The Space Between Us.

oriented by the sudden transition from the blurry haze of her dreams to the sharp reality of the morning. Her hand

d hers the night before- everything seemed t

couldn't keep letting him invade her thoughts, especially not when she had a meeting in just a f

t years building walls around herself, distancing herself from anything that could potentially hurt her. And n

r head. She couldn't let th

ghts of Ezra to the back of her mind. She needed to get ready for the day, to slip ba

water on her face, she couldn't shake the feeling that

Her meeting with the team was coming up, and she could feel the pressure of everythin

heels clicking sharply against the polished floors. The glass walls

, she noticed someone

sture unreadable. He wasn't looking at her-his gaze was focused on something across th

her steps measured and deliberate. She didn't want to acknowledge the way her

but betraying a hint of the uneas

neither of them spoke. The silence stre

of control. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one was lingering nearby. It wasn't that she didn't tr

oice soft but steady. "I just

ows furrowed.

ow we've been trying to keep things professional, but I need t

espond. She hadn't expected him to bring it up so soon, and certainly not in the middle of a

oice cold. "We agreed to keep things profes

ration. "Leighton, I don't believe you. You'r

ough her like shards of glass. "This isn't

uch, though it still held an undercurrent of restraint. "

atience fraying. "I don't have time for dis

ching hers, as if trying to understand her, tryi

complicate things. But you've been carrying this weight, this... wall between us, a

*had* been pushing him away, and she had been doing it for a reason. But hearing him say it-he

respond. She wasn't s

ing around the corner. "Leighton, the team is waiting

the interruption, though it didn't erase the

the walls going back up automatically. She glanced

s eyes on her, his presence lingeri

-

projections. But her mind kept drifting back to Ezra and the way his words had rattled her. She couldn't remember

know how to

The weight of the day had already taken its toll, and s

und Ezra waiting by the elevator, his eyes

. She couldn't keep avo

ra called, his voice

ering over the elevator b

. Really talk. Not about

ubbling to the surface. "I told y

words, she wasn't sure if

-

ze on her felt like an unbearable weight. She had wanted to push him away-to compartmentalize her life and keep the professional and personal aspect

shed floor as she walked back toward him. "Fine," she said, he

was still rigid, his jaw tense. Leighton could tell he was just as wound up as she was, but for some reaso

rupt, no distractions to force them to deflect. It was just Ezra and her, stan

oice quieter now, the words almost a whisper. "I can'

respond, but the words got stuck in her throat. Instead, she cros

away. "I don't want to pressure you," he continued, his tone calm, almost gentle. "But the truth is, I don'

words. Leighton swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were

he was even speaking to him anymore or if she was just saying the words aloud for he

. He took another step forward, closing the gap between them, but this time, he didn't wait

voice low and sincere. "I'm asking you to be honest with me.

oment, trying to regain some semblance of control. His words hit too clos

ust slightly. "But I do know that I don't want to lose you. Not

gged at the corners of his lips. "Then let's stop pretending," he

d she do this? Could she allow herself to take a chance, to let

e way her heart seemed to skip whenever he was near, whenever their eyes met. She wasn't sure if it was

ed his own. "I'm scared of getting hurt," she confessed, her voice small but

e because I care about you. And I want to see where this can go. But I need you to be honest wi

had talked about, everything that had been unsaid, hung in the air between them. But as she looked into Ezra's eyes, she saw

ly said, her voice steady despi

. Without saying another word, he reached out, gently cupping her face with his hands. His touch was te

h she had been holding back until now. But standing there, in his arms, everything felt a little bi

ion, a plea for permission. And when Leighton didn't pull away, when she kissed him back with jus

. To let go of the fear, the doubt, and simply live in the moment with hi