第30部分(第3/9 頁)

。〃　She　eyed　the　ribbed　pattern　of　his　sweater；　and　whispered；　〃Of

me。〃

〃You　have　nothing　to　fear；　Annie；〃　he　assured　her　gently。　He　took　her

chin　with　his　fingers　and　tipped　up　her　face。　It　was　the　closest

physically　that　they'd　been　since　that　first　day。　〃I　know　what　my　own

needs　are　right　now；　and　they　don't　include　making　things　harder　for

you。　By　helping　you　through　New　Year's；　I　may　just　help　myself；　so

there's　a　selfish　motive　involved。〃

She　nearly　drowned　in　the　deep；　deep　green　of　his　eyes。

〃So；　what　do　you　say？〃　he　asked。

〃I　say　this　is　starting　to　sound　like　a　Neil　Simon　script。〃　She　wanted

reassurance　that　meeting　again　was　right。　She　wanted　him　to　say；　There's

reason　why　that　script　made　millions　for　the　guy；　it's　a　damned　good

plot；　it　makes　a　whole　lot　of　sense。

But　Mitch　only　shrugged。　Dropping　his　arms；　he　moved　back。　〃It's　your

choice。　I'll　be　here　anyway。〃

She　hated　the　sudden　sound　of　indifference；　but　it　made　it　easier　to

leave。　When　he　opened　the　door；　she　slipped　behind　the　wheel。

〃Drive　carefully；〃　he　said。

〃I　will。〃　Backing　the　car　around；　she　straightened　the　wheel。　She　gave

Mitch　a　last；　longing　glance　before　putting　a　foot　on　the　gas。　The　car

had　barely　moved　forward　when　his　voice　echoed　in　the　winter　wood。

〃Hey；　wait！〃

She　braked。　His　long…legged　gait　quickly　brought　him　alongside　the　car。