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第46部分（第2页）

“Hi。”　Jenny　pushed　open　the　heavy　oak　door。

“Hey！”　Nate　said　from　his　corner　desk；　not　looking　up　from　his　Mac　Air。　He　wore　a　pair　of　red　flannel　Ralph　Lauren　boxers　and　no　shirt。　Jenny　paused　at　the　doorway。　Of　course　she　didn’t　mind　seeing　his　abs；　which　looked　as　taut　and　tan　in　December　as　they　did　in　July；　but　he　wasn’t　exactly　dressed　for　dinner。

“Are　you　going　to　get　ready　soon？”　She　tugged　at　the　frayed　hem　on　the　cute　flapper…style　dress　she’d　bought　senior　year　at　What　Goes　Around　es　Around；　the　vintage　store　in　Rhinecliff。

Nate　shrugged。　“I　thought　we’d　just　stay　here　and　order　in；”　he　said　easily。　One　of　the　things　he　loved　most　about　Jenny　was　how　easy　she　was　to　be　around。　Back　when　he’d　dated　Blair；　he’d　sometimes　felt　like　a　cruise　ship　director；　always　having　to　e　up　with　an　activity　to　entertain　her。　But　Jenny　was　fine　lying　around　in　bed　and　eating　Chinese　food。

How　romantic。

“Oh；”　Jenny　said；　disappointed。　She　sat　on　his　bed；　crossing　her　tiny　legs。　The　clock　on　his　nightstand　read　eight　twenty…one。　Suddenly；　the　evening　seemed　to　loom　endlessly　in　front　of　them。　“Are　you　sure？”　Jenny　asked；　already　knowing　the　answer。　Of　course　Nate　wanted　to　stay　in。　Just　like　always。　But　Jenny　was　itching　to　go　out；　to　do　something。

“Yeah。”　Nate　sat　down　next　to　her　and　slipped　her　coat　off　her　shoulders。　His　fingers　brushed　underneath　the　skinny　strap　of　her　dress。　“All　I　need　is　you。”　He　leaned　over　to　kiss　her。

Jenny　pulled　away。　She　didn’t　want　to　just　eat　takeout　in　bed；　like　they　did　every　night　in　Providence。　She　wanted　romance　and　intrigue　and　maybe　a　little　bit　of　drama。　She　wanted　to　yell　over　music　until　her　voice　hurt。

“I　think…”　Jenny　trailed　off　and　looked　down　at　her　tiny　hands。

“What’s　wrong；　Meow？”　Nate　asked；　his　hand　at　the　midthigh　hem　of　her　dress。

“I　don’t　think　this　is　working；”　Jenny　said；　gaining　her　voice　as　she　went。　This　wasn’t　just　about　Tyler—not　really；　anyway。　There　was　a　huge　world　out　there；　and　Jenny　needed　to　do　more　than　eat　spareribs　in　bed。

“What？”　Nate　blinked。　Was　Jenny　dumping　him？　“But　I　love　you；　Jen；”　he　said；　fumbling　for　words。

“I’ll　always　love　you；”　Jenny　said　softly。　It　was　true。　He’d　always　be　the　boy　of　her　dreams；　her　Upper　East　Side　prince。　She　leaned　in　to　give　him　a　final　kiss。　His　lips　felt　warm　and　dry；　but　almost　too　fortable。　And　right　now；　she　needed　a　challenge。

Jenny　felt　tears　prick　her　eyes　but　brushed　them　away　before　Nate　could　see。　She　pulled　her　coat　around　her　small　frame。

“’Bye；”　she　whispered　before　she　ran　down　the　stairs。　Once　she　got　outside；　she　hailed　a　cab；　her　heart　hammering　in　her　chest。　She　wasn’t　sure　what　the　future　held；　but　she　couldn’t　wait　to　find　out。

And　we’re　sure　it　will　have　an　awesome　sound　track。

the　final　countdown…

From：　cbass@oxford。edu

To：　undisclosed　recipients

Subject：　NYE　party

Tonight：　Same　time；　same　place；　same　libations；　new　year。　The　soiree’s　last…minute；　but　you　can’t　allow　a　tradition　to　die　without　giving　it　a　proper　send…off。　Bring　friends；　family；　mistresses；　strangers；　and　anyone　you　covet。　Hot　tub　will　be　running。

Who　knows　where　we’ll　be　next　year？　Let’s　make　this　party　count。

CB

back　to　the　scene　of　the　crime

“Are　we　really　doing　this？”　Serena　giggled　tipsily　as　she　clinked　her　highball　glass　against　Blair’s　martini。　They　were　sitting　in　the　Tribeca　Star　Lounge；　filling　up　on　liquid　courage　before　heading　upstairs　to　the　Bass　suite。　Chuck　had　e…mailed　Blair　directly　to　say　he　hoped　she’d　e；　and　after　reading　his　mass　e…mail　and　remembering　all　the　wild　times　they’d　had　at　Chuck’s　suite；　she　realized　she　wanted　to。

“It’s　tradition。”　Blair　took　a　long　sip　of　her　dirty　martini　and　let　the　liquid　swirl　around　in　her　mouth。　That　was　one　nice　thing　about　being　single。　She　could　drink　as　many　martinis　as　she　wanted　and　not　worry　about　kissing　someone　with　olive　breath。

Around　them；　the　lounge　was　filling　up。　Next　to　them　sat　a　giggling　group　of　shiny…haired　girls　wearing　four…inch　heels　and　glittery　eye　makeup。　They　looked　like　they　were　in　high　school。　Blair　gaped　at　them　in　amazement。　How　had　she　and　Serena　ever　been　that　young？

Well；　according　to　their　fake　IDs；　they’ve　always　been　…twenty…two。

“Look；　there’s　Kati　and　Isabel！　Hey！”　Serena　called