DISCLAIMER: Characters of Veronica Mars, the canon events of their storylines, and recognizable dialogue belong to Rob Thomas.
A/N:
What?! A new chapter?! It's a Christmas miracle!
I truly did not mean for this hiatus to be 6 months long. Ugh, 2020! Real life has been overwhelming the past several months. Some good, mostly not so good. And well, it's been … a lot.
But I won't bore you with all that. Let's get back to this series …
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Chapter 2 picks up right after Chapter 1.
Occurs between early and mid-May 2007.
Chapter 2
As Eli said, "I'm hanging up now, Mac," my brain was still stuck on her earlier choice of words and his reply:
"So … you're … together?" Mac had asked.
And he had replied, "Yeah."
They had both seemed to blow past my comment: "We're just getting some things sorted."
I must have appeared distant as these things rolled around in my head because Eli touched my arm and asked, "You okay, Mia?"
Shaking away the fog, I said, "Yeah, but no." I looked up into his eyes. "You told her that we're together."
"No, I di—"
"Yeah, you did. She asked, and you said yes."
"I just meant that we were in the same place. That she didn't need to worry about you."
"Pretty sure that's not how she took it."
"Mia—"
"Please don't call me that. Not right now. Not yet." I closed my eyes and tried to gather my thoughts. "I'm glad we talked through the stuff in your letter … I'm glad you finally told me what's been going on." Looking out at the water, I added, "It's a nice gesture, but it's gonna take some time this time."
He looked stunned, like I had slapped him. "But you accepted the ring. You said you wanted to try … that we were okay."
"No, I said, 'We will be okay.' And I really do hope that, which is why I accepted the ring and I'm agreeing to try to work through our stuff. But … Eli … that doesn't mean that we're back together. It doesn't mean you can just jump right back in where you ended things … and start calling me Mia again." Holding his gaze, I asked, "You know that, right? You pushed me away again. As much as I want to trust you won't do that to me again, the hurt part of me isn't that trusting right now."
After a moment, he responded. "Yeah. No, you're right. It's just that … I'd really love it if we could skip ahead to our happy ending. But I get it."
I wasn't sure what to say. I wanted to believe that he truly understood where I was coming from, but part of me wondered if we weren't talking past one another again, making assumptions – each of us only hearing what we wanted to hear.
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By the time he dropped me off at my car, I had agreed to the following: I would hold onto the ring for a while. And I would see him a few times before I left for my internship, including an afternoon at the B&B to visit with Letty.
Beyond that, I made no promises.
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During finals week, I got an email from someone connected to the internship program at the FBI who was doing a little roommate matchmaking. She included contact info for another college student who would be interning.
When I called the girl – Seanna Lyn Rowell – I found out that she was subletting an apartment from a family friend, and her parents were covering the cost. She just needed a roomie. Not only did her parents not like the idea of her living alone for the summer, she genuinely wanted a roommate – someone to commiserate with at the end of the workday. It sounded ideal since it was a short distance from the building where we'd be working.
While we were talking, I called her Seanna, and she let me know that most people end up calling her Seanlyn, running her first and middle names together as one. But she added, "My friends call me Sean."
Dad got home just as I was saying, "Goodbye, Sean."
When I told him that I'd been talking to my new roomie, he asked, "How's Eli gonna feel about you rooming with a guy?"
"What?"
"I heard you say goodbye to Sean." He gestured to himself. "Highly skilled private investigator here."
"Sean … as in short for Seanna. Seanna Lyn to be exact," I said as I showed Dad the email, so he could see her name for himself.
"Well, make sure you tell Eli her full name. Better to avoid miscommunication."
Miscommunication. We'd definitely had our fair share of that.
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That week, Eli made a point to check when I would be at Dad's office in between my studying for and taking my exams. Most days, he dropped by to have lunch or dinner with me. Sometimes, we ate with my dad; sometimes, we ate alone.
Our conversations never ventured into deep topics or dangerous territory. Mostly, we kept it to small talk, asking each other about our day. We both seemed to make an unspoken decision to not talk about my internship – at least until my finals were over.
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On Friday, Eli joined me for lunch. As he was leaving, he reminded me that we had talked about going to the B&B for the afternoon on Saturday. He mentioned picking me up in the morning.
Just after he walked out the door, I heard voices in the hall. Then, Leo walked through the doorway.
