Nate glanced at his beat…up platinum Rolex as he hopped out of the cab and into the blinding
morning light。 He shaded his eyes from the sun as he looked up at the street signs; trying to get his
bearings。 ?Thanks; man。? He turned to the cabbie and handed him forty bucks。
?Sir; you overpay?? The driver handed back one of the twenties; but Nate had already turned
away。
?It?s all yours;? he called as he hurried down the street。 He checked his watch again。 Nine
fifty…five。 Only five more minutes。
He started to run now; his loafers slapping against the pavement as his feet made contact with the
hot asphalt。 A few paces and he was panting。 The sweat trickled down the back of his gray T…shirt。
The balls of his feet hurt and he wished he?d worn sneakers?and maybe eaten some breakfast。
Of course he?d be thinking of food at a time like this。 His phone rang and buzzed in his pocket。
He pulled it out and looked at the screen。 Blair。 Again。 He silenced the phone and put it back into
his shorts。
Finally he rounded a corner and there she was; the sweet girl he?d be spending the next year
with。
Who?
Nate raced down the Battery Park City wharf?the same dock he and Blair had sailed into ten days
ago; although it felt like much longer。 It was as if the moment he?d set foot on dry land; his days
had turned into a confusing tangle of getting stoned and hurting the people he loved。
Story of his life。
Nate leapt onto the deck and strode into the stern of theBelinda; crashing into a pile of life
preservers。 He looked at his watch again。
?Nine fifty…nine!? he called out。 ?I?m early!?
Chips appeared from the cabin with a grin。 ?Glad you made it。? He was wearing his ?traveling
clothes;? a pristine pair of white duck cloth sailor?s pants and a navy blue windbreaker。 His white
hair was bed back from his deeply lined face; and his blue eyes sparkled as he moved around
the boat; his bad leg dragging behind him but an excited spring in his step。 He bent at the waist;
untied a mass of rope at his feet; and began to raise the anchor with the hand crank。 That?s what
Nate was going to love about sailing with Chips。 No puterized anything。 Everything was done
the old…fashioned way; with maps and muscle。 ?Belindaand I thought we might have to leave
without you。? Nate grinned; extracting himself from the pile of life preservers; and started to help
Chips with the rope。 ?I just wanted to make you sweat a little。? His phone rang a
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