The Space Between Us.

ass, steel, and legacy. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floo

inside, rode to the twenty-sixth floor, and straightened the cuffs of her blazer

tion project in the heart of Seattle's neglected waterfront. It was sustainable, inclusive, and in

ek, open-concept meeting room, the

ows overlooked the city's mist-veiled skyline. Around the table sat key members of Har

Caine, was already seated,

ty before we begin," Meredith said,

dically. She mentally rehearsed the opening slide, the city im

e door

e air

s head sn

z

n-down sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing the same forearm tattoo she'd memorized

he moment

rhythm of the room-as recognit

o, no

evelopment on the community engagement side of the project. He recently came back from an ex

e. M

mind shor

to her. "Ms. Moore," he said, as if her name were just a name a

"Mr. Carter," she rep

ing... something. But she said nothing and

ck. She spoke of gentrification and the need for local integrity. She outlined her plan for housing units, art spaces, g

Ezra leaned forward

u plan to avoid the pitfall of designing for the community instead o

blinked

r question. A smart one. But comi

lan to establish an advisory board. My team will be holding listening sessions eve

ate on that process. If I'm being brought in to handle communi

Leighton s

ojections. When it ended, people filed out, chatting casually. Meredit

owly, half hoping Ezra would

did

had emptied, "you're the woman I'm wo

ow. "You knew who I was the se

ed. "But I wasn't

r arms. "You could'

the way, I spent the night talking to your lead designer ab

. "You could've at

atching her. "I didn't even know I was assigned t

er head. "Wh

Then: "Because part of me

nded with a th

y. "We had a moment

maybe it was the start o

t is right,"

ce, the tension between t

able. "We can keep it professi

hesi

aid, "It has to be. This projec

Then profess

o walk away,

back at her, eyes lingering. "I'm glad

he

ce, heart pounding with a truth she wasn't re

pped the back of the leather chair, knuckles pale, he

was the one sitting across from her in a meeting that could determine the trajectory of

eathing. Emotions- confusion, frustration, something dan

ing she had been building toward. The sleepless nights, the sac

harming stranger- no matter how h

oked at her. Not like a stranger. Like someone

ade it

her her thoughts when her phone

et. Meet with him before Friday to align engagement st

isted the ur

seconds later. This time

o to me for scheduling purposes. But I'll pretend

over plans? I know a spot. N

tared at t

territor

d, then t

AM. Send the address.

ond l

t anything less from

nd exhaled slowly. This was

l. Grounded

ly not i

alled The Library, aptly named for its towering shelves of old novels a

he back, a tablet in front of him

led. "Hope you're st

slid into the seat opposi

about that night

up her neck and pulled out h

fee. "You always this good at pre

eady contacted three neighborhood boards and two city liaisons. I want to hol

s furrowing as he scanned.

y is part

then smiled. "Yo

e if the compliment was lo

st means I'll h

ge in the initial proposals. To her surprise, Ezra was thoughtful, insightful, and meticulous. He challenged some of her assumptions, yes-but wit

their mugs, Leighton almost forgot why

You ever think a

"Why are y

More than I t

th caugh

id quickly. "I just... I think the universe is

her tablet. "Or maybe

his breath. "You al

n't afford to b

. "Okay. Then let's keep it simp

d up. "Ju

he universe throws us another sig

but couldn't help the smal

ng in front of Meredith. She'll

inned.

s they stepped back into the city's buzz, side by side, Leighton couldn't shake the feeling that maybe- just m