He gave me that goofy, lopsided grin of his. "Guess I missed my window."
"Meaning?"
"Sounds like you got back together with Eli."
"Not exactly. But I did agree to give it a try."
"So, you'll be gone for the summer. And then what?"
"I'll be in Spain next school year."
"That's what you call 'giving it a try'?"
Just before Leo left, he said he'd like to keep in touch while I was away. He made sure he had my current contact info, but I didn't promise to respond.
I liked Leo. I really did. I always had. But part of my hesitance with Eli was that I wasn't sure I was ready to be in a relationship yet. I had realized that when I was with Piz. I couldn't just jump into a relationship with someone – Eli, Piz, Leo, whoever. I needed some time to sort through things on my own. Hopefully, the time in D.C. would be enough. If not, I'd have two semesters in Spain.
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I was scheduled to leave for Washington the following week, and I still needed to pack. Dad would want some of my time before I left, but first, I spent some time with Eli, including a lazy Saturday afternoon at the B&B. I got to see Letty, hang out on the beach, and eat delicious food prepared by Bri and Letty.
Those two women were incredibly curious about the status of my relationship with Eli. They asked why I wasn't wearing the ring he had given to me. I danced around the edges of the truth as tactfully as I could. I did not feel comfortable getting into the details of our relationship with them. So, I just explained that I don't wear my good jewelry to the beach, adding that we were taking things slowly.
Bri gave me a look that seemed to say that she understood. Letty looked hopeful that everything was – well, to quote an old Lesley Gore song: "Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows. Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way when you're in love to stay."
When I heard Letty ask Eli if he was going to have a going away party for me, I interrupted and said, "Not only is that not necessary, I really don't want anyone going to any trouble."
"It's no trouble," he said.
"Please, Eli …"
"Just dinner with a few friends."
I rolled my eyes and said, "I'll think about it," just to get him to drop the subject.
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With less than a week to go before I left for my internship, Dad took a new case that he just couldn't turn down. The only way we'd have any time together is if I helped around the office while he was on stake-out.
The knob on the radio in the office had broken off, so it was perpetually tuned to Dad's favorite oldies station. While I was doing some filing, a familiar Motown classic came on.
"Like an eagle protects his nest, for you I'll do my best –
Stand by you like a tree, dare anybody to try and move me.
Darling, in you I found strength where I was torn down.
Don't know what's in store, but together we can open any door …
You're all I need to get by."
The song made me think of Eli. The lyrics brought with them memories of what we had, what we lost, where we'd been, and all that we'd gotten through.
The same song – although it was a cover by another artist – had been playing one time when Eli had come over to eat with Dad and I. Snippets of that dinner conversation swirled through my mind. It had been a short time before everything with Thumper had blown up – Felix's death, the fake breakup, Eli out of the PCH Bike Club. As crazy as things were then, it had been simpler in many ways. We had stood shoulder to shoulder as we fought the darkness of Neptune; we had each other's backs against anything that came at us.
Although things were admittedly less dangerous right now, things were not nearly as straightforward or clearly defined.
One thing that remained the same: I knew that if I needed anything, Eli was one of the few people in this world I could count on. And in Neptune, that's not nothing.
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When Eli told me that he had talked to our close friends and family about have a goodbye dinner for me, I almost asked him to call it off. I really didn't want this. Especially when they'd probably do something similar when I left for Spain at the end of the summer.
But the look in his eyes told me that he needed this. He needed the ceremonial sendoff, while doing something for me that didn't cross the boundary lines we had drawn. We had established that we were more than friends, but we hadn't even kissed – not a real kiss anyway – since before he broke up with me the night of Parker's party.
He was trying to be careful, not go overboard with some big gesture. A romantic dinner for two would definitely be too much right now, but a group dinner was his compromise between his desire and my expressed wishes. I could give him that.
I did at least convince him to keep the invite list for this event under a dozen people. However, I knew when it came to the goodbye bash in August, I would have very little say in the size of the guest list or the names on it.
Eli reserved a room that Luigi's used for large groups and private parties. The eleven of us were seated at one big table: Letty, Bri, Ben, Ophelia, Eli, Mac, Wallace, Darrell, Alicia, Dad, and me.
Although I had insisted I didn't want this, it was nice to be able to catch up with everyone before I left.
