underwear to shreds。 His normally pale face was tan; and his dark; short dreadlocks were streaked
with copper; like he?d been living on a beach all summer。 Aaron was annoying; but at least he
didn?t look anything like his dad; Cyrus; who was the most revolting human specimen of a
stepfather Blair had ever encountered。
?Daddy; are you still there??
?I?m here; Blair…Bear?and I?ll try。 But no promises; okay? I want you to be realistic about the
situation。 If it?s meant to be; it?s meant to be。? The babies started wailing again; and her dad
offered a quick ?Love you; see you in a few days!? before signing off。
Oh; it was meant to be; all right;Blair thought as she tossed her phone down on the bed。 You
couldn?t stop destiny?and she and Nate weredestined to be together forever。
?Thanks for the friendly wele; Sis。? Aaron grinned and leaned up against Mookie; throwing
his arm around the dog?s neck in a half nelson。 Good。 Maybe he?d strangle the thing by accident。
Mookie offered him a wet lick across his face。
?Oh; right。 Wele back;? she said irritably。 ?And I told you to stop calling me that。 Just
because my mom married your dad doesn?t mean I?m your sister。? ?Uh; no offense; Sis; but that?s
exactly what it means。? Aaron smoothed down Mookie?s gross; slobbery fur with one hand and
chuckled。
?Whatever。? Blair inspected her French manicure; which was now chipped。 As if she needed one
more fucked up thing in her life。
Poor baby!
?So; you getting psyched for Yale?? Aaron asked; lying back on the floor。 Mookie promptly got
up and sat on his chest; obscuring his face so that all Blair could see was his dreadlocks; and
Mookie?s grinning; drooling muzzle。 It was like they?d bee one giant dog…dreadlock monster。
Before Blair could answer; Aaron?s muffled voice continued。 ?Remember when I drove you up for
your interview; and we stayed at that gross motel?? ?Oh God?how could I forget?? Blair laughed
bitterly。 At the time; she?d thought her luck couldn?t get any worse。 After a night of drinking too
much beer and eating too much junk food from their motel vending machine; she?d overslept for
her Yale interview; which had wound up being a total disaster。 Now that she was into Yale; she
could look back and laugh。 If she hadn?t gotten in; Aaron wouldn?t be alive now to remind her of
the story。 ?Anyway; how was your road trip? Pick up any interesting; homicidal hitchhikers?? He
laughed。 ?No hitchhikers。 It was good?I pretty much didn?t want to e back。 But I guess I
should probably pack up a few things before I leave for Harvard。? ?Yeah; before the movers e
and we bee homeless;? Blair added angrily。 She kicked the trunk at the foot of her bed for
emphasis。
?Well; I guess that tells me how you?re feeling about the move。? Aaron inched a little farther