小说园

第20部分（第1页）

horny；　wandering　eye？they？d　decided　they　were　better　off　as　friends　who　slept　in　separate　beds；　in

separate　rooms。　It　just　so　happened　that　those　rooms　were　in　the　same　apartment；　because　Vanessa

had　been　rendered　homeless　by　her　newly　Czechoslovak…boyfriended　totally　selfish　bitchface　of　a

sister。

？Yeah；　this　sucks。？　Dan　dropped　his　cigarette　into　the　sink；　where　it　went　out　with　a　hiss。　？I？m　so

hungry。？

？Mmmm；？　Vanessa　grunted；　microwaving　some　water　in　a　Pyrex　measuring　cup；　the　only　clean

vessel　she　could　find。　She　spilled　Folgers　on　the　floor　while　trying　to　spoon　it　into　the　cup。　She

wasn？t　much　of　a　morning　person　either。

A　match　made　in　heaven。

She　hoisted　herself　onto　the　cluttered　kitchen　counter；　her　pale；　prickly　legs　sticking　out　from　a

pair　of　Dan？s　tattered　navy　blue　boxer　shorts。　It　was　bizarre　to　see　her　still　wearing　something　of

his；　something　sointimately　his；　when　they　weren？t　together　anymore。　It　made　him　。　。　。　sad。

Every　night　for　the　last　week；　Dan　had　lain　awake　in　bed；　wondering　what　Vanessa　was　doing　in

the　next　room。　He？d　hear　her　get　up　to　go　to　the　bathroom；　and　think　about　accidentally　bumping

into　her　in　the　dark；　familiar　hall　of　the　apartment。　They？d　fall　into　each　other？s　arms；　furiously

kissing　all　the　way　back　to　Dan？s　bed。　He？d　rub　her　shaven　head；　loving　the　feel　of　the　familiar

soft　stubble　on　his　chest；　the　way　her　ears　were　always　so　hot　when　she　got　excited？

Dan　suddenly　started　shaking　his　head　as　if　his　fantasy　was　water　stuck　in　his　ears。

？You　okay？？　Vanessa　asked；　eyeing　him　suspiciously。　She　shifted　from　side　to　side　on　the

countertop；　settling　beside　the　microwave。

？Um；　yeah；？　Dan　practically　yelled；　his　pinkies　now　lodged　in　his　ears。　？I　guess　I　better　hit　the

road。　Gotta　get　to　work。　Make　the　donuts。You　know　how　it　is！？

？Why　are　you　screaming？？　she　asked　quietly；　her　eye…brows　knitted　in　question。

？Oh；　sorry。？　Dan　laughed。　He　downed　his　coffee　in　one　quick　gulp；　ignoring　the　burning

sensation　in　his　throat；　and　reached　past　Vanessa　to　grab　his　folded…up　copy　of　theNew　York

Review　of　Books　to　read　on　the　subway。　？So。　？Bye。　Have　a　good　day；？　he　added；　resisting　the　urge

to　kiss　her。

？？Bye；？　she　called　after　him。

But　hello；　awkward？！

The　rolled…upReview　tucked　safely　in　his　damp　armpit；　Dan　bounded　down　the　musty　granite

stairs　toward　the　legendarily　filthy　employee　lounge　at　the　Strand。　The　dark　stairwell　smelled　like

moldy　books；　which　should　have　been　nasty　but　was　actually　one　of　Dan？s　favorite　smells。

He　had　thirty　seconds　to　stash　his　paper；　grab　his　name　tag　out　of　his　locker；　and　report　to　the

floor　for　duty。　None　of　the　bookstore？s　managers　had　any　sense　of　humor　about　things　like

tardiness。　They　were　crusty；　liberal　pseudoacade…mics　who　resented　young　summer　job　kids　like