This is now officially my most reviewed story so thank you all so much! I can't believe how many reviews this has gotten and it's not even halfway through. Thank you all so so much, the fact that you keep reviewing each chapter means so much. I love reading each and every one of them and really do thank you all for the time you spend on writing them.
Now, as for this chapter, you all will be happy to know there are a lot more Dair scenes this time around. Hope you like what's in store for them :)
Perhaps Dan was too harsh with his avoidance of Blair.
It's Sunday morning and he's just walked into Nate's for breakfast like he does almost every Sunday. Stepping through the back door to the kitchen, his eyes land on the familiar silhouette sitting with her back to him at the kitchen island. She's laughing with Nate and he feels like he's stepped into a stock photo. He feels like he's interrupted something, inciting a pang of jealousy.
Blair turns, seemingly hearing him come in. Their eyes meet and his stomach dips momentarily. "Hey," He smiles at them both but only Nate returns it.
"Humphrey," Blair greets him coldly as he takes his seat next to Nate. She doesn't even bother looking up at him, instead, keeping her gaze on her nearly drained glass.
Dan's brows furrow and he thinks maybe he just walked into a time warp. This feels like backtracking. No more bagels and bottles of whiskey as tokens of gratitude here. "Blair," He says with meaning, hoping she'll catch the hint. She doesn't.
Nate gets up to grab Dan a plate and a glass and he's left alone with Blair. With nothing to do but make conversation, he tries. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while," He's well aware his statement makes it sound like he hasn't been studiously avoiding him. But she doesn't know about that part unless she does...
"Fine, you?" Her eyes flick to him for a nanosecond, no more.
"Good." He struggles to think of more to say.
Nate comes back with his plate and glass and Dan is grateful for the distraction. Dan fills his plate and Blair goes back to chatting with Nate, as though he's not there. He racks his brain for a reason she would be mad at him but comes up empty.
That's when he draws the conclusion that he was a little too fierce in his efforts to dodge her. Perhaps she caught onto it and now she's pissed. Dan thinks of how to proceed with her, waiting for an opening in the conversation. In the meantime, he eats his breakfast and chimes in when Nate prompts him.
His opening to talk to her, actually talk to her, finally comes when the Captain comes into the kitchen and starts scratching at the door. He knows the dog well enough to know he's ferocious in his efforts to be let out and therefore will likely get his way. Indeed he does when Nate sighs and rises.
"Sorry guys," Nate says. "I need to go walk him real quick. He's been waiting too long, haven't you Cap?" He reaches down and scratches the dog's ears.
"Actually, I was just about to leave," Blair stands suddenly. Her lie is clear from the way she's barely touched her food and the fact that she just refilled her mimosa a moment ago. There's no way she was planning to leave this soon.
Nate shakes his head, "No, stay. I'll be right back! I've barely seen you, I want to hear how that patient quota is coming along." He leashes the dog and pushes open the back door. "Be right back,"
With that, Blair is forced to sit back down. Dan watches as she fills the silence with the clang of her fork against her full plate.
Watching her stab a piece of cantaloupe, Dan breaks the quiet air, "Thanks again for the whiskey,"
"Mhm," Blair takes a swig of her mimosa. He watches her waiting for her to finish but once the glass is empty she rises, smoothing out her pale pink floral dress. She goes over to the bottle of champagne and this time doesn't dilute it with orange juice. She seems to think for a moment, freezing with the bottle still in her grasp but then she reaches over to Dan's glass to refill it.
"Jenny says she hasn't seen you in a while," Dan takes this as the perfect opening for another attempt to lighten the tense atmosphere.
It works. Just not the way he wanted it to.
"You asked your sister about me?" Blair asks with a smirk and that familiar spark in her eye. "If you wanted to know how I am Humphrey I live ten feet away. It wouldn't be hard to find out." She pushes his now full glass back toward him before sitting down again. This time, she chooses the bar stool Nate was in so that's she's directly across from him.
"No," Dan says too quickly, feeling heat quickly rising to his cheeks. "She just mentioned it. Not that I asked. I just-"
Blair laughs and touches his arm so briefly he thinks he imagined it. "Sure, Humphrey. It just came up, naturally. I believe you." Blair replies in an unconvinced tone. "So how is she? I've been busy this week, I've been trying to beat the 90-day quota deadline. I'm only 5 percent away."
"You are?" Dan feels pleased for her, smiling openly. "That'll show Dr. van der Woodsen, won't it?"
