with　leather　couches　and　ottomans　and　chrome　tables　and　silver　lighting　fixtures。　Now；　it　was　decorated　in　shades　of　pewter　and　lavender；　the　walls　painted　a　soft　dove　color。　An　antique　silver　mirror　hung　over　the　fireplace；　and　there　were　fresh…cut　flowers　on　the　long　walnut　dining　room　table。

“To　us；”　Chuck　said　simply；　handing　Blair　a　glass　of　champagne。　“Wele　home；　Blair…Bear。”　Besides　her　dad；　Chuck　was　the　only　person　who　ever　called　her　Blair…Bear。

“Why…　what…”　Blair　trailed　off。　The　apartment　was　beautiful；　but　what　did　it　mean？　Did　he　mean　he　wanted　her　to　move　in　with　him？　She’d　never　really　thought　about　where　she’d　live　when　she　moved　to　the　city　after　college；　but　she’d　always　assumed　it　would　be　on　the　Upper　East　Side。

“Since　we’ll　both　be　back　in　the　city　for　good　once　we　graduate；　our　apartment　should　feel　more　like　our　home。　If　there’s　anything　you　don’t　like；　the　decorator　will　work　with　you。　This　is　just　the　beginning。　I　can’t　wait　for　us　to　live　together。”　Chuck　cupped　her　chin　and　kissed　her。

Blair　pulled　away。　“It’s　very　nice；”　she　said　faintly；　glancing　around　the　living　room。　She　tried　to　imagine　sitting　at　the　head　of　the　table；　hosting　dinner　parties。　Setting　up　Fresh　Direct　deliveries　and　carefully　placing　perishables　in　the　Sub…Zero　refrigerator　in　the　sunny　south…facing　kitchen。　Taking　showers　together　in　the　morning　and　then　picking　out　clothes　in　the　side…by…side　closets　in　the　bedroom。

It　was　the　life　Blair　had　always　wanted…　but　did　she　really　want　it　so　soon？　It　was　one　thing　to　live　together　for　a　few　months　in　Oxford；　but　another　to　live　together　for　the　foreseeable　future。　Did　this　mean　they　were　engaged？　Suddenly；　her　mind　flashed　back　to　the　conversation　with　Chuck’s　mom。　Everything　was　moving　too　quickly。　“I　think　I　need　to　sit　down；”　Blair　choked；　settling　on　a　lavender…upholstered　wingback　chair。

Chuck　held　out　a　champagne　flute　and　perched　on　the　chair　arm。　“Here　you　go。　Merry　Christmas；”　he　said；　brushing　his　lips　against　her　cheek。

“Merry　Christmas！”　Blair　parroted；　clinking　her　champagne　flute　a　little　too　forcefully　against　Chuck’s。

Would　she　have　rather　he　kept　on　the　blindfold？

the　trouble　with　fairy　tales　is　that　they　always　end

On　the　day　after　Christmas；　Jenny　stood　outside　her　apartment　building；　stamping　her　tiny　feet　on　the　sidewalk　to　keep　warm。　She　wore　knee…high　boots　and　her　favorite　red　wool　coat。　Her　dark　brown　hair　was　loose　around　her　shoulders；　and　even　though　her　ears　were　freezing；　there　was　no　way　in　hell　she’d　risk　hat…head。

Nate　was　going　to　pick　her　up　any　second　to　see　The　Nutcracker；　and　she　didn’t　want　to　bring　him　upstairs　and　subject　him　to　her　dad。　Rufus　meant　well；　but　he　could　be　overprotective；　and　didn’t　entirely　approve　of　Nate。　Rufus　remembered　all　too　well　how　hysterical　Jenny　had　been　when　they’d　broken　up　her　freshman　year　of　high　school；　and　no　amount　of　explaining　would　convince　him　that　Nate　was　different　now。

