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dreamy；　faraway　smile　that　was　Audrey？s　trademark。　？Don？t　you　justlove　it　here？　Isn？t　
itwonderful　waking　up　and　knowing　this　place　isright　here　；　every　day？　It？s　my　


absoluteparadise　。？　

Blair　waited　for　Ken　Mogul？s　response。　Those　were　the　only　lines　she？d　been　given　to　say；　and　
she？d　said　them　perfectly；　even　if　she　did　say　so　herself。　

Ken　Mogul　covered　his　bulging　blue　eyes　with　his　hand　and　then　pulled　it　roughly　away　again　in　
a　bizarre　game　of　peekaboo。　He　stared　at　Blair　for　a　moment　longer　and　then　yelled；　？Next！？　

Blair　dropped　down　off　the　stool　and　walked　gracefully　out　of　the　restaurant　to　where　Lord　
Marcus　was　waiting　for　her　near　the　elevator　doors。　He　gathered　her　in　his　strong；　capable；　royal　
arms。　？You　were　stunning；？　he　reassured　her。　？I　was　watching　from　the　door。？

　Blair　leaned　her　cheek　against　his　chest；　still　in　character。　？I　do　love　it　here；？　she　sighed　
dreamily。　

The　elevator　doors　rolled　open　and　Serena　and　Nate　stepped　out。　

？Good　luck！？　Blair　called　out　generously。　She　took　another　drag　on　her　cigarette　holder　and　
offered　Nate　a　serene　smile。　He　smiled　weakly　back　at　her；　looking　a　little　red　around　the　eyes；　
like　he？d　been　crying；　or；　more　likely；　was　extremely　stoned。　But　from　where　Blair　stood；　with　her　
body　pressed　against　her　hunky　British　lord；　that　was　really　none　of　her　concern。　

Then　Lord　Marcus　kissed　the　back　of　Blair？s　head；　sending　a　little　thrill　down　her　spine。　The　
door　to　the　ladies？　lounge　was　right　in　front　of　them。　She　took　his　hand　and　tugged　him　toward　it。　

Nothing　better　than　a　little　make…out　session　before　breakfast。　

He？s　e　undone　

Nate　was　outside　the　hotel　with　the　trunk　show　security　guard；　smoking　a　hand…rolled　
pot…mixed…with…tobacco　cigarette。　The　sun　beat　down　on　Fifth　Avenue　and　Sixty…first　Street；　and　
with　the　masses　of　European　tourists　and　clouds　of　bus　exhaust；　it　felt　more　like　late　August　than　
the　last　week　in　May。　

？Beautiful　day；？　the　security　guard；　whose　gold　plastic　name　tag　read　DARWIN；　remarked。　He　
was　huge　and　bald　and　probably　moonlighted　as　a　nightclub　bouncer。　He　squeezed　his　eyes　shut　to　
ward　off　the　bright；　late…morning　sun。　？Summer　is　right　around　the　corner。？　

Nate　pressed　his　knuckles　into　his　closed　eyelids　to　keep　the　tears　from　streaming　down　his　
cheeks。　He　could　blame　it　on　the　sun；　or　he　could　blame　it　on　being　dragged　along　to　a　trunk　show　
with　a　girl；　but　the　truth　was　that　lately　he？d　been；　crying　a　lot。　It　was　the　end　of　their　senior　year；　


and　he　was　with　Serena；　the　girl　he？d　loved　forever？kind　of。　It　was　like　he　was　finally　tasting　the　
meal　he？d　been　looking　at　under　glass　all　those　years。　He　wanted　to　savor　it；　but　everyone　else　
was　eating　so　quickly；　there　wasn？t　time。　And　there　was　also　this　nagging　feeling　that　he？d　
ordered　the　wrong　thing。　

Wait；　doesn？t　he　mean　the　wrong　girl？　

？Should　I　be　worried　about　one　of　your　girlfriends　in　there　stealing　something？？　Darwin　asked。　
He　pulled　a　silvery　blue　cell　phone　out　of　his　pants　pocket；　scrolled　through　a　few　text　messages　
on　the　screen；　then　stuffed　the　phone　back　in　his　pocket。　He　didn？t　seem　too　worried。　Then　again；　
why　would　someone　with　biceps　that　large　get　nervous　about　a　few　devious　teenage　girls？　

