Time after time

Love is everything

Elle POV

There are some magical things about the holiday season. As if there was a magic that made it easier to resolve our conflicts and forgive ourselves. And this year, I realized it even more than other years since I was experiencing two conflicts, with my father and my best friend. I found that the most important and precious thing to put under the tree was love. The truth was that with the context of the last few months in the family, on Christmas morning we all needed love much more than gifts. But what was under the tree that Christmas morning showed me that love runs through our bonds.

First of all, it's stupid but it made me feel good that Lee and I bought each other the same gift again this year. Noah and I bought him an official San Francisco Giants shirt with an orange t-shirt to wear underneath that said : Lifelong fan and now officially resident. Lee burst out laughing before giving me my own gift. He bought me an official Red Sox shirt with also a red T-shirt underneath that said : fan by marriage and temporary. What are the chances we both had the same idea?

Noah bought me tickets to spend a day at Universal Studios. I was excited because the park had just opened a new virtual Mario Kart ride. He also told me that he invited Lee and his new date to come spend the day with us so I could get to know her. I appreciated Noah's sensitivity to include Lee so we could spend more time together, even if deep down I would have preferred to spend the day alone with Noah.

June and Matthew bought me a ticket to a Broadway musical and a ticket to a New York Jets game for Noah and told us they were going to spend a weekend with us in New York in January. It was going to be great to have a weekend with the Flynn parents after we got back to Boston.

My dad bought me a spa day so I could get to know Linda. I admit that I was a little skeptical but the attraction of a day at the spa outweighed my embarrassment.

On December 27, Lee asked me to go spend a day with him in Santa Monica so we could reconnect. That morning, I must have looked stressed because Noah hugged me and whispered in my ear that it was going to be okay before pushing me towards Lee's car.

Traveling in Lee's Mustang with the sun on my face felt good. I was also happy to see the Santa Monica landscape again. It seems that it's when we are away from home that we realize how beautiful it is! I looked at the mountains in the distance that seemed to flow into the Pacific. The palm trees and green trees in December were such a contrast to the frosty vegetation in Boston.

I enjoyed the vibe and energy as we walked down the Santa Monica Pier approaching the rides. We started with the Ferris wheel after buying ourselves some gyros. Lee surprised me by asking :
- So, Noah says you're doing well at Harvard.
- Yes, I'm fine. I made good friends like Abby, she reminds me of your feminine version. She always takes me on impossible adventures but she is sharp in the way she speaks, like Noah.
- So, it's a hybrid of Noah and me in the female version. Interesting!
- There is also Rebecca who is Chloe's roommate and she is studying medicine. She was my tutor on several courses. I don't know how I would manage without her.
- Well, I'm glad you're well looked after!
- And you, tell me about this Lucie that I'm going to meet tomorrow.
- I met her at a party through Ashton. She's from San Diego and studies environmental studies at Berkeley.
- Did she encourage you to clean your room and reduce your amount of waste?" I asked him, winking at him.
- I knew you would say that to me." Lee told me, laughing. "She bought me a bottle of water for Christmas with my name engraved on it so I would stop throwing away plastic bottles.
- I admit that it's a good thing.
- I like her but...

He stopped mid-sentence and his gaze seemed to be lost in space.
- ... but she's not Rachel?" I asked.
- No," Lee confessed to me, sighing. "Some people tell me I shouldn't date another girl while I'm thinking about my ex. But, I tell myself that it takes a few things for me to move on to something else.