"I hope so," Blair sighs. "Especially now that he's brought in Carter Baizen. I'm still not convinced he's some spy."
"Carter, right." Dan nods. "I heard he was back in town. So do you like working with him? Besides fearing that he's gathering intel for nefarious purposes."
"No, all he does is make sleazy remarks about his bedside manner all day. I don't know how he got offered a fellowship that I got rejected for." Dan can tell Blair is trying for a humorous tone but it doesn't quite work. He can see the hint of disappointment that befalls her face. He has a strange instinct to cheer her up.
"Probably only because Providence couldn't bear to have him around anymore. They probably paid off the other hospital to offer him the job." Dan is pleased when his joke makes her smile.
"So you never told me," Blair's tone lightens and she rests her elbows on the counter. The act brings her the tiniest bit closer to him. "How is Jenny? I do need to call her and catch up."
"She's good, just a little bored I think with school out. She really does miss you." Dan says sincerely.
"That's sweet," Blair looks off into the distance. "I'll make plans to see her this week."
"You could see her tonight, I'm sure my dad and she would love if you went to dinner again." The words fall out of Dan's mouth before he can stop them.
An amused look crosses Blair's face. "Your dad and Jenny would?" She pauses. "So am I to gather that me going would displease you or that you won't be there?"
"No, no- I will- I mean, be there. I will be there, but I- uh am indifferent if you go." He feels himself stumble over his words and looks to the still shut door. Shouldn't Nate be back by now?
Blair laughs, "Indifferent, huh? Well, I suppose the status quo is maintained, Humphrey."
He doesn't have time to analyze what she means by that because it seems Nate has answered his telepathic summon. The Captain bursts in first and launches straight for Blair. He's starting to think perhaps her total apathy for the dog is somehow making the pet more intrigued by her.
Blair shoots up from her seat as The Captain starts pawing at her. "Ew, he's slobbering on my leg!"
Dan rushes over to the pull the dog from her, being closer to her than Nate is. But just as he reaches the dog, she sidesteps around Captain who promptly charges her from behind, pushing her straight into Dan. They collide and he instinctually steadies her, placing his hands on her arms and then quickly retracting them as she regains her balance. Her cheeks are flushed and the frown that was on her face disappears and is replaced by something like confusion as they both stand rooted to the spot.
Nate successfully manages to get the eager retriever away and Dan is left standing too close to Blair. She's so close that Dan can see a tiny scattering of freckles on her nose. His eyes almost dip lower until Nate's voice brings him back to the present.
"What's up with you guys?" Nate looks between them, a bemused smile playing at his lips.
"Nothing!" They both reply simultaneously, practically leaping apart.
Blair recovers first, sitting back down. "Does dog repellent exist? Because if so, I need to order it in bulk. That has happened one too many times."
"I'm sorry," Nate says quickly. "He likes you. He has good instincts," He touches her arm playfully.
"Hm, I suppose that could be true." Blair's eyes cut to Dan. She asks him rhetorically, "Why is it, Dan, that the Captain only ever lovingly lunges at me and not you? He must indeed have good instincts."
"You don't need dog repellent, Blair," Dan begins, sardonically. "Just be yourself and he'll stay far away like any clever species would.
"Well, that must not include you considering you just invited me to dinner." Blair retorts with a winning smile. "So congratulations on just confirming your lack of intellect."
"Wait," Nate looks between them. "I can't keep up with you two. What's happening?"
"Nothing," Blair and Dan chime in unison and Nate laughs.
"You two have such a weird dynamic," Nate laughs.
Dan starts to correct him and say that there is no dynamic but Blair speaks first.
"Well, this half of the weird dynamic," Blair rises. "Is leaving. Thanks for breakfast, Nate." Then, she looks at Dan. "Humphrey, I'd go to dinner but I think we've had enough interaction for one day. If I go, one of us will probably stab the other with a fork so I'll pass. Thanks for the invitation though," She calls cheerily as she steps out the back door of the kitchen, letting in a ray of sunshine behind her.
"I'll say what you once told me…" Nate says to Dan once the door is shut. His blue eyes land on Dan with a mischievous glint. "Good luck, man. You're going to need it."
What Serena van der Woodsen really needed was a getaway. A break from the stress of Carter's return, wedding planning, and the everpresent thorn in her side, Blair Waldorf. But instead, she's currently sitting around a table at Sugarcoates yet again discussing none other than Blair Waldorf. Serena was beginning to suspect that The Pearls will actually be quite disappointed if Operation Oust Blair does, in fact, succeed as they will no longer have her to gossip about.