Blair　had　been　known　to　shoplift；　but　not　in　front　of　her　friends。　Nate　had　never　heard　about　
Serena　shoplifting；　but　she　had　a　naughty　streak。　She　would　do　it　out　of　sheer　boredom。　He　
shrugged。　？Probably。？　

Just　then　the　hotel　porter　opened　the　door　and　Blair　skipped　down　the　red…carpeted　stairs；　
brushing　past　Nate　with　her　pointed　foxlike　chin　in　the　air　and　a　white　shopping　bag　with　white　
tissue　paper　sticking　out　of　it　swinging　back　and　forth　from　her　hand。　

？She？scute　；？　Darwin　whistled。　

？Uh…huh；？　Nate　grunted；　as　if　checking　Blair　out　for　the　first　time。　Her　silky；　dark　hair　had　grown　
into　a　very　French…looking　short　and　sexy　bob　that　suited　her　finely　featured　face　and　hot　little　
body。　Oh；　she　was　cute　all　right。　

And　she　was　no　longer　his。　

？Want　me　to　stop　her？　Check　her　bags？？　Darwin　offered。　

Nate　puffed　on　his　joint；　considering　how　Blair　would　react　if　Darwin　called　her　over。　The　
thought　made　him　smile　wistfully；　and　as　he　watched　Blair　disappear　down　the　crowded　block；　
fresh　tears　began　to　spill　down　his　cheeks。　Bitchy　and　stubborn　and　selfish　and　neurotic；　Blair　was　
the　epitome　of　high　maintenance；　but　no　matter　how　many　times　he？d　fucked　up；　she？d　always　
taken　him　back。　It　usually　started　with　a　sidelong　glance　or　an　irate　phone　call；　and　then　he？d　
show　up　at　her　door　and　they？d　kiss　and　make　up。　But　Blair　wasn？t　sending　him　any　
if…you？re…really…nice…to…me…I？ll…consider…it　vibes。　It　seemed　he？d　fucked　up　for　the　last　time。　
Besides；　he　was　with　Serena　now；　everybody？s　dream　girl。　

Everybody　including　him？　

The　porter　opened　the　door　again；　and　Serena　glided　out　of　the　hotel　sporting　a　mint　green　linen　
Les　Best　tennis　visor。　With　her　pale　golden　hair　cascading　down　from　beneath　the　visor；　her　long；　
tanned；　athletic…even…though…she…got…no…exercise…except…for…gym…class　legs；　and　radiant　smile；　she　


looked　like　an　advertisement　for　the　type　of　haute　couture　tennis　clothes　that　were　way　too　
gorgeous　to　actually　sweat　in。　

？Taxi　back　to　school？？　she　asked　Nate　with　a　sly　wink。　She　might　have　been　too　tired　to　walk；　
but　she　wasn？t　too　tired　to　fool　around　in　the　back　of　a　taxi。　

Who　could　ever　be　too　tired　for　that？　

Then　she　noticed　the　tears。　？Poor　baby；？　she　crooned；　reaching　out　to　dab　at　Nate？s　cheeks　with　
her　thumb。　The　crying　had　started　a　few　days　ago；　and　at　first　it　had　been　sort　of　alarming。　What　
was　a　handsome　stoner　stud　like　Nate　doingcrying？　But　then　she？d　grown　to　think　of　it　as　sexy　
and　extremely　touching。　Who　knew　Nate　had　such　a　sweet；　gooey　center？　

Darwin　took　a　step　forward。　He　wasn？t　about　to　let　this　blond　bombshell　get　away　as　quickly　as　
the　hot　brunette　had。　？You　got　a　receipt　for　that　hat；　miss？？　

Serena　reached　up　to　touch　the　linen　visor　like　she？d　forgotten　she　was　wearing　it。　She　bit　her　
luxuriously　full；　cherry…ChapSticked　lips。　？Oops。？　Her　dark　blue　eyes　flashed；　challenging　Darwin　
to　arrest　her。　？I？m　friends　with　the　designer；？　she　declared。　

