B。 suit； a gift from his former agent； back when he？d been poised to be the literary world？s next
big thing。
Not a fickle almost…college…dropout who cheats on his live…in girlfriend。
？Hey beautiful；？ he called boldly； springing off the last step and onto the sidewalk。 Taking the
stepswas easier since he？d started his exercise regimen。
？Thanks。？ Bree kissed his cheek。 ？Feeling centered？ You look good。 I hope I？m not
underdressed。？
？No； you？re just right。 Should we go？？
They strolled down Lexington amid clouds of bus exhaust。 The early evening light shimmered on
the windows of Starbucks。
？So。？ Bree wrapped her arms around herself as she walked。 ？I？m still not sure I understand why
you were invited to this party。？
？I？m not sure；？ Dan admitted。 ？I know Serena from way back。。。。 Or maybe Vanessa put me on
the list？ Who cares？ Party？s a party； right？？They turned onto Seventy…first Street。
？That？s true。？ Bree nodded stiffly。 She looked a little nervous and uptight for someone who was
usually so Zen。 ？Speaking of Vanessa 。 。 。？
？Right。？ Dan dug instinctively into his pockets for his Camels。
Too bad he forgot his wheatgrass…and…ginseng cigarettes。
Bree sighed。 ？I think maybe you need to think this through。 Meditate。 Breathe deeply。 Center
yourself。 Eventually you？ll find clarity。 I can？t tell you what to do； you know。 It？s your life。 But
I？d like to see you find some answers。 That？s all we want in life； after all； isn？t it？？
？Sure； right；？ Dan mumbled； looking both ways before they crossed Third Avenue。 Maybe a taxi
would just plow him down and he wouldn？t have to have this conversation。
？I don？t know。？ Bree sighed； abs