"Serena?" Kati asks again, self-consciously smoothing out her already stick straight black bangs. "What do you think? Do you love it or like, totally hate it?"
Serena blinks, remembering that they've just presented their three-step plan for the operation. She was supposed to be listening but instead, her thoughts drifted away, as they tended to lately. Luckily, there was an elaborate diorama the girls had made in the center of the table so Serena just glances at it to fill in what she missed.
Step One: Force Dan to move in with Blair. Use renovations as an excuse.
Step Two: Continue their living arrangements until they become a couple*.
Step Three: Call in the secret weapon which will cause their break-up sending a rejected Blair straight back to New York.
*If living arrangement alone doesn't work, see below.
The "below" mentioned, Serena quickly learns is a series of ruses to encourage their hookup. They range from breaking the air conditioning in the cottage to "accidentally" setting up an elaborate trail of roses and candles to the bedroom. How they will pass that one off as an accident, is beyond Serena. But she really doesn't have the patience nor energy to discuss this anymore.
"This all looks great," She says without feeling but the girls don't notice her apathy. She idly breaks apart her cookie in half, then in half again.
"Yay!" Kati claps her hands together. "So you'll talk to Nate tonight and get the plan in motion?" Her eyes are wide with hope and excitement.
"Sure," Serena nods, typing a reminder into her phone.
Jessica chimes in with support. "At this rate, Blair will be gone before the wedding!"
If things kept on like this, Blair was going to need to find a new place to live. It wasn't just in her head, she could tell by the way Dan kept stumbling over his words and flushing at all her teasing. There was an unbearable tension between them.
It was probably magnified by the heat, being in the middle of a heat wave. That's what Blair tells herself at least. It definitely wasn't due to the fact that her heart had lept a little at seeing him walk into Nate's kitchen after not seeing him for almost a week. No, it was definitely just the gust of hot air he let in behind him.
After a trip to the salon to get a mani-pedi, Blair decides to make good on her word plus give herself a good distraction by texting Jenny. The two make plans to have dinner at The Loft on Thursday night. Jenny alludes to needing boy advice and Blair can't wait to have someone else's problems to mend for once rather than her own. Maybe that'll finally get Dan Humphrey on her mind.
And Thursday really couldn't come soon enough. The rest of Blair's week had dragged on as she struggled to book the final 5% of patients remaining. So most of her week was spent doing paperwork, dodging Dan Humphrey, and having dinner at Dorota's.
Eager for a night not spent with the company of toddlers, despite her adoration of Emi and C, Blair arrives at The Loft promptly and spots Jenny, waiting just outside a little conspiratorially. Jenny has huge black sunglasses on and a vibrant floral scarf and Blair is wondering if this is her idea of an incognito look because honestly, she couldn't stand out more.
"Hey, J," Blair greets her with a quizzical look, eyeing the getup. "What's with all this?" She points up and down.
Jenny lowers her voice, "Hi, we have to be stealth. He's here."
"Who's here?" Blair looks around the parking lot, confused. "Why can't we go inside?"
"We can, I just was waiting for you and we have to take the corner booth. Just follow my lead, okay?" Jenny pulls the door open and keeps her head down as she leads Blair inside.
Blair follows as instructed, feeling as though Jenny is leading them on a bank heist. Once they're finally settled into the booth, Blair turns to Jenny. "Okay, so what is going on?"
Jenny, still wearing her sunglasses, finally talks at a normal level. Well, it's still hushed but Blair no longer has to strain her ears to hear. "That's Graham, remember the guy I told you about? He's the one sitting by the window." Her eyes trail over across the sitting area to where a group of four sits.
"He's cute," Blair comments after surveying the boy who kind of looks like a young Nate. Blair can see why Jenny would like him with his golden skin and high cheekbones. "Why don't you go say hi?"
"I can't do that," Jenny huffs. "He's clearly on a date with Emma Boardman, aka the biggest bitch at Pearl Island Academy." Jenny then proceeds to fill Blair in on all the school politics plus the who's who of the other two at the table with them. It turns out one is Kira Abernathy who used to be Jenny's friend but ditched her once the popular girls invited her to eat lunch with them. The other boy with them is Jonathan Whitney, Graham's best friend.