Darwin　grinned？yet　another　guy　to　fall　under　her　spell。　？Aw；　that？s　okay；？　he　replied　
bashfully。　？I　guess　I　just　wanted　an　excuse　to　talk　to　you。？　

Nate　realized　suddenly　that　he　ought　to　have　been　jealous。　He　took　Serena？s　dry；　warm　hand　in　
his　damp；　tear…streaked　one。　？e　on；？　he　urged；　trying　to　sound　manly　and　firm　despite　the　
quaver　in　his　voice。　

？God；　I　love　it　when　you　fight　for　me；？　Serena　murmured。　She　leaned　her　head　against　his　
shoulder　and　kissed　his　right　ear。　He　put　his　arm　around　her　waist；　encouraged　by　the　strong　curve　
of　her　hip。　They　tripped　down　the　steps；　barely　resisting　the　urge　to　tear　each　other？s　clothes　off　
right　there　in　front　of　the　hundreds　of　fanny…pack…toting　tourists　mobbing　the　Brooks　Brothers　
flagship　store　across　the　street。　Their　getting　together　might　have　been　a　total　accident；　but　they　
were　still　two　beautiful；　irresistibly　kissable　people？why　not　take　every　possible　opportunity　to　
fool　around？　

　Exactly。　

？Lucky　guy。？　Darwin　whistled　as　he　headed　back　inside　to　hit　on　Rain　or　Kati　or　whichever　cute　
Constance　girl　had　the　most　stuff　in　her　bag。　

Nate　fought　back　another　rush　of　tears。　He　was　into　Yale。　The　most　beautiful　girl　in　the　universe；　
whom　he？d　known　forever；　was　practically　begging　him　to　do　it　with　him　in　a　taxi　on　the　way　
back　to　school。　Hewas　insanely　lucky。　


So　why　couldn？t　he　stop　the　tears　from　falling？　

S　gets　to　say　her　lines　twice　

Serena　worried　that　she　should　have　dressed　up　like　the　other　girls。　Would　the　director　think　she　
wasn？t　trying　hard　enough　because　she　hadn？t　worn　pearls　and　a　black　cocktail　dress？　Plus；　she　
was　blond　and　big…boned　and　tall　and　didn？t　look　a　thing　like　Audrey　Hepburn。　In　fact；　now　that　
she　thought　about　it；　she　really　shouldn？t　have　been　trying　out　for　the　part　at　all。

　Too　late。　

？Oh；　thank　God；？　Ken　Mogul　exclaimed　when　he　saw　her。　？Go　ahead。Action　。？　

Serena　hadn？t　bothered　to　Google　Ken　Mogul；　and　she　didn？t　know　anything　about　his　directing　
style；　but　she　knew　what　the　wordaction　meant；　and　the　minute　she　heard　it；　she　started　to　do　her　
thing。　

？How　do　you　do？？　she　chirped　brightly；　holding　her　hand　out　to　an　imaginary　bartender。　She　took　
a　seat　and　then　spun　once　around　on　the　bar　stool；　giggling　and　kicking　her　feet　with　girlish　
satisfaction。　？Don？t　you　just　love　it　here？　Isn？t　it　wonderful　waking　up　and　knowing　this　place　is　
right　here；　every　day？　It？s　my　absolute　paradise！？　

Ken　Mogul　did　that　weird　peekaboo　thing　with　his　hands　again。　He　glanced　at　one　of　his　
Swedish…looking　blond　crew　girls；　ripped　off　the　pair　of　mirrored　aviator　shades　she　had　propped　
on　her　head；　and　tossed　them　to　Serena。　

？Do　it　again　with　these　on；？　he　ordered。　

Serena　did　as　she　was　told；　wondering　if　it　was　a　good　thing　or　a　bad　thing　that　Ken　Mogul　
closed　his　eyes　when　she　started　to　talk。　

