669小说网

第11部分（第2页）

As　Blair　walked　east　toward　Madison；　her　iPhone　rang　the　familiar　strains　of　the　opening　bars　of　“Moon　River。”

She　pulled　it　out　of　her　Lanvin　hobo；　surprised　to　see　an　unfamiliar　212　number　flash　across　the　display。　She　pressed　talk；　her　mind　bubbling　with　possibilities。　Was　it　Nate；　ditching　his　parents　to　meet　her　for　a　Per　Se　dinner？

“This　is　Blair；”　she　answered　curiously。

“Blair　Waldorf？”　a　surprisingly　high　man’s　voice　repeated　on　the　other　end　of　the　phone。

“Yes；”　Blair　said　cautiously。

“Miss　Waldorf；　this　is　Freddie　from　Tiffany　and　pany。　We　have　your　order　here。　We　close　in　an　hour；”　he　finished。

Blair　racked　her　brain。　“I　don’t　think　I　ordered　anything；”　Blair　began。　Unless　her　father　had　ordered　something　for　her　as　a　late　Christmas　present。　But　he’d　already　sent　her　a　pair　of　limited　edition　snakeskin　Christian　Louboutins。　Besides；　she　and　Harold　bonded　over　shoes　or　purses；　not　jewelry。　Which　could　only　mean　that　it　was　a　surprise　from　Nate。

“I’ll　be　by　in　a　few　minutes；”　she　said　eagerly；　her　hand　shooting　up　in　the　air　to　hail　a　taxi。

“Okay；　miss。　We’re　located　at—“

“I　know　where　you　are；”　Blair　said　quickly　as　she　stepped　into　the　first　cab　that　pulled　up；　stealing　it　from　a　harried…looking　woman　in　a　chinchilla　coat。　Blair　felt　guilty　for　a　moment；　but　this　was　an　emergency。

“Fifty…seventh　and　Fifth；”　she　said　quickly　as　the　cab　peeled　away　from　the　curb。　Maybe　Nate　had　just　said　his　parents　were　ing　home　so　he　could　stage　an　elaborate　surprise　for　her；　to　show　her　how　truly　sorry　he　was　for　running　away　last　summer。　And　a　surprise　was　so　sweet—she　loved　surprises；　especially　when　she　knew　about　them。

Naturally。

Blair’s　heart　thudded　in　anticipation　as　the　cab　turned　onto　Fifth。　Outside；　the　stately　doorman　buildings　of　the　Upper　East　Side　gradually　gave　way　to　the　brightly　colored　window　displays　of　high…end　shops。　Garlands　of　greenery　were　wrapped　around　streetlamps　and　light　displays　were　lit　up　across　the　avenue。　Blair　felt　like　it　was　Christmas　and　her　birthday　and　the　Barneys　warehouse　sale　rolled　into　one。

“Here’s　fine；”　Blair　said　as　the　cab　idled　in　traffic　on　Fifty…ninth　Street。　She　could　walk　a　few　blocks。　She　handed　the　driver　a　ten　from　her　Prada　wallet　and　slipped　out　the　door。

She　paused　in　front　of　the　limestone　corner　building　that　housed　Tiffany　&　Co。

A　dapper　doorman　in　a　three…piece　suit　pushed　the　revolving　door；　and　she　entered；　enjoying　the　feeling　of　her　Sigerson　Morrison　boots　sinking　into　the　plush　carpet。　The　iconic　store　was　filled　with　tourists　eagerly　gawking　at　the　merchandise　under　thick　glass　counters。　Ordinarily；　the　bustle　would　have　annoyed　her；　but　she　didn’t　mind　today。　She　liked　how　everything　in　the　store　felt　so　alive　and　exciting；　as　if　anything　could　happen。　She　marched　over　to　a　customer　service　desk　in　the　left　corner　of　the　room。

“Hello；　I’m　Blair　Waldorf；”　she　announced　to　the　tiny　man　behind　the　counter。　He　wore　a　pink　striped　French　cuffed　shirt　and　a　red　tie。　His　robin’s　egg　blue　name　tag　read　FREDDIE。　“I　believe　you　called　me。”

“Of　course；　Miss　Waldorf！”　he　shrieked。　He　glanced　meaningfully　over　at　the　beige　couches　in　the　corner。　Blair　followed　his　gaze；　expecting　to　see　Nate。　An　overweight　guy　wearing　a　pink　baseball　cap　on　his　bald　head　stood　beside　two　women　arguing　with　each　other　in　French；　and　a　handsome　guy　in　shorts　sat　with　his　back　to　them。

Blair　knew　only　one　guy　who　wore　cargo　shorts　in　the　winter；　as　if　he　simply　wasn’t　affected　by　the　cold。　And　she’d　sort　of　forgotten　that　he　existed。

“Scout！”　Pete　looked　up　and　grinned　devilishly　as　he　sauntered　toward　her。　It　was　as　if　he’d　just　spotted　her　across　the　dining　hall。

“Hi；”　Blair　said　weakly。　It　wasn’t　like　she’d　forgotten　about　Pete；　exactly；　but　he　certainly　hadn’t　been　front　and　center　on　her　radar。

“But　what　about　Costa　Rica？”　Blair　asked；　confused。　Pete　was　supposed　to　be　there　for　another　week。

He　shrugged　and　smiled。　“I　couldn’t　do　it。　I　needed　to　be　with　you。　So　I　got　to　thinking…”　Pete　smiled　as　he　reached　into　the　pocket　of　his　cargo　shorts；　removed　a　blue　box；　and　held　it　out　to　her。

“What？”　Blair　asked；　a　wave　of　dizziness　hitting　her。

“Open　it。”　Pete　pushed　the　box　into　her　hands。　Fingers　trembling；　she　opened　the　Tiffany　blue　cardboard　box　to　find　a　small　black　velvet　jewelry　box。　Blair’s　heart　careened　through　her　chest　to　the　floor。

Was　he　proposing？　At　Tiffany？　She’d　imagined　this　was　how　she’d　get　engaged　a　million　times。　But　in　all　her　fantasies；　it　wasn’t　Pete　asking　her。　It　was　Nate。

She　pried　open　the　hinged　lid　of　the　box。　There；　sitting　on　a　bed　of　blue　satin；　was　a　white　gold　ring。　It　was　circled　by　tiny　pink　sapphires　that　captured　the　light。

“Is　this…”　Blair　began；　her　fingers　trembling。

“It’s　not　an　engagement　ring；”　Pete　explained　hurriedly；　reading　the　shocked　expression　on　Blair’s　face。　“At　least　not　yet。　But　I　do　want　you　to　e　on　Carlson　vacations。　I　feel　like　this　sort　of　answers　my　dad’s　‘no　ring；　no　bring’　rule；　don’t　you？”　he　asked　with　an　adorably　lopsided　smile。

Around　them；　tourists　craned　their　necks　to　see　what　was　going　on。　One　paunchy　man　had　even　pulled　out　his　camera　phone　and