Almost Love, Then Everything - Chapter 41: Chapter 41
You are reading Almost Love, Then Everything, Chapter 41: Chapter 41. Read more chapters of Almost Love, Then Everything.
("Letting someone into your world isn't about pride.
It's about finally believing they deserve to be in it.")
Leah never thought she’d bring anyone to one of her Friday dinners with the old crew.
It had been years since she left the tight little circle of college friends who used to know everything about her—but never really saw her. They knew her sarcasm, her confidence, her ambition. But they never knew how lonely she could feel in a room full of people.
Jade changed that.
So when the group chat pinged on Thursday night with the usual “same place, 7pm?” Leah did something she hadn’t done before:
She texted back,
“I’ll bring someone.”
Jade didn’t hesitate when Leah invited her.
But she did pause before asking, “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Leah looked at her—quiet, steady.
“I’m not sure. But I want to be.”
The restaurant was loud.
The kind of cozy chaos where plates clinked, laughter echoed, and the scent of garlic and grilled cheese lingered in the air. Leah hadn’t been there in months, but everything was the same.
Except her.
She walked in with Jade beside her—hand brushing hers every few seconds like a secret reassurance. Leah had never brought anyone here before. Never had someone beside her she trusted enough to meet these people.
“Leah!” Amanda called out. “Holy hell, you exist!”
Leah smiled, almost shyly. “Hi. Yeah, I’m not a ghost.”
The group—five friends who had seen her through tequila nights and finals week meltdowns—looked up curiously.
“And this is…?” one of them asked, eyes flicking to Jade.
Leah exhaled, then reached for Jade’s hand, intertwining their fingers without hesitation.
“This is Jade,” she said. “She’s… important to me.”
Jade gave a soft smile. Not too much. Just enough.
And to Leah’s surprise—no one made it weird.
No teasing. No raised eyebrows.
Just a chorus of “Nice to meet you” and “Welcome” and “You must be magic if you got her to show up.”
Dinner was smoother than she expected.
Jade didn’t force anything. She laughed at the right moments. Asked thoughtful questions. Shared pieces of herself without oversharing.
And Leah?
She watched her. Listened.
Felt the odd warmth of pride bloom in her chest—
not just for who Jade was,
but for the fact that she got to love her.
Later that night, after the goodbyes and hugs and walking hand-in-hand beneath the city lights, Jade leaned in and said, “You looked so brave tonight.”
Leah smiled. “I felt it. With you there.”
Jade touched her cheek gently. “You let me in.”
“I’m trying,” Leah whispered.
“You’re doing better than you think.”
Letting someone into your world
isn’t just about showing them off—
it’s about saying:
‘I trust you to see me… and stay.’
It's about finally believing they deserve to be in it.")
Leah never thought she’d bring anyone to one of her Friday dinners with the old crew.
It had been years since she left the tight little circle of college friends who used to know everything about her—but never really saw her. They knew her sarcasm, her confidence, her ambition. But they never knew how lonely she could feel in a room full of people.
Jade changed that.
So when the group chat pinged on Thursday night with the usual “same place, 7pm?” Leah did something she hadn’t done before:
She texted back,
“I’ll bring someone.”
Jade didn’t hesitate when Leah invited her.
But she did pause before asking, “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Leah looked at her—quiet, steady.
“I’m not sure. But I want to be.”
The restaurant was loud.
The kind of cozy chaos where plates clinked, laughter echoed, and the scent of garlic and grilled cheese lingered in the air. Leah hadn’t been there in months, but everything was the same.
Except her.
She walked in with Jade beside her—hand brushing hers every few seconds like a secret reassurance. Leah had never brought anyone here before. Never had someone beside her she trusted enough to meet these people.
“Leah!” Amanda called out. “Holy hell, you exist!”
Leah smiled, almost shyly. “Hi. Yeah, I’m not a ghost.”
The group—five friends who had seen her through tequila nights and finals week meltdowns—looked up curiously.
“And this is…?” one of them asked, eyes flicking to Jade.
Leah exhaled, then reached for Jade’s hand, intertwining their fingers without hesitation.
“This is Jade,” she said. “She’s… important to me.”
Jade gave a soft smile. Not too much. Just enough.
And to Leah’s surprise—no one made it weird.
No teasing. No raised eyebrows.
Just a chorus of “Nice to meet you” and “Welcome” and “You must be magic if you got her to show up.”
Dinner was smoother than she expected.
Jade didn’t force anything. She laughed at the right moments. Asked thoughtful questions. Shared pieces of herself without oversharing.
And Leah?
She watched her. Listened.
Felt the odd warmth of pride bloom in her chest—
not just for who Jade was,
but for the fact that she got to love her.
Later that night, after the goodbyes and hugs and walking hand-in-hand beneath the city lights, Jade leaned in and said, “You looked so brave tonight.”
Leah smiled. “I felt it. With you there.”
Jade touched her cheek gently. “You let me in.”
“I’m trying,” Leah whispered.
“You’re doing better than you think.”
Letting someone into your world
isn’t just about showing them off—
it’s about saying:
‘I trust you to see me… and stay.’
End of Almost Love, Then Everything Chapter 41. Continue reading Chapter 42 or return to Almost Love, Then Everything book page.