"Besides," Jenny continues, "Graham won't even acknowledge me... We were assigned partners in bio class this year and we found out we have a lot in common. He likes art and I'm into calligraphy, plus we both like the same bands. But if we ever pass each other in the hallway, it's like I'm invisible." Jenny looks down, deflated, at her menu.
Before Blair can offer her take on the situation, they're interrupted. "Jenny. Blair. What are you guys doing here?" Dan looks between them, pausing on Jenny who's still wearing the ridiculous sunglasses and scarf getup. "And what are you wearing?"
"I told her to take that off. It's useless. We're hardly inconspicuous now that your brother is blowing our cover," Blair reaches over and undoes the scarf, pulling it away from Jenny's face. Then, she reaches out and tugs Dan down to sit in the booth beside her. "Be chill Humphrey. Your sister doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of her crush by her brother."
"Blair!" Jenny turns bright red and tries to wrangle the scarf back from Blair.
Meanwhile, Dan is trying to stand back up saying something about being on the clock. Blair waves this off. "They can spare you for a few minutes. Now, you're a boy, you can back me up on this. Isn't he totally not into her?" Blair points toward Graham and Emma across the room. "Look, Jenny. His body language says it all. The way he barely looks at her, the way she keeps trying and failing to get his attention. Honestly, he's more into that burger than he is her."
"I don't see what you mean," Jenny says, squinting at the pair from behind her menu.
Blair sighs, exasperated. "See how he's sitting, if he liked her he would be sitting close to her. Instead, he's angled away from her."
"Sitting close?" Jenny echoes and then turns her attention between Blair and Dan. "Like you two are now?"
Blair is suddenly made aware that she is, in fact, still sitting elbow to elbow with Dan. In her attempt to wrangle him, she must have forgotten to drop his arm so hers is still linked through his. She scoots away at the same time he does, wrenching her arm back. Then, she brushes her hair away from her face trying to look cool and collected while Dan is still looking horrified with a distinctive flush to his cheeks.
"Blair forced me to sit here," Dan says weakly and then stands. "You know, I'm just going to get back to-" He points at the bar and starts to make his way back but pauses at the table. "For the record, Jen, I think Blair is right. About the guy, not about Blair and- nevermind," He quickly amends. "Just he doesn't seem into her if you ask me."
"Wait, Humphrey." Blair's voice halts Dan. "Aren't you going to take our orders?"
"I'm not a server, I'm a bartender." Dan replies, annoyed, but Blair refuses to listen.
"Gin and tonic please, and one for Jenny too." Blair smiles sweetly.
Dan looks appalled, "Blair, that's my sister. My seventeen-year-old sister. Do you really think I'm going to go pour her a drink?"
"Relax, Humphrey." Blair rolls her eyes. "It was a joke." Jenny pouts at this but orders a Shirley Temple anyway.
Once he's gone, Blair gives Jenny a look, not letting her off the hook for her earlier remark. "Jenny, what was that about before? Were you trying to insinuate something?"
Jenny laughs now, seemingly pleased with herself. "Sorry, don't hate me. I just couldn't resist. Dan gets so flustered, it's hilarious. I think he has a crush on you or something." Jenny watches Blair's expression morph into one of what she must believe to be horror. "Sorry, sorry. I won't do it again. It was really funny though, did you see how red he turned?"
Blair guzzles her water, eager for an excuse not to say something. She can't come up with anything to say. Here she had been nervous that the reason Jenny implied something was between them was that she had given herself away. But what Jenny said meant something else entirely...
Dan's petrified expression replays in Blair's mind and that's all the reconciliation that Blair needs that Jenny is delusional. After all, she should hardly take the musings of a seventeen-year-old, one who's clearly trying to prank her brother, as fact. Jenny probably meant it as a joke. She turns back to finish discussing the topic at hand. "So about Graham… Let's form a game plan to make him yours."
After they've finished their food, Blair and Jenny make to leave The Loft. Stopping by the bar, Jenny says goodbye to her brother. "I'm leaving now."
"I'm off, actually. Why don't I give you a ride home? I'll stop in too to say hi to Dad." Dan comes around from the bar to stand beside them.
"I'm sleeping over at Blair's. Jenny replies, "I already texted Dad to let him know."
"But it's a school night," Dan takes on an authoritative tone.
Blair laughs from where she stands between them. "No wonder you were so good at babysitting, Humphrey. You act like her dad. She's seventeen, not seven."
"Yeah, Dan. Chill," Jenny takes on an angsty tone and Blair feels a little bad for encouraging it. Not that she would ever actually admit aloud, but she thinks his brother protectiveness is kind of cute.