Mac and Wallace excitedly talked about their upcoming internships in Seattle. They would be staying with Duncan and Meg – Mac in the guest room, Wallace on the pullout couch in the den. It sounded like Duncan might be trying to convince Mac to work for Kane Software.
Wallace gave me an update on Jackie. Her son was doing well in school and was growing fast. And she had made Dean's List both semesters. He couldn't stop smiling the whole time he talked about her. It seemed the long-distance thing was working for them. In the middle of his contented rambling, he gave me a word of encouragement about being apart from Eli.
When Eli stepped away from the table for a couple minutes, Wallace briefly mentioned that Piz had already left for NYC to begin his internship with Pitchfork Media. Wallace also told me that Piz said he should have known better than to get between two people who were clearly soulmates. Apparently, Piz was feeling better, and his face barely showed evidence of the fight. I was glad to know he was okay; I hadn't talked to Piz since the day Eli pummeled him.
During dinner, I overheard snippets of conversation between Bri, Ben, Alicia, and Dad. There were a couple comments that made it sound like Dad and Alicia were thinking about moving in together. I mean, they had been dating a little over two years. But that would be a big deal. Probably more so for Darrell than for Wallace and me. Then again, if they moved in together, would that mean Dad and me moving into the Fennell house? Would there be enough space for all of us? Would they get a new house? Would I get back from Spain to find all my belongings in boxes in a new bedroom?
As I made a mental note to talk to my dad about the many questions in my head, I chose to set aside those questions for the moment and be present with these loved ones.
I had chosen to wear the ruby ring to dinner. While at the B&B, I had gotten away with the excuse that I didn't wear good jewelry to the beach. But I would have no such excuse tonight. It was a small gesture; hopefully, Eli wouldn't read too much into it. I had put it on my right hand, not my left.
Letty did not miss the fact that I had worn the ring she had given to Eli. In hushed voices, she and Bri tried to get info out of me again.
After listening for a few minutes, Ben interjected his opinion into our conversation: "He's scared as hell that you'll meet someone."
Bri looked at her husband and asked the question before I could: "He told you that?"
Shaking his head, Ben answered, "He didn't have to."
When I saw Mac get up from the table, I excused myself and followed her to the restroom. I told her what Ben had said. Then I asked if she'd mind talking to Eli and to find out if Ben was right – without telling Eli what Ben said, of course.
Mac's reply: "You know, Veronica, if the two of you are trying to improve your communication skills … I don't know … Have you considered asking Eli yourself? Give him an opportunity to tell you in his own words?"
"Simple. Direct. Honest. Mac, that's almost crazy enough to work."
"Just sharing my vast relationship wisdom."
When we got back to the table, I sat in the chair next to Eli. Leaning toward him, I whispered, "I was wondering if you had time tonight … to talk." Seeing the look of surprise and hesitance on his face, I continued, "Maybe you could give me a ride home? It would give us a few minutes alone."
"Sure," was all he said.
As everyone got up to leave and hugged each other goodbye, I let Dad know that Eli would be driving me home. I could tell Dad was curious, but he didn't ask. Good thing. Not sure I'd have had an answer for him.
A few of our group gave us looks when they saw Eli and I walk together to his car. He opened the passenger door and placed a hand at the small of my back as I got in. After he shut the door, I took a moment to gather my thoughts as he walked around to the driver's side.
He didn't start the car right away. Instead, he played with his keys and stared out his window.
I reached over and placed my hand on his forearm, causing him to flinch. "Eli. You seem … I don't know … nervous or worried or … something."
Still not looking at me, he said, "Yeah, I'm … something." He put the key in the ignition before placing his hands at the top the steering wheel. Then he dropped his forehead onto the backs of his hands. Finally, he said, "I feel like I'm walking on eggshells lately. Trying to say all the right things, do everything perfect. Because I only have a few days. And then you're gone."
"But I'll be back."
"Will you? I mean, for longer than holiday breaks and summer vacations?"
