Begin again

A week passed in a blur. Training for Alessia. Rehab for Leah. Flirting. Kissing. Touching. It had become routine. Comfortable. Natural.

And if Alessia noticed that Leah seemed to take every possible excuse to touch her, she didn’t say anything. She just let it happen, let herself bask in the way Leah’s fingers would brush over her knuckles when they sat together, the way she’d casually rest a hand on her thigh when they watched TV, the way she’d tangle their fingers together under the table during meals.

Alessia liked it. Liked the way it made her feel wanted, secure, and maybe she was a little addicted to it. But she wasn’t the only one. Leah was always pulling her in, finding excuses to keep her close, and Alessia had long since stopped pretending she minded.

So when Leah approached her during a break at training, her cheeks slightly flushed, Alessia barely had time to react before Leah spoke.

“Can I take you out on a date?”

Alessia blinked. Leah sounded confident, sure of herself, but Alessia saw the way she shifted slightly on her feet, the way her fingers twitched at her sides and she didn’t quite understand why Leah was so nervous.

They had done a lot more than just go on a date before. They made out daily, for crying out loud. But then she thought about it -really thought about it. A date was different, official, an acknowledgment of something neither of them had said out loud yet, and Alessia realized she was nervous, too. But happy. Very, very happy.

“Yes,” she breathed, her lips curling up as warmth spread through her chest.

Leah’s face broke into a grin, but before either of them could say anything else, a loud whistle cut through the air.

“Oh, finally!”

“Bout bloody time!”

Alessia groaned, her face instantly heating as she turned to find Beth and Steph standing off to the side, grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats. Leah, on the other hand, simply rolled her eyes before reaching for Alessia and tugging her into a hug.

Alessia melted into it immediately, her arms winding securely around Leah’s waist.

She buried her face in the crook of Leah’s neck, her smile widening as she felt the steady rise and fall of Leah’s breathing against her own. Leah’s hands ran gently over her back before one slipped up into her hair, fingers threading through the strands in a way that sent a pleasant shiver down Alessia’s spine.

Alessia sighed softly, her body relaxing into Leah’s hold, feeling like she could stay there forever. Beth and Steph were still watching, but neither of them cared.

*

Alessia wasn’t sure why she was nervous. It was just Leah. Leah, who had been living in her space, in her life, for weeks now. Leah, who kissed her good morning and good night. Leah, whose hands were constantly on her, grounding her, pulling her close.

It shouldn’t feel this different, this new. But it did. Because this was their first date.

Their official first date, and it was kind of hard to do the whole traditional thing -picking the other up from their own place- considering they lived together, so Leah had joked, told Alessia to stay in her room until she knocked. Alessia had laughed but agreed, equal parts amused and endeared. Now, she stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down the fabric of her dress.

It was a little more revealing than she’d normally go for, but she liked the way it hugged her in all the right places, liked the way it made her feel a little more confident. She paired it with a black blazer, leaving it open to show off the dress beneath. For shoes, she opted for trainers -casual, comfortable. She didn’t want to tower too much over Leah, because Leah was already a little shorter than her on a normal day, and the walking boot wasn’t exactly adding any height.

She was fixing her hair when the knock came, and her stomach flipped.

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hands over her outfit once more before heading to the door. When she opened it, she nearly combusted on the spot. Leah stood there, leaning against the doorframe, looking like an actual dream. Black slacks. A black sheer, button-up shirt tucked into them. And under the shirt?

A black bralette. A very visible black bralette. Alessia swallowed thickly, heat rushing to her cheeks, her pulse suddenly thudding in her ears.

Leah smirked, clearly catching her reaction.

“You good, Less?” she asked, her voice low, teasing.

Alessia blinked, her brain stalling for a second before she forced herself to speak.

“Yeah. Yeah, I -uh- yeah.”

Smooth.

Leah chuckled, shaking her head as she stepped closer. Her hands found Alessia’s waist, fingers grazing the fabric of her dress, and Alessia shivered under the touch.