"Well, fine. Let me at least give you guys a ride, since we're headed to the same place." Dan pulls out his keys and leads them to his car.
"You can take the front Blair," Jenny offers and slides into the back before Blair can refuse. Her voice drops an octave. "Since Dan likes sitting next to you so much,"
"What?" Blair and Dan chorus, their heads swiveling in unison toward the backseat.
Jenny takes on an innocent expression. "Since Dan likes sitting up so far, you know? His seat? It gets cramped back here."
They both look skeptically at Jenny but turn back toward the front. Blair buckles her seatbelt, giving it a reassured tug. She never quite feels safe in this old piece of metal.
"So how did your spy mission go?" Dan glances back at his sister.
"It was successful," Jenny grins.
"Oh no," Dan looks over to Blair. "Don't tell me you concocted some plot. Jenny if you get caught up in Blair's schemes you'll go to the dark side too."
"The dark side?" Blair scoffs. "You're so dramatic, Humphrey. We merely formulated a plan of action."
"In other words, a scheme." Dan counters.
"Scheme, plan, plot, whatever." Blair's hand slices through the air. "If it makes your sister happy in the end, that should be what matters."
"Not if it gets her in trouble or is immoral," Dan differs, keeping his eyes on the road.
"It doesn't!" Jenny pipes up. "You're so paranoid Dan. what do you think? Blair's going to get me to commit some major crime? She just gave me some advice."
The car pulls up to the cottage and Jenny sighs, "Thank god, we're here. I couldn't take any more interrogation. That was like, the third degree, Dan."
To Blair's surprise, she finds herself coming to Dan's defense. "He's just concerned. Let's cut him some slack. You're lucky to have family that cares that much." After shutting the passenger door, she faces Dan. "Thanks for the ride, Humphrey."
"Yeah, of course." The trio set off toward the courtyard and Dan pauses in between the two cottages. "Jenny, want a ride to school in the morning? I know you don't have your bike so I don't want you to be late."
At Blair's encouragement, Jenny agrees. But tacks on one provision, "But you have to give Blair a ride to work on our way to the academy."
His next response shouldn't make her heart crackle bright with foolish hope, but it does. "I was already was planning on it."
Dan knew from the moment he let Blair drag him down to sit next to her at the bar and relished in the feel of her arm in his, instead of pulling it away, that he was done for. Jenny's remark about the close contact tonight had only sealed the feeling.
He knew he had been avoiding Blair for a reason last week. Abandoning that plan was his latest mistake in a succession that had begun the moment she moved in next door. Whenever he was around her he lost all self-control and became someone he didn't recognize. Someone who offered to give her rides and added a top-shelf gin to the bar's order just because he knew she would like it.
Maybe if she wasn't engaged or married or whatever form of being involved with someone else she was, he would do something about this new development. He would ask her out or kiss her like she had kissed him that first week of June. But instead, he has no choice but to pretend like he doesn't have feelings for her. Like she doesn't make his world turn on its axis and fold in on itself.
All he knew, was he would have to be more careful and guard himself against her. After giving her a ride to work tomorrow morning, that'll have to be it. He'll be cordial and civil but nothing more.
This is what Dan tells himself as he falls asleep.
Dan has to remind himself of his new plan as Blair slides into the car beside him the following morning. Without exchanging words this time, Jenny had climbed into the backseat and Blair had gone to the passenger seat. He found himself glancing sidelong at her one too many times on the way to Jenny's school as Jenny chattered on about how amazing staying at Blair's was.
"Drop me off here, please," Jenny instructs when they're about two blocks from her school, pointing up just ahead.
"Why?" Dan starts to ask but Blair answers his question instead.
"She doesn't want to be seen being dropped off by her brother." Blair pats his shoulder reassuringly as he brakes for the stop sign. "I'm just as offended as you are."
Dan glances at where her hand sits before it comes away again. Then, he looks back at Jenny who is still urging him to pull over. Sighing, he resolves to drop her off one block away at the corner so she's only a minute walk away. Jenny slings her Rebecca Minkoff bag, the one that had been a Christmas gift from their dad, over her shoulder. "Thanks, Dan. See you, Blair, thanks again for letting me stay over."
"Anytime," Blair waves as Jenny saunters off toward the academy. Once Dan has driven away, he comments, "When did I get old enough to be embarrassing? She used to think it was cool to have me drop her off."
