Page 46 of Lucky 22

“Well, growing up, my mother made sure we could all cook.Life skills are important. Plus, living on my own, it’s a necessity. Takeout isfine once in a while, but I couldn’t do it every night. I grew up with mealsthat I now make for myself. That’s the true meaning of comfort food, right?Just sitting down and eating a dinner that makes you feel closer to yourfamily.”

It’s sweet, and yet I feel a little sad for him. I miss myfamily, but I can hear in his voice that he really misses his. That’show close they are. If anything, it only adds to his appeal. A good-hearted manwho works hard, is wildly romantic, and loves his family? It’s a little likeseeing a unicorn hanging out with Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.

“I love that,” I tell him. “Your mom must be an amazing cookbecause everything you’ve made for me is delicious.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her you said so.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if maybe there will be atime when I can tell her myself, but I don’t say anything. I know we’re headingin that direction, and I can be patient. Just because so many things between ushave been fast-tracked doesn’t mean all of it has to be. For now, I’m verycontent with the way things are.

There are moments like this—quiet and romantic. And thenthere are others where we’re just ridiculously goofy. Somehow, it all fits.It’s incredible to be on the same page with someone, to be able to show upexactly as you are without worrying they’ll think you’re strange or too much. Idon’t think I’ve ever felt this comfortable with anyone in my life.

With my family, I’ve always been able to be myself, butoutside of them, I usually keep a small part of me tucked away. With Christian,nothing feels hidden. I let it all spill out, and the best part is, he does,too. With me, he lowers his guard, and we’re suddenly just two people talkingabout everything from world events and politics to the absolute disaster thatis bad reality television.

We love to discuss all things pop culture, and ever since mybirthday karaoke performance, we have started singing more.

FYI, Christian is not a good singer at all.

And yes, he knows it.

Still, we both love music from the eighties and nineties,and that’s all we play when we’re in the car. I made us a playlist—well,several of them—with all our favorite songs. And while that should have beenenough to thoroughly entertain us for sing-along purposes, I upped our gamewith some inflatable microphone party favors. We keep them in the car and singto each other while we’re stuck in all the California freeway traffic. Jen sayswe’re adorkable, but I know she means it as a compliment. We are living ourlives as our genuine selves. And isn’t that really how it should be?

But being genuine doesn’t always mean our best, you know?

Spending so much time together while we were in Tempe wasawesome because we were away from our regular lives. It was like being onvacation. But now that we’re back home and have returned to our semi-normalschedules, at least until baseball starts up again, there’s more room for someof our not-so-best sides to come out. I know it happens in all relationships,but not every quirk is cute.

Or relatable.

Christian has a hard time with how unpredictable my careeris. Don’t get me wrong, even with all the time we’re spending together, I amstill auditioning and actively pursuing roles and taping the shows that I haverecurring parts on. It’s just not a rigid schedule like his.

Even though baseball season is over, and he is stillundergoing physical therapy for his piriformis injury, he trains every day. Hegoes to the gym every day. He is beyond regimented. I admire his dedication tohis sport, but there are days when I’m a little like, “Dude, you can take a dayand relax, right?” But it’s rare that he does.

For as many ways as we are completely in sync with eachother, there are equally as many things that make us total opposites. I’m laidback. He’s structured. I’m an extrovert. He’s more of an introvert. I am readyto pick up and go on a moment’s notice, but he needs a little more time to getmentally prepared. He hates the way I drive, and I’m not really a fan of therules and restrictions he puts on his life.

We balance each other out, and I know that’s the way mostcouples are, but I’m worried that we’re going to hit that bump at some point,that quirk or trait that will make us question what we’re doing.

“How about we start walking back home, Ella Rose?” Christianasks, and I realize I’ve been in my head, lost in my own thoughts instead ofenjoying the sunset.

So, I smile and place my hand in his. “Let’s go.”

Fall comes to an end, and before we know it, theholidays are here.

I love Christmas. Like seriously love it. Unfortunately, asmuch as we want to spend them together, we are both very much about ourfamilies, and we end up agreeing to spend the holidays apart.

Sort of.

“I want you to meet my family,” he says. “But I don’t wantyou to miss out on spending Christmas with yours.”

“I feel the same way. So, where does that leave us?” Hisfamily is still in Florida, and mine is in Tennessee. I really wish my parentsstill lived in Florida because it would be so much more convenient.

“Come to Florida with me for a few days before Christmas,and then I’ll fly to you and meet your family afterward. And then we’ll flyhome and spend New Year’s with our friends. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds wonderful.”

We fly out of LAX four days before Christmas to spend twodays with Christian’s family, and I still believe our plans are great. Am Inervous? Definitely. But I know it will go well because Christian is so easy toget along with, and I’m confident the rest of his family will be the same.

And they are.

Sort of.