“You look beautiful,” Leah murmured.

Alessia’s breath hitched. She felt her heart do something ridiculous in her chest, something that had nothing to do with the fact that Leah was still looking at her like that. Still touching her like that.

“You too,” she finally managed, her voice softer than before.

Leah’s smirk turned into something gentler. She leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to Alessia’s lips, and Alessia melted instantly, her hands gripping Leah’s arms to keep herself steady. When they parted, Leah smiled up at her.

“Ready to go?”

Alessia exhaled slowly, nodding.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Leah ended up driving. It was a short drive -she was cleared to drive short distances now, and she’d been absolutely buzzing about that fact all week- but Alessia barely registered the route. She was too busy trying to focus on literally anything other than Leah’s hand on her thigh.

Her bare thigh.

Leah’s ring-clad thumb traced slow, lazy circles against her skin, a casual motion that should have been innocent, but wasn’t. Not when it sent heat curling in Alessia’s stomach. Not when it made her grip the edge of her seat to stop herself from turning and kissing Leah right here, right now.

She did her best to keep up with whatever Leah was talking about -something about training, or maybe Beth being annoying, she wasn’t sure- but her responses were clipped, distracted. Leah definitely noticed.

Because her hand squeezed just slightly, fingertips pressing into the soft skin of Alessia’s thigh, and Alessia sucked in a breath. She reached out without thinking, resting her own hand over Leah’s. Leah’s fingers flexed beneath her touch, and Alessia slid her hand up slightly, letting her pinky brush against the pulse point at Leah’s wrist.

The steady beat was quick. Faster than it should be, and that could only mean one of two things Either Leah was more nervous about this date than she was letting on.

Or…

She was having the same thoughts Alessia was. God, Alessia hoped it was the second option. Her hopes were confirmed when Leah’s pulse stuttered as her grip on Alessia’s thigh tightened ever so slightly, and oh, Alessia was so done for.

The drive couldn’t have been more than ten minutes, but it felt like hours. When Leah finally pulled into the parking lot of a small, intimate-looking restaurant, Alessia exhaled sharply, the cool night air against her skin as Leah killed the engine a welcome relief from the heat she’d been drowning in.

Leah turned to her, smirking slightly.

“Stay there.”

Alessia barely had time to process what she meant before Leah was already out of the car, rounding the front. The passenger door opened, and Leah stood there, hand outstretched. Alessia hesitated for only a second before slipping her hand into Leah’s.

Warm. She let Leah help her out of the car, and when they were both standing, Leah didn’t let go.

She just smiled, gave her fingers a squeeze, and said, “Ready?”

Alessia wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for this, for how much she felt for Leah, but she nodded anyway.

“Yeah. Let’s do this.”

Leah guided her towards the restaurant, hand still wrapped securely around hers, thumb brushing over the back of it in slow, absentminded strokes. It was such a small thing, but it had Alessia’s heart stuttering all the same. Leah opened the door for her, gestured for her to walk in first, and then leads her through the softly lit restaurant with easy confidence, nodding in greeting to the server before stopping at a quiet, tucked-away table for two.

And then-

Alessia’s stomach flips when Leah pulls out her chair for her.

Leah smirks. “Go on then, Less. Don’t make me look bad now.”

Alessia narrows her eyes at her playfully, but her heart is hammering as she sits down. Leah pushes her chair in gently, then, to Alessia’s utter ruin, presses a soft kiss to the top of her head before taking her own seat across the table.

Alessia picks up the menu just to have something to do with her hands. She barely looks at it. “Are you always this smooth, or is this just for me?”

Leah grins. “Dunno. Why? Is it working?”

Alessia rolls her eyes. “Unfortunately.”

Leah chuckles, looking entirely too pleased with herself. The server appears a moment later, sparing her from having to respond, and they both order drinks -Leah opting for a beer, Alessia for a glass of wine.

“You don’t usually drink wine,” Leah comments as the server leaves.

