In a Holidaze

As they walk and take in the scenery, Mae suggests that Andrew talk to his parents about keeping the cabin, but he reminds her that their welfare matters more to him than the house. She changes the subject, asking him to promise that if he ever regrets their new relationship, he will tell her so that they can preserve the bond they have shared for so long. Mae is delighted when she realizes that Andrew has combined the sleeping bags to make a nest that will fit them both. Mae realizes how considerate Andrew is and embraces him, but then she stops their passionate encounter to ask about contraception. Andrew assures her that he has condoms, and they resume kissing. Mae thinks to herself that their chemistry is perfect. Their passion turns to humor when Andrew puts his head into the sleeping bag, intent on initiating oral sex, only to resurface and declare, “Holy shit, I have never been that close to death” (198). Mae laughs once he explains that the problem was a lack of air, not a lack of enthusiasm.

The banter continues when Andrew compares Mae’s eyes to Sally Field’s, and they dissolve into laughter again upon realizing that they are naked and somehow discussing the age of actor Christopher Walken instead of having sex. They soon resume kissing and laughing as they have sex. Mae realizes that as much as she looks forward to more passion, she also looks forward to more banter and intense discussions.

Mae goes into the kitchen for breakfast and is surprised to find Andrew eating cereal. He and Mae exchange surreptitious, flirtatious glances. Ricky reminds them that the day’s activity is the annual group scavenger hunt; they will all drive into Park City together to complete a list of holiday-specific tasks. When Mae admits that she also slept little, Andrew teasingly offers her a nap in the Boathouse. Before Mae can go upstairs to shower, he pulls her behind a dining room curtain for a passionate kiss, telling her that he is consumed with thoughts of their night together. When Andrew mentions his dread at keeping their relationship a secret, Mae becomes inwardly anxious, partly because her mother is not supportive of sex outside serious relationships.

Mae then reminds herself, “I’m actually on a wild cosmic trip […] [and] might be living on a timer” (208). Mae worries that the holiday’s end will restart the time loop, given that her life in Berkeley is not the fulfillment of her dreams. Andrew senses Mae’s shift in mood and apologizes, fearful that he rushed her into having sex. Mae assures him, “I’ve wanted to do that with you since I knew what sex was” (209). She adds that her larger concern is whether their relationship can last, given the geographic distance. Mae reminds him that if they tell their families now, they will feel even more external pressure. Andrew agrees, though he admits that it will be difficult to conceal his happiness.

Before Andrew and Mae can talk further, someone arrives. Andrew feigns adjusting the window lock, only for Benny to arrive, amused. When Andrew asks for Benny’s discretion, he points out that this is not the first thing he has concealed for Mae during the vacation, and this piques Andrew’s curiosity. Benny informs them that Miles is looking for Mae.

Mae finds Miles on the porch and tells him the truth when he asks whether she and Andrew are involved. Miles warns Mae that their mother will be overly invested in the relationship once she finds out. Then, Miles insists that Theo has feelings for Mae. She gently tells him that Theo is only interested in women he finds unattainable; his feelings for her are not genuine. Miles accepts this but urges Mae to spend time with Theo, who does genuinely notice the distance between them on this version of the vacation.

Mae finds it fitting that the random draw for scavenger hunt teams pairs her with Theo. Mae laughs awkwardly when Theo teases her about being trapped with him. She is aware that she is betraying her unease due to her memories of their kiss. Mae follows Theo down Park City’s main street, which has some 19th-century preserved storefronts left over from the town’s mining history. This detail contrasts with the city’s current prestige as a vacation destination and the host site for the Sundance Film Festival. Mae feels increasingly on edge, fearful that the time loop will restart. Mae and Theo separate to do some shopping, partly because Mae notices Andrew stopping his own scavenger hunt to enter a store.

Mae finds Andrew looking at records and tells him that the scavenger hunt is tense. Andrew points out that this is likely due to the secrecy of their relationship, and Mae admits that she dislikes being so secretive with Theo. She tells him that Miles has guessed that they are involved, which makes her think that they will eventually fail at concealing their romance. Andrew agrees.

Mae admits to feeling overwhelmed with all these changes, as she is now navigating their relationship, a career change, and Miles’s plans for college. As they kiss, Mae accidentally mentions that this version of the holiday is an improvement, but Andrew is soon distracted by a holiday pillow featuring Christopher Walken. Andrew tells her that he feels a new sentimental attachment to the actor after their night in the Boathouse. After some further banter, Theo comes upon the couple just as they are about to kiss.

Theo is clearly disconcerted by his discovery and asks Mae to talk to him privately. She reluctantly goes for a walk with him. Theo expresses surprise, saying that he never knew she cared for Andrew, and finally tells her, “I feel like you led me on” (226). Mae is furious, but before she can defend herself, two cars collide near them, and she is nearly hit by flying debris. Mae notices that a holiday ribbon on one of the cars resembles the display on the truck that caused the initial car accident that started the time loop. She concludes that her time in this version of reality is doomed.

In the aftermath of the car crash, the larger group finds Mae and Theo. Theo is clearly furious with Andrew, which confuses his parents. Theo angrily announces to the group that “Mae and Andrew are hooking up” and then walks off (230). Mae chases after him and is nearly hit when a storefront awning collapses. She begins to yell at the sky, asking what she has done wrong to alter the timeline. Benny tries to comfort her, but she decides to explain her predicament to the others. The others are baffled, and their confusion gives way to anxious fear when Mae suggests that she be hit so that she will be knocked back in time. Mae retreats from the group, realizing that she has frightened them, and she overhears Benny telling her father to give her space.

Hours later, Benny finds Mae in a nearby diner. Mae explains to Benny that her wish involved knowing what would make her happy, not retaining that happiness, so she now is plagued with doubt. Benny suggests being honest, like she has been with him, but Mae points out that her future knowledge was the key to convincing him of the time loop’s existence and that she has already changed the timeline and has no such evidence now. Benny urges Mae to take a cab back with him, as the others have returned. He shocks her by leaving an extravagant tip and explains that he was an early investor in Spotify, so the expense is no hardship.

Mae retreats to the Boathouse to find Andrew. When she enters, he kisses her passionately, relieved that she has survived her earlier mishaps. They have intense sex, and Andrew tells Mae, “I’ve love you my whole life” (239). Their new intimacy is especially important to him. Overwhelmed because she thinks the time loop will restart, Mae struggles to speak. She assures Andrew that she shares his feelings and assures him that she does not have a boyfriend in California. Finally, she explains the time loop, revealing that her odd behavior upon arrival was because she already knew what would happen. She finally, reluctantly, confesses that the time loop began after she kissed Theo. Andrew is upset, pointing out that there was no need for supernatural intervention since she could have confessed her feelings at any point in the past. He asks her, “So which Mae is real? The one who goes after what she wants, or the one who makes out with my brother when she’s afraid of facing her real feelings and then wishes it away?” (244).

Andrew tells Mae that he needs space and is immensely frustrated at the idea that she had resigned herself to never pursuing him. He is also annoyed that she expects him to accept her kiss with Theo. Andrew insists that she must care more for Theo than she admits, and when she suggests that she may also be able to save the cabin, he angrily accuses her of obsessing over it rather than making her own choices. They get dressed in silence. Mae realizes that Andrew will still walk her back to the house because he knows that she does not want to cross the yard in the dark. She reflects, “Even when I’m pretty sure we just ended things, he’s still the best man I’ve ever known” (246).