of　Serena　prancing　around　the　runway　at　the　Les　Best　show　wearing　her　school　uniform　and　that

stupid　I　LOVEAARONT…shirt。　Even　in　the　bar；　she　could　hear　people　murmuring；　？Who　is　she？？

and　？Who？s　Aaron？？　It　was　enough　to　drive　Blair　right　up　the　red　velvet？covered　wall。

？I　wore　my　Yale　tie　this　time；？　Owen　announced　with　a　sly　grin　as　he　strode　through　the　door

wearing　a　tan　Burberry　trench　coat　and　a　black　wool　fedora　hat　that　made　him　look　even　more

manly　and　dashing　than　when　she？d　first　met　him。　He　slid　into　the　red　velvet？covered　bench　next

to　Blair　and　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　His　face　was　damp　and　cold　from　the　storm；　and　the　feel　of　it

against　her　face　made　her　whole　body　tingle。　？Hello；　gorgeous。？

Instantly　Blair　forgot　all　about　Serena。　She　was　with　a　sexy　older　man　who　called

her　？gorgeous。？So　there。

？Hi。？　She　twisted　her　ruby　ring　around　and　around　on　her　ring　finger。　？I？m　sorry　I　dragged　you

out　on　a　night　like　this。　I　was　just　so　。　。　。bored　。？

The　cocktail　waitress　came　over　and　Owen　ordered　a　Bombay　Sapphire　martini　straight　up。　He

pulled　a　pack　of　Marlboro　Lights　from　his　pocket；　put　two　cigarettes　in　his　mouth；　lit　them　both

and　passed　one　to　Blair。　His　black　eyebrows　furrowed　with　brooding　concern　as　he　gazed　at　her

with　his　piercingly　bright　blue　eyes。　？You？re　not　in　any　trouble；　are　you？？

Trouble？Blair　took　a　drag　off　her　cigarette　and　considered　her　answer。　If　you　could　call　having　a

crush　on　your　older；　married　Yale　alum　interviewer　trouble；　then　yes；　she　was　interrible

trouble。　？Maybe；？　she　replied　coyly。　？Are　you？？

The　waitress　brought　Owen　his　martini。　He　ate　the　green　olive　floating　inside　it　and　then　wiped