Alessia shrugs. “It felt like a wine kind of night.”

Leah hums, resting her chin in her hand. “Trying to impress me?”

Alessia scoffs. “I think you’re the one trying to impress me. The chair thing? The cockiness? You’re laying it on thick.”

Leah smirks. “Yeah, but it’s working.”

Alessia glares, but the blush on her cheeks ruins it. They place their food orders not long after, and Alessia finds herself relaxing, the initial nervous energy melting away.

Leah talks. A lot. Which isn’t surprising, because Leah always talks a lot, but it’s especially adorable now, when her eyes are bright and animated, hands moving as she rambles on about something completely insignificant. Alessia doesn’t even know what she’s going on about -something about the Netflix algorithm and how it always recommends her the worst things- but she doesn’t care.

She’s just… watching. Smiling. Completely endeared. Leah catches her staring mid-sentence and pauses.

“What?”

Alessia, the alcohol making her just bold enough to say it, shrugs and grins. “You’re cute when you ramble.”

Leah immediately rolls her eyes, but the flush on her cheeks betrays her. “Shut up.”

Alessia laughs, reaching across the table to take Leah’s hand, threading their fingers together. “No, I mean it. It’s really cute.”

Leah huffs, shaking her head, but she doesn’t pull away. If anything, she squeezes back. “Well, you’re cute when you look at me like that,” Leah mutters, flicking her eyes up to meet Alessia’s.

Alessia blinks. “Like what?”

Leah tilts her head slightly. “Like I put the stars in the sky or something.”

Alessia’s stomach flips. “I do not look at you like that.”

Leah smirks. “You totally do.”

Alessia groans, tipping her head back. “You’re insufferable.”

“You love it.”

Alessia presses her lips together, pretending to be annoyed, but the warmth in her chest tells a different story. The food arrives then, and they eat between light, easy conversation. Leah steals a few of Alessia’s chips, claiming it was part of the ‘girlfriend package,’ and Alessia raises an eyebrow at her.

“So you’re my girlfriend now?”

Leah freezes mid-chew, then swallows and clears her throat. “I mean-“

Alessia grins, taking a sip of her wine. “That was awfully presumptuous of you, Williamson.”

Leah narrows her eyes. “Oh, shut up. You know what I meant.”

Alessia laughs, nudging Leah’s foot under the table. “Yeah, yeah. You’re just lucky I like you.”

Leah scoffs. “You more than like me.”

Alessia bites the inside of her cheek, smiling as she looks down at her plate. She does. And she thinks she might even love her. But she keeps that thought to herself for now.

They linger at the restaurant long after their plates have been cleared, neither in any rush to end the night. Leah keeps hold of Alessia’s hand, idly playing with her fingers, tracing over the lines of her palm like she’s trying to memorize them. It makes Alessia’s skin tingle, makes her want to pull Leah across the table and kiss her breathless.

She doesn’t, but it’s a near thing.

Instead, she watches Leah talk, watches her lips move and her eyes sparkle, watches the way she chews on the inside of her cheek whenever she’s thinking, and -God help her- Alessia is gone. She thinks Leah knows it, too, because her smirk is just a little too smug when she catches Alessia staring.

“You gonna keep looking at me like that all night?” Leah teases, tilting her head slightly.

Alessia lifts an eyebrow. “Like what?”

Leah grins. “Like you wanna kiss me.”

Alessia rolls her eyes, but her cheeks heat anyway. “Maybe I do.”

Leah leans in slightly, her voice dipping lower. “Then why don’t you?”

And fuck, Alessia was not prepared for that.

She swallows, trying to keep her cool. “Because we’re in public.”

Leah hums, pretending to think. “I dunno. I think that old couple behind you is dying to see some lesbian action.”

Alessia snorts, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

Leah grins. “Yeah, but you love it.”

And God, does she.

Their server comes over then, smiling politely. “Can I get you ladies anything else?”

Alessia opens her mouth, but Leah beats her to it.

“Just the bill, please.”