Blair smiles at this, "Well, maybe if you traded this in for an Aston Martin or a Tesla that might help." At Dan's crestfallen expression she adds, "She's a teenager, it's pretty typical. This phase won't last forever."
"I hope not, she acts like I have leprosy," Dan remarks.
"You might," Blair says eying him. "If you want to be sure you don't you could come in for a check up and help me fill the quota. I'd only be one patient away if you did! I promise I won't stab you with a scalpel."
"Well, now you've sold me," Dan says sardonically. "I have work though,"
Blair gives him a pleading look. "I'll be quick and I'll even write you a doctors note."
"I think I'll pass." Dan laughs. "Good luck though,"
Blair climbs out of the car, leaving the door ajar as she says, "Your loss, Humphrey."
As the door shuts, Dan tries not to hard to think over the fact he almost said yes simply to spend an extra ten minutes with her.
Blair should skip Sunday brunch, especially if she doesn't want to encourage her growing… fondness… for Dan. But she finds herself crossing the massive property to get to Nate's anyways that morning.
Earlier this week, she did some online shopping at Barney's and she's decided to wear her new peony print Dolce & Gabbana silk shorts with a pink tie neck top. Now, she's grateful for that decision because the moment she steps out of the shade of the cottage and courtyard the blistering sun in upon her. She thought the heat was supposed to be more bearable out here with the ocean breeze but right now, it feels as though it's worse than any summer she ever experienced in the city.
She pushes open the back door to Nate's kitchen and feels a cool breeze of air to her relief. Dan is already inside and is chatting with Nate around the island. They both greet her and she takes her seat next to Dan.
"Did you get those final two patients yet?" Dan asks her as she spoons fruit onto her plate.
"No." She gives him a pointed look. "No thanks to you. I've totally stagnated. If only there was someone right here in this room that would agree to a checkup. Are you sure you don't need a mental health assessment? Your fashion choices are becoming more and more questionable." Blair looks down at Dan's board shorts and sandals. "By the way, sandals are not shoes."
"It's 92 degrees if you didn't notice Blair. I think my choice in footwear can be excused given the heat," Dan retorts.
Before their bickering can continue, they're interrupted by a cheery voice descending into the kitchen. "Oh good, you're both here! Natie, we can tell them the news!"
Serena, clad in yet another relic of the 50s, walks in and puts her arms around Nate's shoulders. Nate doesn't mirror her bright expression and instead looks remorseful. "We have news, about the renovations… Remember, Dan how we had planned for you to move into the other cottage in August so we could prepare yours for the wedding." Now he turns to Blair. "Our wedding will be right on the beach so we had planned to use Dan's cottage for the groomsmen to get ready and wait in and what's now yours, for the bridesmaids. But Dan's is a little more dated and in need of a fresh coat of paint and new flooring. Serena talked to the contractors to make sure we are on track and apparently they think it's not enough time to start in August and they'd like to get started now."
"So Dan is homeless?" Blair frowns. "Normally, I'd make a joke about how you already have the wardrobe for it, Humphrey, but I think that would be crass."
"Thanks," Dan replies, sarcastically.
"No, of course not!" Nate says quickly. "Serena actually had a great idea…" He pauses and Blair begins to get a sinking feeling that grows as the silence stretches on. "She thought maybe you could move into Blair's until the cottage is ready again."
"And I would live where?" Blair asks, dumbfounded.
"In your cottage, of course. With Dan," Serena says with a very pink look about her as Blair's fork clatters to her plate. All of Serena's teeth are bared in what's supposed to be a smile but looks more like a villainous grin. "You two seem to have gotten so close since you moved in next door. What difference does a wall or two between you make?"
"A lot," Blair and Dan echo one another and the two look at each other with twin horrified reactions.
Nate now breaks in with a placating tone, "Look, I know it's not ideal but it's temporary. We have told the contractors they are to finish the job as quickly as possible. Of course, we will waive rent for both of you for the month."
There's complete silence as Blair, and seemingly Dan, sit there completely nonplussed. But of course, Serena takes their silence for acquiescence. She beams and reaches over to the fridge, materializing a bottle of champagne. "So shall we celebrate? You two are going to be roomies!"
The bottle pops open and Blair is fairly certain that champagne isn't the only thing that's about to bubble over.
TBC...
Just when they're getting a grip on those feelings, The Pearls have to shake things up. Find out how Dair handles the tension and added roommate dilemma when I post the new chapter next Thursday!
Thank you again for reading!
