Almost Love, Then Everything - Chapter 23: Chapter 23
You are reading Almost Love, Then Everything, Chapter 23: Chapter 23. Read more chapters of Almost Love, Then Everything.
("The words were right there.
At the edge of my mouth.
But I blinked—
and swallowed them whole.")
The night was quiet.
Not the kind of silence that feels empty, but the kind that feels like it’s holding something sacred. The kind you don’t want to break unless you absolutely have to.
Leah and Jade were curled up on the couch, a blanket shared between them, a movie playing but neither watching.
Jade’s head rested lightly on Leah’s shoulder. The weight of it was soft, warm, grounding.
And Leah—
She couldn’t focus.
Not on the screen.
Not on the story.
Only on this—this moment that felt too tender for her chest.
Her fingers itched to reach for Jade’s.
She wanted to trace little circles on the back of her hand. She wanted to tilt her head, press a kiss just behind Jade’s ear.
She wanted to say it.
Three words.
Three terrifying, devastatingly simple words.
> “I like you.”
No—more than that.
She loved her.
But that felt too big. Too soon. Too fragile to speak aloud.
Jade shifted slightly, curling closer, her breath soft against Leah’s collarbone.
Leah closed her eyes. Let herself sink into the weight of her.
Her heartbeat thundered. Her throat tightened.
The words rose again.
“I lo—”
But she stopped.
Froze.
Because once it’s said, it’s real.
Once it’s out there, it changes everything.
And maybe they weren’t ready yet.
Maybe she wasn’t ready.
Or maybe she was just scared Jade wasn’t there, not yet, not fully.
Instead, Leah whispered something else:
> “I’m glad you’re here.”
Jade smiled against her skin. “Me too.”
The movie ended. The credits rolled.
And Leah sat there, heart aching with the weight of everything unspoken.
But in that moment, Jade slid her fingers between Leah’s and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
A promise, without a word.
A yes, even if the question hadn’t been asked out loud.
Sometimes, love doesn’t burst into the room.
Sometimes, it lingers in the corners.
Whispered, restrained,
waiting for the right moment
to be brave enough to say itself aloud.
At the edge of my mouth.
But I blinked—
and swallowed them whole.")
The night was quiet.
Not the kind of silence that feels empty, but the kind that feels like it’s holding something sacred. The kind you don’t want to break unless you absolutely have to.
Leah and Jade were curled up on the couch, a blanket shared between them, a movie playing but neither watching.
Jade’s head rested lightly on Leah’s shoulder. The weight of it was soft, warm, grounding.
And Leah—
She couldn’t focus.
Not on the screen.
Not on the story.
Only on this—this moment that felt too tender for her chest.
Her fingers itched to reach for Jade’s.
She wanted to trace little circles on the back of her hand. She wanted to tilt her head, press a kiss just behind Jade’s ear.
She wanted to say it.
Three words.
Three terrifying, devastatingly simple words.
> “I like you.”
No—more than that.
She loved her.
But that felt too big. Too soon. Too fragile to speak aloud.
Jade shifted slightly, curling closer, her breath soft against Leah’s collarbone.
Leah closed her eyes. Let herself sink into the weight of her.
Her heartbeat thundered. Her throat tightened.
The words rose again.
“I lo—”
But she stopped.
Froze.
Because once it’s said, it’s real.
Once it’s out there, it changes everything.
And maybe they weren’t ready yet.
Maybe she wasn’t ready.
Or maybe she was just scared Jade wasn’t there, not yet, not fully.
Instead, Leah whispered something else:
> “I’m glad you’re here.”
Jade smiled against her skin. “Me too.”
The movie ended. The credits rolled.
And Leah sat there, heart aching with the weight of everything unspoken.
But in that moment, Jade slid her fingers between Leah’s and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
A promise, without a word.
A yes, even if the question hadn’t been asked out loud.
Sometimes, love doesn’t burst into the room.
Sometimes, it lingers in the corners.
Whispered, restrained,
waiting for the right moment
to be brave enough to say itself aloud.
End of Almost Love, Then Everything Chapter 23. Continue reading Chapter 24 or return to Almost Love, Then Everything book page.