？Next！？　he　shouted；　dismissing　her。　

Nate　was　standing　by　the　elevators；　a　damp　tissue　wadded　in　his　fist。　？My　mom　brought　me　here　
to　buy　my　first　real　suit；？　he　told　Serena；　his　lower　lip　trembling。　？Afterwards　we　got　ice　cream　
and　she　took　me　to　the　zoo　in　the　park。　It　smelled　like　peanuts。？　

？Aw。？　Serena　hugged　him　and　kissed　his　ear。　？Listen；　I　think　I　know　of　a　way　to　cheer　you　up。？　
After　the　Viagra　incident　in　Bergdorf？s　on　Tuesday；　Serena　thought　Nate　was　basically　up　for　it　
any　time；　anywhere。　She　nodded　toward　the　ladies？　lounge。　


Nate　hesitated。　He？d　smoked　a　tiny　joint　when　he　woke　up；　and　he？d　left　the　Viagra　at　home。　
Besides；　all　this　crying　was　so　exhausting。　He　really　wasn？t　in　the　mood。　

The　ladies？　lounge　door　swung　open；　and　Blair　and　that　sandy…haired　hunk　of　hers　came　out；　
holding　hands。　？How　do　you　do？？　Blair　gestured　with　her　empty　cigarette　holder　in　an　
exaggerated　imitation　of　the　part　both　girls　had　just　played。　She　giggled。　？You　guys　want　to　go　get　
a　drink？？　

？Definitely；？　Serena　gushed　eagerly。　

Of　course；　it　was　only　ten…thirty　on　a　Saturday　morning；　but　the　future　Audreys　of　the　world　
clearly　know　how　to　enjoy　themselves。　

Lord　Marcus　pressed　the　button　for　the　elevator　and　the　doors　rolled　open。　

？Wait！？　one　of　Ken　Mogul？s　black…tunic…wearing；　blond　crew　girls　yelled。　Blair？s　heart　skipped　
a　beat。　Surely　they　were　going　to　offer　her　the　part　right　now　and　send　the　other　girls　packing。　But　
the　girl　was　looking　at　Serena。　

？Oops！？　Serena　blushed；　swiping　the　mirrored　aviators　off　her　head　and　handing　them　
back。　？I？m　such　a　klepto！？　

The　girl　took　the　sunglasses　and　then　stood　on　tiptoe　to　whisper　in　Serena？s　ear。　Blair　watched；　
riveted；　as　Serena　nodded；　listening　silently。　Then　the　crew　girl　left　to　supply　her　sunglasses　to　
another　Holly　hopeful。　

Blair　bit　her　lip；　nearly　drawing　blood。　The　need　to　know　what　the　crewperson　had　whispered　to　
Serena　was　killing　her；　but　she　forced　herself　not　to　ask；　and　Serena　decided　not　to　tell　her。　The　
idea　that　they　were　sort　of　talking　to　each　other　again　was　so　tenuous　and　so　new；　neither　of　them　
wanted　to　ruin　it。　

Plus；　Lord　Marcus　had　only　seen　Blair　on　her　best　behavior。　She　couldn？t　pull　anExorcist　and　
freak　out　in　front　of　him　now　or　he？d　pack　his　bags　and　head　back　to　the　U。K。　as　quick　as　you　can　
say；　？Bloody　hell。？　

Serena　reached　for　Nate？s　hand　and　gave　it　an　excited　squeeze；　barely　able　to　keep　the　secret　to　
herself。　？Let？s　go　get　silly。？　

？Hear；　hear！？　Lord　Marcus　agreed。　

Blair　didn？t　even　flinch　at　the　sight　of　Serena　and　Nate　holding　hands。　She？d　always　wanted　to　
be　a　foursome；　she？d　just　always　thought　it　would　be　her　and　Nate　and　Serena　and　someone　else。　
She　looked　up　into　Lord　Marcus？s　handsome　golf…course…green　eyes　and　he　swooped　down　and　
kissed　her　tenderly　on　the　tip　of　her　nose。　


Nate　had　never　been　that　into　public　displays　of　affection。　And　anyway；　what　had　ever　been　so　
special　about　Nate？　

Boys　will　be　boys　and　girls　will　be　girls　

？I　heard　about　you。　You？re　the　kid　who？s　to　take