Wrong Timing
St. Albans — February 2023
Leah hated surprises.
Which was ironic considering the best thing currently happening in her life had started with a random Instagram reply at two in the morning.
Still—
she liked plans.
Structure. Control. Knowing what was coming.
So when someone knocked on her apartment door at nearly nine o'clock on a freezing Thursday night, Leah answered it already irritated.
"Beth, if you forgot your key again I'm genuinely moving clubs—"
The words died instantly.
Elle stood there smiling nervously beneath the hallway light, curls tucked into a scarf, overnight bag hanging from one shoulder.
Leah stared at her.
Actually stared.
For a full five seconds her brain completely stopped functioning.
"...Hi," Elle said softly.
Leah blinked once.
Then again.
"You're in England."
"That's usually how airports work, yeah."
Leah laughed suddenly — completely disbelieving — before immediately pulling her into a kiss.
Warm hands. Cold cheeks. Familiar perfume.
God.
The relief of physically touching her again after weeks apart nearly knocked the air from Leah's lungs.
"You are insane," Leah murmured breathlessly against her mouth.
"You sound happy about it."
"I'm very happy about it."
Elle laughed softly as Leah kissed her again without caring that they were still standing in the apartment hallway.
"You didn't tell me," Leah said.
"That's generally how surprises work."
Leah shook her head smiling helplessly before finally pulling her fully inside.
And then—
Leah froze.
Because Grace Carter was still sitting on the kitchen counter eating takeaway noodles.
Oh no.
Grace looked between them once.
Twice.
Then slowly lowered the fork.
"Well," she said calmly. "This is significantly gayer than I expected."
Elle immediately stepped back awkwardly.
And suddenly all the confidence from the hallway disappeared.
Because Grace Carter was exactly the kind of problem the internet loved.
Singer-songwriter. Close friend. Constantly linked romantically to Leah online despite the fact they'd never even kissed.
Fans edited them constantly. TikTok practically treated them like a married couple.
And now Elle stood in Leah's apartment clearly trying not to look hurt.
Leah noticed instantly.
"Elle—"
"No, it's fine," Elle said too quickly.
Grace looked up slowly. "Oh my God, she thinks we're together."
"No one thinks that," Leah said automatically.
Both women stared at her.
Leah winced. "Okay, the internet thinks that."
Grace burst out laughing.
"This is amazing."
"Grace," Leah warned.
"What? I'm obsessed with this already."
Elle shifted awkwardly beside the door, suddenly looking far less sure of herself than she had thirty seconds ago.
And that bothered Leah immediately.
Because she knew that expression now.
The overthinking one.
The I suddenly feel stupid for caring this much one.
"Grace is literally one of my best friends," Leah said gently, stepping closer toward Elle. "That's it."
Grace raised her hand from the kitchen counter. "Can confirm. Unfortunately."
Elle laughed faintly despite herself.
Good.
Leah relaxed slightly.
Grace studied them for another second before sliding off the counter dramatically.
"Well. I clearly need to leave because the tension in this room is making me feel aggressively single."
"Please do," Leah said immediately.
"Rude."
Grace grabbed her coat, then paused beside Elle.
"You flew across the Atlantic to surprise her?"
Elle nodded slightly, suddenly shy again.
Grace looked at Leah with the most smug expression imaginable.
"Oh, you are finished."
Leah threw a cushion at her as she left laughing.
The apartment door shut behind her.
Silence settled.
And suddenly it was just them again.
Elle stood awkwardly near the hallway, overnight bag still hanging from her shoulder.
Leah walked toward her slowly.
"You alright?"
Elle looked down briefly before answering honestly.
"For like... ten seconds I thought I'd accidentally flown to England to find your secret girlfriend."
Leah groaned dramatically. "Please never say secret girlfriend like that again."
A smile tugged softly at Elle's mouth.
Then quieter—
"I know it's stupid."
"It's not stupid."
Leah stepped closer until her hands settled gently at Elle's waist.
"The internet thinks I'm dating half the population of England."
"That's comforting."
Leah laughed softly and leaned her forehead against hers.
"You know who I wanted here tonight?"
Elle's expression softened slightly. "Who?"
"You."
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
And the sincerity of it melted the last bit of tension from Elle's shoulders immediately.
Leah kissed her softly then.
Slow.
Warm.
Like she was trying to erase every ounce of doubt.
When they pulled apart, Elle smiled faintly against her mouth.
"You really missed me, huh?"
Leah looked at her for a second too long.
Then admitted quietly—
"More than I expected to."