No Goodbyes
New York — Thursday Afternoon
Leah hated goodbyes.
Not dramatic ones.
Those were easier somehow. Anger and heartbreak at least gave you somewhere to place your emotions.
It was the quiet goodbyes she struggled with.
The ones where nobody wanted to leave.
The ones where both people smiled too softly because neither wanted to admit how much it hurt already.
The car waiting to take Leah to the UN event sat outside the hotel entrance while snow melted slowly against Manhattan sidewalks.
Elle stood beside her in a long black coat with her hands tucked into the pockets, curls moving lightly in the cold wind.
Neither had said the word goodbye yet.
Leah adjusted the strap of her bag unnecessarily just to keep herself occupied.
"This feels annoyingly emotional," Elle murmured.
Leah laughed quietly. "Bit dramatic for someone who bullied me for being English yesterday."
"You deserved it."
"You literally call football soccer."
Elle smiled softly. "And yet you still like me."
Far too much.
The thought came instantly.
Dangerously instantly.
Leah looked at her for a second too long before answering.
"Yeah," she admitted quietly. "I really do."
The honesty settled warmly between them.
No teasing now.
No hiding behind flirting.
Just truth.
A gust of cold air swept through the street as people hurried past around them, completely unaware that Leah felt like her chest was being slowly pulled apart.
Because this had become real far too quickly.
And now she was leaving.
"You've got your important royal people meeting," Elle said softly.
Leah groaned immediately. "Please never phrase it like that again."
Elle laughed quietly.
God, Leah was going to miss that sound.
The driver stepped out beside the car politely. "Miss Williamson?"
Leah nodded once. "Two minutes."
The man gave a respectful nod and stepped away again.
Neither woman spoke immediately afterwards.
Because now the goodbye sat there between them properly.
Heavy.
Real.
Elle looked down briefly before speaking softly.
"This is the part where we're supposed to act normal about long distance, right?"
Leah smiled faintly. "Think we passed normal weeks ago."
That earned a quiet laugh.
Then silence again.
Leah looked at her carefully.
At the city reflected faintly in her eyes. At the softness in her expression she only seemed to show when they were alone.
And suddenly leaving without kissing her again felt impossible.
So she stepped closer instinctively, one hand sliding gently against Elle's jaw before kissing her slowly right there on the snowy Manhattan sidewalk.
Warm.
Lingering.
The kind of kiss that says stay with me a little longer.
When they finally pulled apart, Elle rested her forehead briefly against Leah's.
"You're making this difficult."
"Sorry."
"No you're not."
Leah smiled slightly. "Fair."
The driver cleared his throat discreetly again.
Leah sighed dramatically toward the sky. "UN diplomacy is ruining my life."
Elle laughed, stepping back finally.
And suddenly the distance between them felt awful.
Leah opened the car door reluctantly, then paused halfway inside.
A thought hit her instantly.
Fast enough that she spoke before overthinking it.
"What are you doing tonight?"
Elle blinked once. "Tonight?"
"After the event."
Leah leaned lightly against the car door now, eyes fixed on her.
"Meet me after."
The words came out softer than intended.
More vulnerable too.
Elle's expression changed immediately.
Like she hadn't expected Leah to ask.
"Leah— you'll be exhausted."
"Probably."
"You've got speeches and press and—"
"I know."
Leah smiled faintly.
"I still want to see you."
The honesty in it made something warm bloom across Elle's face.
"Okay," she said softly.
Leah's shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
A grin spread slowly across Leah's face now — real and helpless and impossible not to love.
"Good."
Elle stepped closer once more before Leah got into the car properly.
"One condition."
"What?"
"You send me a photo with Prince William."
Leah looked horrified immediately.
"Oh absolutely not."
Elle laughed as Leah finally climbed into the car.
The window rolled down seconds later.
Leah looked back at her standing there in the middle of New York traffic and winter light and suddenly felt something terrifying settle fully into place.
Home wasn't supposed to feel like a person.
And yet.
"Text me when you get home," Leah said softly.
Elle smiled.
"You too, captain."