The Space Between Us.

leather tote bag on her shoulder. She was headed to the design studio for her first joint session with Ezra and the community e

eople pacing with purpose, the distant sound of a printer humming. Her heels clicked aga

ra was alr

- damn those forearms- and a notebook open, pen tapping lightly as he skimmed t

entered and gave her a

ot too close, but not distant enough to be obvious.

being priced out. About their culture being tu

e anticipated that.

at if we proposed a community land trust for at least twenty perc

ised. "That's... a

reful. You almost

get use

p-up art spaces, shared gardens, mentorship programs between young architects and local high schoolers. Ezra bro

Meredith walked in, holding a co

she said, t

and have three new initiatives to propose: a community land trust, an educ

sed a brow.

th as ever. "We work

m a side glance,

ber-this project is being watched from the top down.

long before she stood and exited, leaving a

et out a s

owering his voice. "D

probably knew about our airpo

nk she bugged the

't put it

kind that made Leighton feel

-

old West Ridge shipping yard was a sprawling maze of concrete and rust, flanked by graff

atural light, the skyline views, the slope of the

people would see this and

d at him.

tories that haven

essary. There was something about the way he looked a

need soil samples. And permit

s morning," he said with a grin.

s. "You're annoyin

en calle

her face into it, eyes closing for just a second. Ezra watc

t I expected,"

eyes. "What d

r. Sharper. Untouchable. Bu

d. "Caring doesn'

id. But it makes t

h of the afternoon, the city hummin

a's phon

ning slightly. "I've gotta take th

off toward the edge of the lot

et herself b

was so determined to draw between personal and professional was st

-

of *The Space Between Us*, where the connect

-

ar, his phone still in his hand. He climbed into the passenger seat beside

asked, glancing over at hi

ne a little off. "Just some

in the business world, needed to be handled privately. She ju

dynamic was shifting. What had started as a simple professional partnership was becoming something else-something mo

king the silence. "How do you want to present

in strong. I'm thinking a town hall style pitch-direct, to the point. Engage the community

ansparency and trust. The community needs to see

intense, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything around

idn't give easily. She'd b

oice firm as she pulled into the underg

t the structure of the presentation, Leighton couldn't help but notice the way Ezra's attention remained on her, the way his eyes lingered just a little

f the table, something sharp and electric surg

rs still on the edge of the notebook.

voice barely above a whisper, he

"Yeah. Just... been a long day. Let's fin

hts kept drifting back to that moment. She tried to focus, tried to keep her mind on the work, but every

-

to walk her to her car. The usual bustle of the city was dimming as night settl

ance between them comfortable but charged, as

him, her hand on the door handle. "I'll see

ce trailed off as if searching for something to say. His eyes met hers, and for

if I'm okay?" he said, a q

ss of his tone catching her o

hing-we're pushing forward with a big project, working together every

y creeping up her spine. "I'm

ean we're not both aware that s

t under her skin. But here they were, standing face-to-face, and it was impossible to igno

," Leighton said, her voice quieter n

able expression. "You don't think

g for her car door. "This is

ong moment before noddin

d the engine. She glanced in the rearview mirror as she pulled out of the

-

the office early for the strategy session. She needed to focus. She needed to *not* think about Ezr

room, he was already there, his prese

tening for just a second before his usual

id, his voice sm

ension between them. "Let's get started. We need t

ct. Yet, every so often, their eyes would meet, and it was like there was an unspoken

thing she couldn't deny: no matter how much she tried to dis

-