Lawrence shot up from the couch like a kid caught doing something wrong, still clutching June. At his towering height, he bumped right into the heavy French chandelier hanging above the coffee table with a loud thud, sending it swinging wildly.
His ears burned crimson. He reached up to steady the fixture, then carefully set June on the floor. He had a pretty good idea of what she was going to say.
Before she could get the words out, he grabbed his phone, feigning nonchalance as he backed toward the door. "It's getting late. I should head out. Get some rest, don't stay up too late."
Without waiting for a response, he slipped out the door, looking every bit like a man fleeing a crime scene.
Bonnie stared at the closed door in stunned silence.
She had only been about to ask him to toss her the phone charger by the couch.
But his abrupt exit was a good reminder—it really was time for him to leave.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, suddenly losing her momentum for drafting. Wrapping things up, she decided to have Perry take over tomorrow at the studio.
She packed away her laptop and blueprints, then inexplicably found herself hopping out to the balcony. Leaning against the railing, she looked down.
Lawrence had just reached the sidewalk and stopped, looking straight up at her balcony. Their eyes locked, both of them freezing in surprise.
Bonnie recovered first. She gave a curt nod, casually grabbed a few pieces of dry laundry from the rack, and went back inside without another glance.
Down below, Lawrence stood in the suffocatingly muggy Oasinia night air.
She had just been bringing in the laundry.
He turned, got into his car, and let his head drop heavily against the headrest, exhaling a long, ragged breath.
After a moment, he pulled off his glasses and rubbed the heel of his palm against his forehead, overwhelmed with frustration.

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