Time after time

Sunday in New York

Noah POV

The day after my birthday, Elle and I had one last day in New York before returning to Boston. Elle hadn't given me any clue as to what she had planned for this day. It was only after we got out of the shower still wrapped in a towel, that she gave me a box.
- It was my birthday yesterday, Shelly!
- I know but since I had a game yesterday, the contract was that I organized your "birthday day" today. So, tadam!" She said to me, pointing to the box.

I looked at her with suspicious eyes as I opened the envelope on top of the box.
- Now that we are confident Bostonians!" I read, looking at her out of the corner of my eye. "We must continue our tradition of cheering for the Red Sox and hating the Yankees. See you in game one of the series between the two teams at Yankees Stadium this afternoon.

I opened the box to find the underwears I had bought for us last year when we went to see the two teams' game at Fenway Park in the second Elle's weeks at Harvard. At the time, I was trying to create traditions that would make Boston our home. I think my smile touched my ears when I opened Elle's gift. It wasn't just a great outing that she and I had. But, it gave me confirmation that we have built a life together on the other side of the country. Which is, if I'm perfectly honest, my most precious dream! This doesn't mean we're going to stay on the East Coast forever! Maybe one day we will take this life elsewhere. But this "us" has become very strong as I always dreamed of!

After breakfast at the hotel with Chloe, Greg and Abby, Elle and I left for Yankees Stadium. The weather was sunny with 72 degrees, allowing us to enjoy the last days of summer. It was my first time at Yankees Stadium since moving to the East Coast two years ago. Its location on the banks of the Hudson River and its architectural style which resembles a Roman stadium were interesting. There was a big crowd for today's match and I shook Elle's hand to make sure I didn't lose her in the sea of people.

I went to get us some hot dogs and beer. It felt weird handing my real ID to the waiter. That's right, I am now an adult in every sense of the word. Back at our seats, I gave Elle her beer before sitting next to her.
- So, how does it work to buy alcohol legally?" she said to me, laughing.
- I admit that it feels weird to have handed over my real ID.
- You know you're going to be my liquor buyer until I'm 21 myself.
- As if that wasn't already the case before.
- It's true, you made me a drinker before.
- No, that first time, I wasn't responsible for anything, Shelly. I only kept you from getting into more trouble." I told her, remembering the night she got drunk for the first time.
- It's true" she said, running her nose along mine and giving me a kiss on the lips.

Elle and I had a lot of fun encouraging the team which over time became our team. Elle, still as enthusiastic as ever, sang Take me out to the ball game at the top of her lungs with the crowd. It's incredible how much this girl brings sunshine into my life. Yesterday afternoon, I was listening to the guys during our outing at Madison Square Garden talking about how they find it difficult sometimes to satisfy the girls they are dating or their girlfriends. They then asked me how I found marriage... It was a difficult question but simple at the same time. Marriage is something you build day after day with the person who completes you. This is not a decision you take lightly. Despite the fact that I married young, it was a decision I mulled over for a really long time. I've always been convinced that Elle is the woman of my life, even when I broke up with her on top of the hill overlooking LA. And even though I still want to erase the memory of that day, it comforts me that even at that moment, I still had the desire to marry her. A year and a few months later in this stadium in New York, we make a combo of her interests and my interests what becomes our life!

The match was close and exciting! The Red Sox finally won setting the tone for this series of games.

After the game, Elle and I made our way through the crowds to Grand Central to wait for our train to Boston. While I was waiting for Elle in front of the women's bathroom, I looked up from my cell phone for a few seconds to see a man in front of me looking at me... Marco! But what is he doing there?
- Noah, are you okay?" asked Elle, who had finally joined me.

I looked at her for a few seconds before looking a second time in the direction where I had seen Marco, he was no longer there!
- Yes, I am fine!" I said, taking her hand and heading towards the train to Boston.

Naturally, this vision of Marco shook me, but less than I would have thought. Yes, the thought of this guy will always represent for me what drove Elle and me apart. But thinking about it realistically, there will be something else in the future, not necessarily this guy who will come between us : work, responsibilities, stress, disagreements... It was up to Elle and me to make the decision not to let these things separate us. Does this thinking make me look like a mature 21 years old? I hope so!

We both studied on the way to Boston. I saw Elle stopping at times to look at the landscape. Although it's not the kind of birthday I would have chosen for my 21st birthday, I enjoyed this Sunday in New York. But, I was also happy to return home... with my wife.

When we arrived at the apartment, I suggested to Elle that we order take out for dinner but she told me that she had already prepared everything. She suggested I go take a shower while she got everything ready. I came out of the bathroom a few minutes later to the smell of lasagna cooking, it's my favorite meal.
- How could you prepare lasagna so quickly?" I asked her as I joined her in the dining room.
-I had some time Friday afternoon between finishing my classes and leaving for New Haven. I knew it would be nice to have your favorite meal ready when we got back. You can sit down at the table, it will be ready soon." she said to me while taking the lasagna from the oven.

The table was already set for the meal with candles. I noticed there was an envelope in my place.
- It's a gift from Lee, your parents and me!" Elle said to me as she brought the lasagna dish to the table.

I opened the envelope and 2 tickets for the Linkin Park show at TD Garden fell out.
- So great, Elle!" I said, kissing her. "You know me too well.
- I think a nice outing in Boston will do us some good. And I checked, neither of us have an outside game this weekend.

We ate this meal quietly together, telling each other about the high moments of this weekend. When we finished the lasagna, Elle picked up the plates and took them back to the kitchen before coming back with a cake with two candles in the shape of 21.
- It's to please your mother!" She said to me placing the cake in front of me." She absolutely wants a photo of you with your cake.
- I'll do better than that!" I told her as I took out my phone to FaceTime my mother.

We spent some time talking with my parents. When I blew out the candles on my cake, I asked myself what could I possibly wish for? Because I already have what I always wanted...