right where you left me

Chapter 16 - His Leah

May 2022

We came second in the League, losing to Chelsea on the last day of the season. We had a chance; we always knew there was one. But when Sam scored two goals to get Chelsea the win against Manchester United, we knew there wasn't much else we could do. Although we did get a nice win over West Ham, the day had already been settled. We lost. We came second.

There were a lot of things we could take away from the season, and for me, the six months, but overall, everyone was pretty devastated. We went trophy-less. This was my first time without lifting a trophy in a season with my team, which felt weird. Felt strange.

Next season, this won't happen, I told myself. I wouldn't let it happen.

Despite the season being over, and all of us being devastated, there was some excitement for the summer... and some was definitely an understatement.

The night before Leah and I were headed to Australia, we went over to see her mum and rest of her family. Although Leah had to start preparing for the Euros, she had a few weeks off, not having to report to camp until mid June.

"Tippah," Leah's mum, Amanda, said to me, as we both walked through the door.

"And hi to you too Mum," Leah replied, as Amanda hugged me and brought me inside.

All Leah's family knew how serious we were about each other, and it was obvious. From the way Leah doesn't leave my side, and how I finish the end of her sentences, they all knew.

As Leah and her grandma and brother were washing up the plates together in the kitchen, Amanda had one of her conversations with me.

"I've never seen her this... content," Amanda started to say.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, and I don't want to jinx anything, but everything is planning out how I always hoped it would." Amanda looked over at her daughter, and smiled to herself. "There's something about you, Tippah Jones. You make my daughter happy, and so you make me happy. There's nothing else to it." I smiled softly, trying not to blush.

"Definitely a two way thing; she makes me more happy than I could ever make her." Amanda grabbed my hand, and squeezed it softly, before Leah walked over.

"Please don't embarrass me Mum," Leah scolded, falling down beside me, and wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

"Never!" Amanda replied, sarcastically, winking at me softly.

After dinner, we headed back to Leah's apartment which has slowly started to become my apartment too, to finish packing and get an early night before the long flight.

"How am I supposed to survive a 30 hours travel day," Leah sighed, as we lay in bed beside each other.

"It's not that bad. Just be grateful you don't have to do it every few months," I said, nudging her slightly, as my body faced hers. She moved slightly closer, and her face lit up in the moon light.

"I'm excited, you know, to go to Australia," she said, honestly.

"I'm glad," I replied, smiling.

"And meet your family," she added.

"Yeah, well, that may be a bit more tricky," I responded, sighing softly.

"Tippah..."

"You know what they're like," I started to say.

"Family is hard..."

"No, it shouldn't be hard though," I retorted.

"But it is," Leah responded. "It is, and your family will always be there. It's just how it works."