ps。　He　wondered　if　he　could　get　a　flight　back　to　California　tonight。　“I　think　I’m　going　back　to　the　airport。　See　if　I　can　get　back　to　Deep　Springs；”　Nate　explained　as　they　waited　for　the　light　to　cross　Lexington。

Chuck　looked　at　him　skeptically。　There　was　a　glimmer　of　how　he　used　to　look　back　in　high　school；　whenever　someone　suggested　leaving　a　party。　“Are　you　sure　about　that？”

Nate　stiffened；　balling　his　hands　in　his　jacket　pockets。　“Yes；”　he　said　firmly。　There　was　no　one　in　New　York　he　wanted　to　see。　New　York　was　bad　for　him—full　of　past　mistakes　and　regrets。

In　little　black　dresses。

The　light　changed　and　they　crossed　the　street。　“It’s　New　Year’s　Eve。　No　way　will　you　be　able　to　get　out　of　here。　Just　stay　a　couple　days。”　Chuck　pointed　out；　trailing　behind　him　across　Eightieth　Street。　Snow　was　beginning　to　stick　to　the　street；　blanketing　the　city　in　a　thin　layer　of　white。　“Besides；　I’m　having　a　party。”

Nate　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　sidewalk　and　turned　to　Chuck。　Didn’t　he　get　it？　He’d　just　been　at　the　funeral　of　someone　who’d　meant　a　lot　to　him；　and　all　Chuck　could　talk　about　was　a　party？　“I　don’t　party　anymore；”　Nate　said　flatly。

“Too　busy　feeling　sorry　for　yourself？”　Chuck　asked；　briefly　losing　his　patience。

Nate　narrowed　his　green　eyes。　Chuck　sounded　like　Chips。　Nate　could　almost　conjure　the　salt…sea　air；　standing　on　the　deck　of　the　Belinda；　Chips　angrily　waving　his　tumbler　of　scotch　out　to　an　uncaring　ocean。　“e　on！”　Chuck　said；　slapping　Nate　on　the　back　as　if　to　force　him　to　buck　up。

Chuck　put　hailed　a　cab。　“You’re　ing　with　me；”　he　manded；　pushing　Nate　into　the　backseat。

Aye；　aye；　Captain！

bohemian　like　them

“Is　that　it？　Or　was　that　just　your　winter…into…spring　wardrobe？　At　least　summer