heCharlotte ； up at his family？s pound in Mt。 Desert Isle； Maine； and the after…noon working
on Coach Michaels？s place kind of reminded him of that summer； although the setting？rows of
houses and overpopulated beaches？wasn？t quite as serene。 Still； there was nothing like tough
manual work； bright sunshine； and the reward of a cold Stella Artois when the day was done； and
no distractions。
There were no classes to worry about： school was over at last； and Yale seemed impossibly far
away。 Blair； the girl he was pretty sure was the love of his life but who he could never seem to get
it together for； was in England with her new aristocrat boyfriend； probably shopping； eating scones；
and drinking way too much tea。 Serena was back in the city being a movie star； and Jenny； the
incredibly well…endowed freshman he？d somehow gotten involved with last winter； had been
shipped off to Europe。 He was better off far away from those three。
He grinned； realizing that this was how the whole summer would go： days of hard labor； bike
rides back home； then a shower； a joint； and maybe some time by himself was just what he needed。
Coach？s house was in Hampton Bays； several miles from his own house in East Hampton； but it
was like a different world； with its suburban houses and minivans and malls。 It was just the kind of
place that would help him refocus this summer； which was his plan。 He didn？t have his eye on any
particular girl； and anyway； they tended to lead him into nothing but trouble。 Maybe he was better
off as a solo act。
As if he were ever alone for more than thirty seconds。
Nate had to climb off and push the squeaky bike up a particularly bad hill； w