I wanted to tell him: Yes, of course, I'll be back long-term. But I couldn't say that for sure. So much had changed in the past year. If Dr. Landry and Dean O'Dell had not put their weight behind my FBI application, I don't know if I would have pursued this. If my advisor had not encouraged me to look at and apply for the year abroad program, I definitely would not have pursued that. But now that these opportunities were in front of me, my thoughts kept going back to the plan I had before Eli and I had gotten serious: I had planned to get out of Neptune as fast as possible after graduation – and never look back. But I had stayed. And still, these opportunities to leave had found me. I'm not big believer in signs, but I am a big believer that there are no coincidences. So the questions I had to ask myself: Were these opportunities merely momentary diversions before I returned to life in Neptune? Or were these experiences my path to the next opportunity that would be my ticket out?
So … how should I respond to his question? Would I be coming back? I didn't really have an answer to that.
Instead, I asked him a question: "Where is this coming from?"
"That's something I've been talking to my therapist about."
"Is it something you should talk to me about?"
"Probably. But … I'm scared."
Placing my hand on his, I said softly, "Eli, you can tell me. Whatever it is."
He let out a brief laugh and then said, "That's what I'm doing." He turned to look at me. "I'm telling you that I'm scared. Scared that I'm losing you … for good. That when you leave, you're not coming back." He let out a long sigh. "With you just a few miles away, on the other side of town, it was easier to deal with us not being together. At least, you were … nearby, I knew that you were okay."
"So, you're worried that you can't protect me if something happens while I'm away?"
"Yeah, but it's more than that." He turned his head to look out the window. "As many times as I've told you that you deserve better, I'm scared of what happens when you find out how true that is."
Damn. Ben was right.
Before I could formulate a reply, he continued: "All I know for sure is that I don't want this to be the end of our story. I mean, our love story was …"
"Yeah," I sighed. Looking out the window, I began to think aloud. "But all love stories have an end. Eventually. It's built right into wedding vows: Til death do us part."
"So you think love instantly vanishes when one person dies?"
"No. But their story as a couple ends. I'm just saying that every story has a beginning, middle, and end. I'm not sure where we are in our story. Definitely not the beginning …"
"You think this might be the end?"
"I don't know. There is so much happening in my life right now. I'm … I guess, I don't know … maybe I'm afraid to make any big decisions right now."
"Big decisions?"
"Eli, you gave me a ring and declared your intention to spend the rest of your life with me. I know you said it wasn't a proposal, but it was pretty damn close. If we just picked up where we left off … I don't know … I don't know if I feel like I can … I mean, I'm trying to figure out if we can even communicate with one another … and if my heart has healed enough to be in a relationship again."
He was quiet for a moment before asking, "Where does that leave us?"
"Right where we've been the past week. Spending time together again. Learning to communicate. Seeing where that takes us."
"The selfish part of me wants to ask you to … to make you stay. But I can't do that. It would be wrong. And unfair."
His voice was even and calm as he admitted these things. He had changed in the past few months. I wondered if he recognized how much he had changed.
"Veronica, when I began to imagine my future, to dream bigger and aim for goals I wasn't even sure I could reach, you encouraged me and supported me. You never did anything to make me doubt myself or to hold me back. I love you for that and so many other reasons. And that's why I know I have to let you go – even though it's painful and I'm scared we won't survive your time away. You deserve to experience everything the world has to offer you and for the world to find out exactly how amazing you are."
All I could say was: "Thank you."
He nodded, as if to signal that we were done talking. Then, he started the car and drove me home.
When we got to my apartment building, he turned off the car and started to get out. I placed a hand on his arm and shook my head.
"I was gonna walk you to your door."
"Not necessary."
"V, one last time." His voice and eyes were sad as he said it.
I nodded my agreement as I said, "Okay."
The whole way to my apartment, he had his hands in his pockets.
We stood awkwardly at the door. I had my keys in my hand, and I noticed that my dad was not in the living room.
"Your flight leaves in two days?"
"Yeah. I have to finish packing tomorrow. And Dad wants some daddy-daughter time."
"Mind if I drop by tomorrow while you pack?"
"No, that's fine."
"Okay, I'll text you in the morning." He rocked back on his heels. His hands were still in his pockets.
As I placed a hand on his shoulder, I kissed his cheek and thanked him for the ride home.
One of his arms wrapped around me as he said, "Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk tonight."
I leaned into his embrace, both my arms going around his shoulders as his arms tightened around my torso. "Goodnight," I said into his ear before I stepped out of his arms and away from him.
He nodded and waited for me to unlock my door. Then, he turned, and I watched him walk away from me.
As soon as I shut the door behind me, Dad came out of his room. "You okay, honey?"
