unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

A Step Closer

Leah's POV:

The days had flown by in a blur of training sessions, team meetings, and matches, but Ella was always in the back of my mind. I couldn't shake the memory of her laugh, her quiet confidence, or the way she looked at me that night at the café, as if she saw right through all the walls I'd carefully built. We kept texting daily, sharing updates from work, inside jokes, and funny photos. It was a simple routine, but it quickly became the part of my day I looked forward to the most.We'd planned a walk together that Saturday afternoon, but just as I was about to leave, my phone buzzed."Hey, Leah, I'm so sorry. Got pulled into an emergency surgery—looks like I'll be here for hours. I hate to cancel, but can we reschedule?"My heart sank a little, but I understood. Her job was unpredictable, and knowing she was saving lives made me admire her even more. I texted back, keeping it light:"Of course, no problem. Just let me know when you're free."Later that evening, as I was making dinner, I saw her name flash across my screen again."Still at the hospital, but there's a café around the corner. Want to meet me for a quick break?"*My pulse sped up, and I found myself grabbing my jacket without a second thought. In less than twenty minutes, I spotted her in the back corner of the café, still in her scrubs, looking a bit tired but smiling as soon as she saw me."Hey," she greeted, her voice warm but weary. "Sorry for dragging you out. Today's been rough.""You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad to see you," I replied, sliding into the seat across from her. "How are you holding up?"Ella let out a long sigh. "Honestly? I'm exhausted. Some days are harder than others, and today was definitely one of those days."Without thinking, I reached across the table, resting my hand on hers. Her fingers were cold, and I gave them a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to put on a brave face with me. I get it."She looked down at our hands, a softness coming over her features. "Thank you, Leah," she whispered, her voice quiet but full of gratitude. "It's rare to meet someone who really... gets it."We sat in a comfortable silence, letting the noise of the café hum around us. The silence felt right, like we didn't need to fill it with words, and I could feel the connection between us deepening. After a few moments, Ella looked away, a distant look in her eyes."There's something I haven't told you," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Being a surgeon—it's all I've ever wanted, but... it took a toll on me. A big one."I nodded, giving her the space to speak."There was a time I almost lost myself in it. I worked every hour I could, trying to prove myself, but it came at a cost." She hesitated, then continued, "If it weren't for Beth..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes misty. I squeezed her hand gently, trying to let her know I was there, really there."Beth told me that you'd been through some rough times," I said softly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Ella."She nodded, managing a faint smile. "It's made me who I am today, so I can't say I regret it. But it's... hard to open up about it. It feels good to share it, though. Especially with you."A warm glow filled my chest. "I'm really glad you told me," I whispered. "And I'm here, whenever you need to talk."She looked up, her gaze meeting mine with a vulnerable openness that took my breath away. "Thank you, Leah. You make me feel like I can actually be myself."I took a deep breath, realizing just how much I wanted to close the small distance between us, to be even closer. And then, as if we both sensed it at the same moment, she leaned forward, her gaze locked on mine. I felt myself leaning in, too, my heart pounding in anticipation. The world around us seemed to fade away as she drew nearer, her hand squeezing mine just a little tighter.When our lips finally met, it was soft, gentle, and everything I'd imagined it would be. Her lips were warm and inviting, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me, grounding me and making me feel like I was floating all at once. It was the kind of kiss that was both tender and electric, and I felt myself smiling against her lips.After a few moments, we pulled back, both of us a little breathless and grinning like fools."Wow," she murmured, her eyes sparkling. "I... I've wanted to do that since the moment I met you."I laughed softly, my cheeks warm. "Me too. I'm really glad you did."We sat there, hand in hand, our fingers intertwined, both of us quietly savoring the beginning of something we'd both been waiting for.