Down the road of memories

You'll be in my heart

Noah POV

We were there the day before Lee's wedding.  Elle has been absent for the last 2 weeks due to a conference in Europe.  I miss her terribly but we were able to text each other every day.  Her flight finally landed at LAX an hour ago and Chloe texted me telling me that Elle had indeed arrived.  The 3 girls wanted one last evening and night together.  They rented a suite at the hotel and all 3 of them turned off their phones to enjoy this last night out like "single girls".

My disappointment was big at not being able to pick up my girlfriend at the airport and enjoy her presence before the big day tomorrow.  But tonight I had to focus on Lee who seemed quite nervous (like Elle was looking after Rachel).  I took him for a 5-7 in his favorite bar with Ashton and Cam his other groomsmen then we went to eat with mom and dad at the restaurant before going to spend the night in our childhood home just the 4 of us.

After a evening of drinking, both Lee and I were sitting on the edge of the pool drinking beer while our father had convinced our mother to go to bed.  At one point Lee asked me:
- What do you think girls do?

Some of Chloe’s descriptions of their girls' weekend that I've had over the years came to mind.
- They’re probably in their underwear getting a manicure while drinking champagne.  And by telling each other all their adventures over the last 6 years." I said to him with a smile.

Lee groaned at the idea.
- They better be at a strip club." I said to him, raising my hands.
- I would have liked to spend this evening better with Rachel.  It's crazy how much I miss her.
- I have no sympathy for you, Lee.  I haven't seen my fiancée for 2 weeks and I still have to wait because she has to spend the evening with your fiancée!  I believe you can survive 24 hours.

He laughed at my confession before regaining his serious demeanor and saying to me:
- It’s really funny that these three remained such good friends despite our breakups.
- It's true!
- It didn’t bother you too much that your best friend was friends with your ex" Lee asked me.
- It happened to me on several occasions that I was jealous of Chloe because she was going to spend a weekend with Elle when I would have given anything to see her!
- Yeah, I understand the feeling.  There were times when I was also jealous of Elle because she had news about Rachel.

I sighed.  One of the reasons, Lee and I have a better relationship now is because we understood each other during our breakups.

Lee sighed also, still staring into space before he tell me:
- When I think about the 4 years I spent without Rachel, I can't believe I thought about living my life without her.
- You seemed quite in love with Alyssa, 3 years ago." I said to him, trying to make him uncomfortable.

He burst out laughing before telling me:
- I remember that you never liked Alyssa and Elle either.  It was still a big wake-up call that my best friend and my brother weren't able to smell her.
- I have never forgiven her for all the horrible things she said to me about Elle at Mike and Linda's wedding.  I was pretty relieved when you told me you broke up with that bitch.

Lee was thoughtful before telling me:
- I never asked you what happened between you and Elle at Mike’s wedding.  I know you danced together and then disappeared...

I looked at Lee with surprised eyes.  I had never spoken about this evening with anyone, not even Chloe.  I wondered if I had the courage to tell him about that evening and that night...

Mike's wedding flashback, 3 years before the meeting in front of the Kissing booth

I rushed out of the hotel at lightning speed, my heart still pounding in my chest as if I had been running a sprint.  It was just a dance, I told myself, trying to reason with myself.  But clearly it wasn’t!  I had just told her that I will always love her!  What happened to me?  …I had been trying to convince myself for several months that I was coming to LA to make sure she was okay.  That she was at peace with her father’s marriage to Linda.  That she loved medicine.  May she be happy in her new relationship.  But as I danced with her, her body pressed against mine, I couldn’t help but hope…that maybe I could still have a future with her.