"I have no idea." It was an honest answer – and the best one I had at the moment.
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The next day, Eli was a big help, especially carrying things back and forth to the laundry room. It made the process move a little faster and gave me some unexpected extra time. Although I was just packing for my summer internship, I was trying to think ahead to packing for my year abroad. My days had been crazy busy the past couple weeks as I finished up the school year and prepared to leave for Washington. The time between the internship and my departure for Spain would be no less hectic. So, I was trying to do a bit of advance planning. As I packed for D.C., I set aside things I knew I would want in the fall. I also made a list of things I would need to do during those few weeks home – things I would need to buy, things to find and pack.
This slowed down the process of packing for this trip, but it should make the next packing process run more smoothly. One would hope.
In the midst of me trying to do one too many things – okay, at least four too many things – I found myself quoting one of Dad's favorite sit-coms, M*A*S*H: "My kingdom for an intelligent octopus!"
Eli just laughed at my frustration. When I glared at him, he offered to help. But honestly, it would probably take longer to explain what I was trying to do than it would take to do it myself. I needed more hands. Or I needed to figure out how to clone myself.
I knew he had noticed that the ring was not on my right hand, where it had been the night before. At some point, I leaned over to pick something up, and the chain that had been under my T-shirt slipped out. As I stood, he walked over to me – sauntered was more like it. A cocky grin played at the corner of his mouth. He was more like his normal self today, more at ease.
Looking down at the ring hanging from the chain around my neck, he smiled and said, "My promise looks good on you." He didn't seem to mind that it wasn't on my hand. He reached out to play with the ring.
It was one of those highly charged moments. I swallowed hard and waited to see what he would do next. In the past, I would have expected him to kiss me. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to or not.
He must have sensed that, because he took a step back as he said, "You know I don't break my promises."
"I know." And I did. It was one of the few certainties in my universe.
Dad popped his head through my bedroom doorway to let us know what time it was – meaning that I needed to finish up so he and I could have daddy-daughter time.
Eli stood in the doorway to my bathroom and watched as I began to get ready to go out – brushing my hair and touching up my makeup. The moment was not as awkward as I would have expected a few days ago.
"So, your flight is at 10:00 tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah." I tucked a few things in my purse as I walked to the closet to grab a jacket.
"Are we saying our goodbyes now? Or can I drop by before you leave for the airport?"
"Up to you."
"Well just in case something happens and I don't see you in the morning, I'll give you a hug now. And if I can't be here to say goodbye in person, I'll give you a call."
I nodded and said, "Okay," as he stepped toward me with his arms open.
As I leaned against his chest, I thought of the many times I had been in his arms. For the past couple years, this had been my safe place. To think that I wouldn't have this for most of the next year … it was kinda scary. It was the unknown. Not having Eli and my dad around to give me hugs, to love me and protect me – what would that be like?
He placed a kiss at my temple as his hand stroked the back of my head. "Your dad's probably getting impatient."
When he and I walked out into the living room, my father was indeed waiting for me. As soon as Dad grabbed his keys, the three of us walked down to the parking lot together.
After Eli opened the passenger door of my dad's car, he kissed my cheek and said, "See you in the morning." He gave a nod to my dad and waved as he walked toward his bike.
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Dad must have been planning this for weeks. The evening's schedule was packed. First, we ate dinner at our favorite cafe. After that, we went to the boardwalk to play games. Last thing before going home, we stopped for dessert – waffles and ice cream. When we got back to the apartment, he gave me instructions to change into my PJs and then join him on the couch to watch the South Park movie. When I warned him that I might fall asleep before it was over, he told me not to worry about it, that he would carry me to bed.
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Dad had apparently invited Eli to join us for breakfast, because he was sitting at the counter when I walked out of my bedroom in the morning. After we were done eating, Dad told me to finish getting ready while he did the dishes.
Eli stayed in the kitchen, talking to Dad for a while before joining me in my room. He didn't say anything, he just watched me moving back and forth between my bags and the bathroom.
A couple minutes later, Dad walked in and picked up my suitcase, saying, "When you're ready, I'll be waiting in the car."
After my dad closed the apartment door, Eli said, "Nice of him to give us a moment alone." As I nodded my agreement, he stepped toward me. "Gonna be a long summer." He placed his hands at my waist and then pressed his lips to my forehead.
