and it didn？t seem fair to wake the
whole household just to announce her definitely untriumphant return。 How many times would she
slink back here？ It was basically the only place she had in the world to call home； and already
she？d had to retreat there a distressing number of times in the past few weeks： first； after being
unceremoniously evicted from the Williamsburg apartment； then after being fired from her first
real job working onBreakfast at Fred？s； and now after narrowly escaping a stint as a careless
nanny and then vapid muse to the maniacally enthusiastic Bailey Winter。
Some summer！
？Who？s there？？
Slightly startled to hear Dan？s voice？at least itsounded like Dan？so early in the morning； Vanessa
squinted into the still…dark hallway。 ？Dan？ It？s me。Vanessa。？
？Vanessa；？ Dan muttered sadly。 He was paler than usual； and his cheeks had a dusting of
irregular stubble over them； like he？d started to shave and then changed his mind。
Eggplant…colored circles ringed his eyes； and he was clutching an unlit cigarette in his hand as if
he？d forgotten to light it and then forgotten it was there。
Wow？someone really isn？t a morning person。
？Dan？ You look like？？ She paused； taking in the oily sheen of his unwashed； matted hair。 She
was suddenly over…whelmed with the feeling of wanting to draw him a bath and make him some
oatmeal。 She vaulted forward； sweeping him up in her arms。 He smelled like musty cigarettes and
armpit； but for some reason Vanessa still found it forting。 But just as she leaned in a little
closer； smelling his spottily shaven neck； he stepped out of her embrace。 ？Are you okay？？ she
demanded； concerned。
？I don