Only in Your Dreams (Gossip Girl #9)(57)
“Serge,” she repeated. Serge? Serge? Who the hell was Serge?
“Serge. Thad’s boyfriend?” he clarified. “I can’t believe it’s been so long and we haven’t met before now. I’ll have to punch Thad when I see him. Keeping us apart like this. Ridiculous.”
Thad’s ... what?
“Oh, Thad talks about you so much,” she lied. “I can’t believe that we never met either.”
“I guess it kind of makes sense,” Serge admitted, grabbing a tub of concealer off the vanity and fiddling with it. “We’ve got to be kind of discreet, so most of the time I’m just sitting around my room. I mean, we’re not even in the same hotel. I’m holed up at the Mercer. But you know how it is—you’ve been posing with those photos with him all around town. You’re the sweetest. We both really appreciate it.”
Those photos? The kiss had been just for photographers? Thad had been using her? Serena slumped against the wall. She couldn’t believe she’d been so mistaken. She’d thought they’d had a real connection, but he was just a beautiful gay guy with an adorable boyfriend he had to keep secret. She had to sit down.
“Yeah.” Serena dropped her bag on the ground and took a seat on the builtin sofa, kicking off her wedges and curling her legs up underneath her.“Well,you know,Thad’s the greatest. I’m just happy to help out.” She sighed. It was almost the truth. She should have been annoyed or mad or hurt or something, but really, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t figured it out sooner.
Not that she’d gotten too many clues.
“I told him he was so lucky to be working with such an awesome costar. I mean, sometimes his leading ladies get so crazy and possessive they actually think they’re dating. It’s like they can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality. I mean, hello? It’s just pretend.”
“Mmm.” Serena nodded.
“But not you,” Serge gushed. “You’re like an old pro, even though this is your first movie! I want you to be in all of Thad’s movies from now on. Promise you will!”
“Oh, stop.” Serena giggled. It was hard to be upset or hurt when both Thaddeus and his boyfriend were so nice.
“No, I mean it,” Serge cried, leaping out of his seat and throwing himself onto the couch next to her. “You have to come to our place in Palm Springs for the weekend. We’ll have such a ball! And if you’re interested ... I think I might know an awesome guy for you.”
“Oh, really?”That sounded fun.
And she could definitely trust his taste in men!
Disclaimer: All the real names of places, people, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.
hey people!
I have literally five minutes to write this—I don’t know when summer vacation got so hectic, but between tennis lessons at Ocean Colony and cocktail hour on the roof of the Met, I just don’t know where the day goes. Let’s start with your e-mail, because there’s only one subject on everyone’s mind lately....
Q:
Dear GG,
Do you know how I can get an invite to the big party that’s coming this Thursday? My boyfriend claims to be taking me, but I suspect he’s bluffing and at the last minute his Jeep will break down or something. But I really, really want to go, so I need a plan B. Help!
—*Struck
A:
Dear *Struck,
The word is they’re watching the guest list pretty closely. So hopefully your man isn’t bluffing—or you’re going to be stuck watching the limos arrive like just another commoner. Sorry!
—GG
Q:
Dear GG,
I was just in Amsterdam with my family and managed to sneak away to check out the real sights. After smoking some hash in a coffee shop, I swear I saw that girl J dancing in a window in the red light district. Now I wish I’d asked for a lap dance. Tell me it was her!
—Despr8
A:
Dear Despr8,
Sorry. Her parents might be alternative, but I’m afraid our J isn’t. She’s off studying fine art and maybe the fine art of fine boys, but lap dancing in the red light district and skeezy tourists are not part of the curriculum.
—GG
perfect your party small talk
A handy refresher course for all my fellow revelers. Enjoy!
Gossip Girl 09 - Only in Your Dreams
1) You’re cornered by a lecherous, badly dressed aspiring...
a) Dream on, perv.
b) Why go to your place? Grab your video phone and meet me in the bathroom!
c) I’d be happy to, Mr. Mogul.
Gossip Girl 09 - Only in Your Dreams
2) While in the bathroom line, a portly, producer-type-fe...
a) I thought there were some casting problems—for example, the young ingenue could’ve had more ingenuity—but it wasn’t bad....
b) The costumes were pretty, although my belief has always been that when it comes to costumes, less is more.
c) Have you started casting the sequel yet?
Gossip Girl 09 - Only in Your Dreams
3) A world-famous, unbelievably handsome, internationally...
a) Tango? I’d rather go somewhere quiet, far from all these paparazzi.