When he leaned away, I stared at him for a moment before saying, "Think of it as a good opportunity for us to communicate without the complication of dating."
He looked like he was about to respond, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he kissed me. And it was like a jolt to my entire nervous system. My heart rate sped up. Parts of my body ached for his touch. In zero to sixty seconds, the hormonal rush had gone from the warmth of flushed cheeks to the heat of ravenous craving.
After he broke the kiss, he finally responded to my earlier comment. "The truth is … I'd rather be dating you … than doing whatever this is."
I dropped my head to his chest, unable to meet his eyes. "Eli … I'm not there yet." That statement was part truth, part lie. I wasn't ready for dating and commitment, but if he had offered me a quickie, I don't think I'd have had the strength to turn him down.
He placed a hand on the back of my head and pressed a kiss to my hair.
We stood there like that for a couple minutes, my head still resting on his chest. Finally, he said, "Text me when you get there, so I don't worry. And then let me know what your schedule will be … when you'll have time to talk."
"I will. But I'm sure I'll have time to call once in a while, like we talked about."
"Video call. I want to see your face light up when you tell me what an amazing time you're having." He kissed my head again before stepping out of my embrace.
Eli walked me down to the car and said goodbye there. When he turned toward his car, he didn't look back over his shoulder.
As Dad pulled out of the parking lot and turned in the direction of the airport, I glanced back for one last look at Eli.
"Are you okay, honey?"
"Not sure. It still hurts, you know – even after his apology and explanation, after talking through the stuff that neither of us said before the breakup. I mean … I still love him. And I trust him with my life. But I'm not sure if my heart trusts him not to hurt me again."
"I've learned a thing or two about love during my life. There are some things I'm not sure I'll ever figure out, but I do know this: Love involves risk. When you truly give your heart to someone, it's a gamble. You never know what the outcome will be. But if you hold back, you'll never find out." Looking me in the eye, he added, "At some point, you have to decide if it's worth the risk."
"I don't think I could survive that level of pain one more time. Not sure how I would recover from that."
"You have no idea how much every parent wishes that they could prevent their kids from going through painful experiences. We would do anything to spare you from that. But that's not how life works."
"I know. I know all of that."
"Well, I'm here if you need me. Always just a phone call away."
"I know that too. Thanks, Dad. I love you."
"I love you too, kiddo."
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The goodbye scene between my father and me played out just the way you would expect: sappy and tear-filled. He had walked with me as far as he was allowed to. As I walked the rest of the way from there to the plane, I finally felt it – the fact that I was truly on my own for the first time.
After getting settled into my window seat, I pulled out my phone to turn it off and saw that I had gotten a text from Eli: I miss you already.
Honestly, I wasn't sure how to reply to that, so I didn't. I decided to give myself until my plane landed in Washington to come up with a reply. After pressing the power button, I put my phone in my bag.
As the plane took off, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. My mind replayed recent conversations with Eli and the things my father had said in the car this morning.
There were two questions that needed answers:
Was it worth the work it would take to repair and rebuild our relationship?
Was it worth the risk to open up my heart again?
Even if nothing was resolved by the time I returned from D.C., I would only be home a couple weeks before I left again. And then I wouldn't be home until Christmas break. That meant that I would only be in Neptune approximately two months in the next year.
Although it scared Eli, I welcomed the distance and the time apart. I needed that space to figure things out. At the moment, I felt like that would be easier to do if I was not within his gravitational pull.
Like this morning. When he kissed me.
Damn him. Why did he have to be such a good kisser?
Even now, cruising at 30,000 feet, I could feel the tug on my heartstrings. And that tug was more like a tractor beam.
A/N:
Quotes and song lyrics:
"Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows" – Lesley Gore (1963)
"You're All I Need to Get By" – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell duet (1968). [Previous use of these lyrics was in Chapter 9 of Process (Along the Road – Part 2).]
I pulled/adapted some dialogue between Mac and Veronica from #3.19 "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down": "Have you considered …" through "Just sharing my vast relationship knowledge."
The line "My kingdom for an intelligent octopus!" was said by Hawkeye (played by Alan Alda) in M*A*S*H #2.11 "Carry On, Hawkeye."
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Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season filled with love, joy, light, and health.
Until next time …
~Jen
25 December 2020
