L O V E R - a Leah Williamson story

chapter twenty-six

Leah was correct and I felt really fucking stupid for pushing her away. Recovery on my own was difficult and extremely lonely, in fact there had been so many times when I felt like taking Leah up on her invitation of moving in with her, but I always backed out whenever I went to message her.

I had only seen Leah at the training grounds when she was training and I was doing physio - which by the way was very frustrating - occasionally she would also text or phone to check up on me. I could tell that she was giving me space, which was basically what I had implied, however it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to fall into her arms. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted her to hold me. I was just too stubborn to tell her.

It had been a couple of weeks since my injury and my ankle had started to feel better, the physio had been doing its job and it looked like I might've been able to come back to football earlier than expected. Today I had my last session before we increased the amount I was doing to four days a week, and I could already feel the excitement bubbling in my stomach to get back to football.

"Great job today, y/n. You're really making an improvement on the ankle." Susan, my physical therapist said as she patted me on the back. Susan was a lovely women in her 40s who had two sons, one being 17 and the other 12. We would chat every week about the most random things, which was how I got to know about her family and how she got to know about my picky eating habits.

"Thanks Susan. I'm coming in again tomorrow aren't I?" I questioned as I began to pack some things into my red bag that I had brought with me.

"Yup, and then again on Monday. Now I want you to try a curry at the weekend, you can tell me how you get on and then I'll move to the next thing on the list." She replied with a stern face. She had gotten to know about my pickiness on our first session together, we were breaking the ice and when I told her my favourite food was a cheese pizza she laughed and called me boring, after this she made it her mission to introduce me to new foods - even going the lengths to make a list.

"Will do." I chuckled. "Oh, and I hope Jason has a good birthday. You'll let me know how it goes?" I continued. Her 12 year old Jason was turning 13 today.

"Of course. You have a good night dear."

I smiled and turned to wave at her before walking out of her door. "You too!" I shouted before the door shut behind me.

Katie was giving me a lift home back from the grounds today, well everyday for the past two weeks. Leah hadn't given me a lift home since the last time when I shouted at her, I don't think it was because she was annoyed at me, I think she was just busy. Well, I hoped she was just busy.

I heard the horn to Katie's car beep as I walked outside as she had been waiting for me for about 20 minuets. I reached her car and gave her a wave through the window as I opened the door and put my crutches in the back seat. I was able to walk a little bit more without the crutches as I still had my boot on.

"What took ya so long?" She asked with a fake sigh of annoyance.

I laughed and shook my head while I put my seatbelt on. "Sorry, I was just chatting to Susan."

Katie rolled her eyes and started the car and the journey to my flat. "When's Leah going back to being your driver?" She asked after a moment of silence.

I sat awkwardly until I thought of an answer, I wasn't entirely sure when she was going to pick me up again. "Uhh...I'm not sure. I think she's just busy."

"Busy? Doing what?" Katie scoffed. I began to feel insecure as I realised she was right. What would Leah be busy with? Nothing. She was definitely avoiding me. God I felt so guilty for snapping at her now.