A　town　car　glided　down　the　street　and　came　to　a　stop　in　front　of　her　building。　Nate　rolled　down　the　back　window；　and　Jenny’s　heart　thudded　against　her　chest。　Most　of　the　time　Nate　was　just　Nate；　the　boyfriend　whom　she　woke　up　to　every　morning　and　who　became　grumpy　if　he　didn’t　eat　breakfast。　But　at　times　like　these；　Jenny　was　reminded　of　the　dreamy；　gorgeous；　almost　unapproachable　boy　she’d　first　fallen　in　love　with　when　she　was　only　fifteen。

“Hi。”　Nate　smiled　his　adorable；　lopsided　grin　as　the　chauffeur　rushed　around　the　door　to　let　Jenny　in。　She　scooted　onto　the　leather　seat　beside　Nate。

“Meow！”　Jenny　nuzzled　her　nose　into　his　neck　and　breathed　in　his　delicious　boy　scent。

The　town　car　turned　down　Broadway；　where　the　sidewalks　were　crowded　with　people　ducking　in　and　out　of　the　stores　still　decorated　for　Christmas。

“I’m　excited！”　Jenny　said；　intertwining　her　fingers　with　his。　She　and　Nate　had　seen　The　Nutcracker　four　years　ago　when　she　was　a　freshman；　and　she’d　loved　it。　Back　then　she’d　been　too　amazed　by　the　fact　that　Nate　was　sitting　next　to　her　and　holding　her　hand　to　pay　any　attention　to　the　performance。　Then　they’d　made　out　in　Central　Park　and　then…　well；　she　wasn’t　going　to　think　about　what　happened　next：　Vanessa　Abrams　had　unwittingly　filmed　them　goofing　around　in　the　snow；　including　Nate　playfully　pulling　down　Jenny’s　pants。　The　footage　of　Jenny’s　bare　butt　wound　up　on　the　Internet。　Jenny　smoothed　her　DVF　dress　down　on　her　lap；　as　if　to　remind　herself　to　keep　her　clothing　in　place。

For　now；　anyway。

“Me　too；”　Nate　said　as　the　car　lurched　between　stoplights。　He’d　seen　The　Nutcracker　every　year　since　he　was　born—usually　with　Blair—so　he　was　kind　of　over　it　by　now；　but　Jenny’s　enthusiasm　was　contagious。

The　car　pulled　up　in　front　of　the　sprawling　Lincoln　Center　plex　of　glass…and…iron…wrapped　concrete　buildings。　Jenny　smiled　happily。　“’Bye！”　she　yelled　to　the　driver。

Nate　held　her　hand　as　he　led　her　to　the　New　York　State　Theater　building。　Jenny　felt　like　she　was　in　a　fairy　tale。　She　imagined　them　in　ten　years：　Jenny　would　be　a　freelance　graphic　artist　and　Nate　would　be　a　high…powered　lawyer。　Every　year；　the　day　after　Christmas；　they’d　bring　their　two　kids　to　The　Nutcracker。

Nate　led　them　to　orchestra　seats。　A　set　of　blond　toddler　triplets　sat　next　to　Jenny　on　one　side；　and　on　Nate’s　other　side　were　four　elderly　ladies　with　grayish…blond　bouffants　lacquered　two　inches　above　their　Botoxed　foreheads。　They　were　practically　screaming　as　they　bragged　to　each　other　about　their　grandkids。　Jenny　frowned。　This　wasn’t　what　she’d　imagined。　Maybe　it　would　get　better　once　the　show　began？

The　lights　dimmed　and　one　of　the　toddlers　next　to　her　started　shrieking。　Jenny　tried　not　to　be　frustrated；　but　this　was　supposed　to　be　their　big　night　out　in　New　York；　and　suddenly　it　didn’t　feel　romantic　or　magical　at　all。　It　felt　like　a　field　trip　gone　wrong。

Nate　leaned　back　in　the　plush　velvet　chair。　He’d　been　baked　every　other　time　he　saw　The　Nutcracker。　Maybe　it　would　be　really　cool　sober。

Or　maybe　not。

Nate　smiled　as　the　giant　tree　grew　out　of　the　slick　black　stage　of　the　New　York　State　Theatre。　That　used　to　be　Blair’s　favorite　scene。　After　that；　she’d　get　antsy　and　the