Down the road of memories

I want to tell you something

Noah POV

The next morning, I woke up to the sunrise over the buildings downtown. A morning in New York! I had often come to spend a weekend here with Chloe especially during the first years of my breakup with Elle, when I was trying to avoid LA. Each time, I told myself that I wished I had her with me. This time, she was there! I was so excited!

I looked down at Elle, still asleep in my arms. She had fallen asleep quickly yesterday, exhausted by the stress that Congress had brought her. She had done very well according to Rebecca, but it had taken a lot of energy. I figured letting her sleep as long as possible would do her a world of good, also knowing her disgust at getting up early. I spent those few minutes staring at her and memorizing every little details of her face and body, savoring her closeness for all those mornings that are coming up when I'm going to wake up without her.

Half an hour after me, Elle woke up. She started by looking at the sun's rays on the buildings and then turned to me!
-Good morning!" she said with a sleepy smile.
-Good morning, my princess! Did you sleep well?
-I'll tell you a secret! Always with you!
-Wow, quite a compliment this morning!" I said, running my nose over her nose before giving her a quick kiss on her mouth. "What do you want to do today?
-I don't know? Do you have any special projects?

I moved closer to her, whispering in her ear before planting kisses on her neck:
-I want to make the most of your presence. That's my only plan!
-Okay, maybe we could discuss that over coffee? After you've finished what you've just started." She said to me with a sexy smile.

That's all it took for me to resume my display of affection with a little more ardor. After enjoying the presence of my beautiful girlfriend, we got up in a hurry and played cat and mouse. I went into coffee hunting mode while Elle took her shower. She came out of the bathroom ready for the day. I handed her her coffee.
-How about a walk in Central Park? " I proposed to her.
-It's a good plan! And I reserve the right to plan something for tomorrow.
-Okay!" I said, taking her hand and leading her out of the room to the buffet for breakfast.

We went there to visit New York. Central Park is a place I've always loved. The meeting of nature and the city around makes for an incredible landscape. We walked there for 2 hours hand in hand. I remembered how nice it is to be with Elle! She's the type of girl who is always super enthusiastic no matter what we're doing. She doesn't require big outings or big gestures like most of the girls I've dated in the last 6 years. She and I talked a lot and laughed about our childhood memories.

On our way, we stopped on a bridge overlooking a small pond with the view of the Plaza Hotel. Elle leaned against the railing as I wrapped my arms around her from behind. I thought she was absolutely gorgeous, I couldn't help but caress her cheek as she turned her head letting me capture her lips with mine. We stayed like this for a few minutes until Elle became nostalgic at some point before saying to me:
-It's true that New York is a beautiful city. You didn't want to take the job offer here! Being close to Chloe and your Harvard friends?
-I thought about it for a few days when I thought you'd stay in Europe. But as soon as Lee told me that you were coming back to America and to Los Angeles, there was no point in me coming to New York.
- What would you have done if I had been in residence in Denver or Dallas?
- I probably would have waited until Lee's wedding to see you again, and then I would have looked for a job there. I think I would have tried to win you back until I saw you marry someone else.
- So no regrets? " She asked, scanning my eyes.
- No regrets! " I said to her, taking her hand and raising it to my lips, "My place is to be near you! It drives me crazy to think that I'm going to have to go back and forth to LA and Boston for another 2 months.
-I think we'll be able to do something with that! We've had it worst during your first year at Harvard or the 6 years we were apart.

It was my Shelly, as enthusiastic as ever and ready to take on a challenge, even those that were insurmountable. She wouldn't be a doctor otherwise...

At dinner time, I dragged her to the Loeb boathhouse where I had made a reservation for a table overlooking the lake. Elle was looking at the beautiful view in front of us when she said to me:
-You've outdone yourself Noah! Almost as romantic as your dinner at the beach house from 2 weeks ago.
-What, do you think my candlelit dinner was more romantic?
-Totally, maybe because... our bedroom wasn't far away?

I laughed a little before telling myself that this was indeed an excellent reason.
-It looks like I need to set the table for a serious discussion about our future.
-What do you need to ask me about our future?" she asked, presumably nervously.
-My mom sent me some opportunities for properties for sale. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. I just want to warn you that they are all within our budget and just minutes from the hospital.
-Ok!" she said, picking up my cell phone to browse through the various offers.

I saw her face change as she looked at the property I would prefer. It was a house overlooking the Venice Beach boardwalk. My choice was this one because it would allow us to easily do the activities we are used to doing together with the short time what our careers will leave us. Walk along the seafront hand in hand, eat ice cream at the Venice Beach boardwalk, play volleyball in the park, ride a bike or skate blade along the boardwalk. From what I saw in the photos this house has 3 floors with 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms one of which is open air with the kitchen and an office. Perfect for both us but also with space for Elle's family visiting LA if needed. For me, the perfect house but I had to know what Elle thought about it.
-Are you kidding me, Noah Flynn?
-Absolutely not!" I said with a big smile.
-I don't think a house in Venice Beach is in our budget.
-Yes, if I put in a down payment some of the money my parents gave me when I turned 25.
-Do you have a background from your parents? Lee never told me about it.
-I found out about this fund on my 25th birthday. It's a legacy from my grandfather Flynn. The equivalent of by a few million, half at the age of 25 and the other half at the age of 30.
-But why would you spend that money on a house, Noah?
- Because it's going to make it easy for us to do all the things we love just by walking out of the house. Recreate the atmosphere of the beach house but every day. I think it's worth making the most of every moment we're going to have together.

The idea was slowly starting to make its way into Elle's head. We agreed to do the visit in 2 weeks since next week Elle will be on call much to my dismay.

We went back to the hotel to take a shower before tonight's reception. To save time, Elle suggested we take a shower together. But I wasn't sure it would save us time. I was in a state of pure bliss as I held her close to me, letting the water run over both of us as I kissed her neck. I could only think about how much I wish my life was like this all the time! How I wish she would stay with me like this! Instead, we had to get out of our state of contemplation of each other to be ready for the engagement party of one of my friends from Harvard.

Elle was in the bathroom getting ready for the evening while I told her some funny stories about Greg and I during our studies at Harvard. I stopped mid-sentence when I saw Elle come out of the bathroom. I was absolutely speechless, she was beautiful. I've seen Elle in a ball gown and even a negligee, but this dress was clearly on another level. It was a red dress attaching to her neck and descending in mermaid shape, revealing the perfect shape of her body. This dress was far from being provocative or too sexy, it was clearly elegant. I exhaled before telling her:
-You are absolutely gorgeous, Elle! Wow! Are you sure we really have to go?
-Noah! That's why we're both in New York. And Chloe knows that we are there. What is she going to tell your friends if we don't show up?

I walked over to take her in my arms and hold her close to me. I spent a few moments admiring her in her dress before kissing her neck.
- I don't care what Chloe is thinking right now." I whispered in his ear. "My thoughts are currently only focused on you!"
- Well, I don't think you're going to keep making fun of it when Chloe goes on the hunt to kick your ass.
- You're right!
- I am always right, Noah!" She said to me with a wink before dragging me out of the room.