The server nods and walks away, and Alessia arches an eyebrow. “Eager to get out of here?”

Leah smirks. “I mean, you were the one saying you wanted to kiss me…”

Alessia’s stomach flips. “You are so full of yourself,” she mutters, shaking her head.

Leah shrugs. “Maybe. But I’m right.”

And she is, damn it. The bill arrives, and Alessia reaches for her wallet, but Leah tuts at her.

“I’ve got it.”

Alessia frowns. “We can split it.”

Leah gives her a look. “Alessia, I asked you on this date. Let me pay.”

Alessia hesitates, but Leah just lifts an eyebrow, daring her to argue, and -fine.

“Alright,” Alessia sighs, relenting.

Leah grins triumphantly and hands her card to the server. Once it’s all settled, she stands, holding her hand out for Alessia.

“C’mon then, gorgeous.”

Alessia rolls her eyes at the pet name but takes Leah’s hand anyway, letting her guide them out of the restaurant and into the cool night air.

Leah sighs happily, squeezing her hand. “That was nice.”

Alessia hums in agreement. “Yeah, it was.”

They start walking towards the car, but Leah suddenly stops, tugging Alessia back towards her.

Alessia blinks. “What-“

And then Leah is cupping her face, tilting her chin up, and kissing her right there on the sidewalk, with no hesitation, no nerves, just pure, open affection.

And God, Alessia melts.

She leans in, sighing against Leah’s lips, her hands coming up to rest on Leah’s waist, pulling her closer. The kiss is slow, deliberate, like Leah wants to savor it, like she’s telling Alessia exactly what she feels without saying a word.

It’s perfect.

Eventually, Leah pulls back, just slightly, resting her forehead against Alessia’s.

“There,” she murmurs. “Now the date is complete.”

Alessia laughs softly, her heart pounding. “Yeah?”

Leah grins. “Yeah.”

They stay like that for a moment, just breathing each other in, before Leah reluctantly pulls back and tugs Alessia towards the car.

“Come on, let’s get home.”

Alessia smiled, allowing Leah to help her into the passenger seat before rounding the car and sliding in beside her. She starts the engine, but before she pulls off, she glances over at Alessia with a soft, almost shy smile.

“I really like you, Less.”

Alessia’s heart stutters. She swallows, reaches for Leah’s hand, and squeezes. “I really like you too, Leah.”

Leah’s smile grows, and she lifts their joined hands to press a kiss to Alessia’s knuckles. The drive home is quiet, but not in an awkward way. Leah keeps one hand on the wheel and the other resting on Alessia’s thigh, just like on the way to the restaurant. It’s comforting, grounding, and Alessia lets herself bask in it, in the warmth of Leah’s touch, in the simple intimacy of it all.

Leah hums softly to the song playing on the radio, her thumb tracing absentminded patterns into Alessia’s skin, and Alessia is so content, so utterly gone for this woman, it’s ridiculous. When they pull into the driveway, Leah turns off the engine and shifts in her seat to face Alessia.

“Ready?” she asks, but there’s something in her eyes, something hesitant, like she’s not quite ready for the night to end.

Alessia smiles knowingly, reaching over to brush a strand of hair behind Leah’s ear. “Yeah.”

Leah nods, but she doesn’t move right away. Instead, she lingers, her gaze flickering down to Alessia’s lips before meeting her eyes again. Alessia’s breath catches, her pulse thudding in anticipation.

Leah’s voice is quieter when she speaks next. “One more?”

Alessia doesn’t need to ask what she means. She leans in, closing the small distance between them, and presses her lips to Leah’s in a kiss that’s slow, deliberate, soft. Leah exhales against her mouth, her fingers curling around Alessia’s knee, pulling her in just a little closer. They stay like that for a moment, just existing in the warmth of each other’s touch, before Leah eventually pulls away with a sigh, her forehead resting against Alessia’s.

“God, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Leah murmurs, and Alessia laughs, breathless.

“Right back at you.”