the illicit cruise he was about to undertake； but whatever the reason； Nate actually started to run；
dodging pedestrians and leaping over a low gate that separated the docks from the street。 The
rubber soles of his flip…flops thwacked noisily against the ashy wood slats of the dock。 His heart
was pounding in his ears： it was really； finally happening？the summer was beginning at last。 Once
he and Blair stepped on board that boat； every…thing would change。
？Sir？ Sir？？ A uniformed dockhand was running down the pier toward Nate； waving his hands in
the air above his head like bees were attacking him。 ？This is private property； sir； you？re going to
have to leave。？
？I？m looking for my boat；？ Nate explained； scanning the forest of masts for its familiar profile。
He？d helped his dad build the thing？he？d have known the boat anywhere。 ？TheCharlotte。 It？s
around here somewhere。 I want to take her out。？
？TheCharlotte？ ？ The dockhand？a college…age kid who seemed cool enough？stared at Nate；
clearly confused。 ？The Archibald boat？？
？Yeah。？ Nate nodded； glancing behind him： Blair and Serena were perched on the security gate；
swinging their legs in the air and laughing at something。 ？It？s my family？s boat。 Can you give me
the slip number？？
？Sorry； man。？ The dockhand shook his head； slowly。 ？She？s not here。 Captain Archibald sailed
up to Newport at the beginning of June？he told me he was planning on keeping her there for the
season。？
Shit。Nate frowned at the dockhand； then looked back at Blair once more。 She was kicking her
little tan legs up and down when a sudden gust of wind off the water caused her gauzy dress to
flutter up around her w