?I?m actually not feeling that well。? He wasn?t even lying; really; since the thought of what
might happen if he didn?t get out of there made him feel totally queasy。Wincing in pain? but
trying not to overdo it?Nate let out a pathetic cough。
?Poor boy;? she cooed; using one hand to cinch her flimsy robe closed。 She placed her other palm
against his furrowed brow。 ?You do feel a little warm。?
Maternal instinct andBasic Instinct ?what a disturbing mix。
?Yeah。? he agreed; backing away。 ?I don?t know if I can tackle the lawn today。?
?No; of course not。We should get you out of those clothes and right into bed。 I can make you
some nice herbal??
?I should really just go;? Nate interrupted the disturbing quasi…porno scenario Babs was
describing。 He didn?t want to trade her Mrs。 Robinson fantasies for some skanky nurse setup。 ?In
fact; I think I hear my ride outside。?
?You just rest and take it easy;? Babs cooed。 ?Don?t you worry about work。 I?ll tell Coach you
need a rest。 He?s wearing you down。?
?Thanks Mrs。 M。? Nate nodded gratefully as he bounded off the porch。 Forgetting that he was
supposed to be sick; he whooped with delight when he heard a car horn and saw Anthony?s black
BMW turn recklessly into the coach?s driveway。Saved。
?You sure you?re just playing sick?? Anthony momentarily took his eyes off the road to study
Nate; who was sunk low in the cream…colored reclined leather seat; shielding his eyes from the
bright sunlight with his hand。
?No; dude; I?m fine;? Nate assured him; fiddling with the dashboard vents so that the cool blast
of AC was aimed directly at his face。 ?Babs was just; you know; ing on kind of strong。?
?No shit!? Anthony laughed; turning down the stereo; which was blaring the latest Reigning
Sound album。 ?This I have to fucking hear。?
?Nothing to hear;? Nate mumbled; grinning despite him…self。 ?Believe me; it?ll give you
nightmares for fucking weeks。?
Nate stared out the window at the landscape whizzing by: the fields of green grass; the rich blue
sky; the weather…beaten; enormous shingled houses; all of it blurred together; a rush of images he
couldn?t separate into their various parts; almost the same way that the summer had been nothing
but a stream of various moments he couldn?t separate into distinct events。 He sighed。 There was
just something incredibly depressing about realizing that the only memorable moments of the
summer had been a total bust of a party in the city where he?d been abandoned by his date; and
yesterday; when he?d caught Blair and Serena skinny…dipping or whatever the hell they were
doing。