Almost Love, Then Everything - Chapter 42: Chapter 42
You are reading Almost Love, Then Everything, Chapter 42: Chapter 42. Read more chapters of Almost Love, Then Everything.
("It’s not about not trusting them—
it’s about fearing you’re not enough.")
It started with a laugh.
Not just any laugh—his laugh.
Leah hadn’t meant for it to sound that good. That familiar.
They were at a cozy little book bar downtown, the kind that smelled like leather, cinnamon, and old poetry. A live acoustic set played in the background. Jade and Leah had carved out a corner for themselves—wine, soft lighting, hands brushing under the table.
But then he walked in.
Dylan.
The ex Leah never really talked about.
Tall, charming in that art-boy way. He spotted Leah instantly, greeted her with open arms and nostalgia in his smile.
“Leah-freaking-Cruz,” he grinned, pulling her into a hug. “You haven’t changed at all.”
Leah laughed. Bright. Easy.
And Jade felt it—like a pebble dropping into still water.
She smiled. On the outside.
But inside, her mind was spiraling. Not with anger, not even with distrust… just that small, gnawing fear:
She used to love him.
And he clearly still remembers how to make her smile.
What if I’m not enough?
Dylan stuck around too long.
He asked about old projects, remembered that one embarrassing Halloween costume, referenced inside jokes that Jade couldn’t be part of.
And Leah?
She didn’t push him away.
Not rudely. Not even knowingly.
She was just… caught in the comfort of what was familiar.
Jade’s fingers tightened around her wine glass.
She didn’t speak up. Not yet.
Later, walking home in the cool night, Leah finally noticed her silence.
“You okay?” she asked, brushing her hand lightly against Jade’s. “You’ve been quiet since the bar.”
Jade hesitated.
She didn’t want to be that girl.
But she also didn’t want to lie.
“…I didn’t like the way he looked at you,” Jade admitted softly. “Or the way you laughed.”
Leah blinked, taken aback. “Wait—are you jealous?”
Jade looked down. “No. I mean, maybe. I just… I know I have no right to be. You can laugh however you want. You’re allowed a past. I just—”
Leah stopped in her tracks.
“Jade.”
She turned.
And Leah stepped closer. Eyes kind. Voice low.
“It wasn’t about him. I didn’t even realize I was laughing that much. But I promise you—whatever that was… it’s over. It’s been over.”
Jade searched her eyes. Still unsure.
“And me?” she whispered.
Leah didn’t hesitate.
“You’re what I want now. You’re what I never had with anyone else. I love you. Not the memory of someone who made me laugh once. You.”
Jade breathed out slowly.
And for the first time in hours—smiled.
Jealousy doesn’t always come from a lack of trust.
Sometimes it’s the heart’s way of asking:
‘Please, tell me I’m not easy to lose.’
it’s about fearing you’re not enough.")
It started with a laugh.
Not just any laugh—his laugh.
Leah hadn’t meant for it to sound that good. That familiar.
They were at a cozy little book bar downtown, the kind that smelled like leather, cinnamon, and old poetry. A live acoustic set played in the background. Jade and Leah had carved out a corner for themselves—wine, soft lighting, hands brushing under the table.
But then he walked in.
Dylan.
The ex Leah never really talked about.
Tall, charming in that art-boy way. He spotted Leah instantly, greeted her with open arms and nostalgia in his smile.
“Leah-freaking-Cruz,” he grinned, pulling her into a hug. “You haven’t changed at all.”
Leah laughed. Bright. Easy.
And Jade felt it—like a pebble dropping into still water.
She smiled. On the outside.
But inside, her mind was spiraling. Not with anger, not even with distrust… just that small, gnawing fear:
She used to love him.
And he clearly still remembers how to make her smile.
What if I’m not enough?
Dylan stuck around too long.
He asked about old projects, remembered that one embarrassing Halloween costume, referenced inside jokes that Jade couldn’t be part of.
And Leah?
She didn’t push him away.
Not rudely. Not even knowingly.
She was just… caught in the comfort of what was familiar.
Jade’s fingers tightened around her wine glass.
She didn’t speak up. Not yet.
Later, walking home in the cool night, Leah finally noticed her silence.
“You okay?” she asked, brushing her hand lightly against Jade’s. “You’ve been quiet since the bar.”
Jade hesitated.
She didn’t want to be that girl.
But she also didn’t want to lie.
“…I didn’t like the way he looked at you,” Jade admitted softly. “Or the way you laughed.”
Leah blinked, taken aback. “Wait—are you jealous?”
Jade looked down. “No. I mean, maybe. I just… I know I have no right to be. You can laugh however you want. You’re allowed a past. I just—”
Leah stopped in her tracks.
“Jade.”
She turned.
And Leah stepped closer. Eyes kind. Voice low.
“It wasn’t about him. I didn’t even realize I was laughing that much. But I promise you—whatever that was… it’s over. It’s been over.”
Jade searched her eyes. Still unsure.
“And me?” she whispered.
Leah didn’t hesitate.
“You’re what I want now. You’re what I never had with anyone else. I love you. Not the memory of someone who made me laugh once. You.”
Jade breathed out slowly.
And for the first time in hours—smiled.
Jealousy doesn’t always come from a lack of trust.
Sometimes it’s the heart’s way of asking:
‘Please, tell me I’m not easy to lose.’
End of Almost Love, Then Everything Chapter 42. Continue reading Chapter 43 or return to Almost Love, Then Everything book page.