crazier。 And if drinking didn？t work； he was going to go out and sit on the steps of the Met and
smoke all six of the emergency joints in his pocket。
Old habits die hard。
He raised his glass to take another slug and felt a big slap on his back； causing him to nearly
choke。 He turned to see his father standing right beside him。
？There you are。？ The Captain was wearing his custom…made English double…breasted tuxedo； a
black satin bow tie set at his throat； his gray hair neatly bed back from his aristocratic face。 He
set his empty champagne glass down on the bar next to Nate？s。
？Well； I hear someone？s bailed you out？as usual；？ the Captain proclaimed。 ？You？re one lucky
boy。 Do you know that？？
Nate ran his hands through his hair； nodding mechanically。 Leave it to his dad to reduce him to a
drunken asshole with no dick。
？Though I suppose I shouldn？t give Lady Luck all the credit for your good fortune。You？ve got
one industrious girl…friend；？ his father remarked。 ？You don？t deserve her。？ Nate blushed and
looked at his feet。 He knew his dad was right？hehadn？t done a goddamn thing to deserve getting
back into Yale？he？d simply been lucky。 Lucky that he had a girlfriend who didn？t give up until
she got her way。 Lucky thatshe had a father who was on the board of trustees。
Blair sidestepped one of the Adonises as she walked over； her azure dress floating around her like
waves。 Through the window behind her； Nate could see the cars flying down Fifth Avenue； some
of them slowing as they passed the gala happening inside。
？Blair； darling。？ The Captain slipped an arm around Blair？s tiny shoulders。 ？I was just telling my
ungrateful son here