?


    "Come on, don''t tell me it''s over already. Can''t we talk this out?"


    Leda scoffed, "Weren''t you basically saying if I didn''t agree, our deal was off?"


    "I, for one, don''t like being backed into a corner, and I despise flip-flopping. We had an agreement, and you want to change the rules mid-game? Are you kidding me?"


    "I''m picky, you know. An unreliable partner? Better to cut ties early, save us both the headache, right?"


    York straightened up, indignant. "How am I unreliable?"


    Leda shot back, "So, are we rewriting the rulebook or what?"


    "...Nah, let''s not." He slumped back down.


    Where''s the backbone?


    How much does it even cost?


    "Hmph! That''s more like it."


    York muttered under his breath, "I came all this way and haven''t even had lunch..."


    "What''s that? Speak up, man! You''ll die if you''re a bit louder?"


    "I said I''m starving!"


    Leda paused, expecting a covert insult, only to realize...


    "Mr. Gibson can''t afford lunch now?"


    York''s temper red, "I''ve been squatting at your doorstep for an hour. Where am I supposed to eat, huh?"


    Leda rolled her eyes, retorting, "it''s not my fault."


    York was livid, truly.


    In the end, Leda tossed him a pack of instant noodles.


    Slurping them down, York grumbled, "Couldn''t you serve something decent for once?"


    Leda, engrossed in her phone on the other couch, didn''t look up. "Eat or leave."


    York sighed. Might as well enjoy the noodles.


    He polished off the soup, belching loudly.


    Leda nced at him with disdain. "You''ve eaten. When are you leaving?"


    York, loungingfortably, asked, "Got anything to drink? Cold would be great."


    Leda raised an eyebrow, "What am I, your maid?"


    "Calm down, woman. Why you always gotta explode? Chill out, will ya?"


    "No."


    York stood and headed to the fridge himself.


    It was packed with drinks, but there wasn''t any food.


    He cracked open a soda, downing it with satisfaction and belching contentedly.


    Leda grimaced, "Must you make such disgusting noises?"


    Burp after burp, he didn''t stop.


    Leda''s look could kill.


    Thezy, hot afternoon stretched on.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The banter continued, filling the house.


    York simply refused to leave.


    Leda was at her wit''s end.


    She swore to herself, this guy was getting blocked on all socials.


    Meanwhile, Roseanne Cole, having woken from her nap, skimmed through some papers.


    Feeling stiff, she headed to the kitchen to slice up some fruit.


    Summer''s downside: fruit peels attracting bugs.


    After cleaning up, she nned to


    dump the


    trash outsid


    outter.


    waiting


    to


    Sw


    Opening her door, she noticed the busy scene at Owen''s ce, crowded in the living room


    discussing something s


    Owen, emerging from his bedroom, announced, "Tried it, the bedroom AC''s busted too."


    One of the workers pped his thigh, "That settles it, outdoor unit''s the culprit."


    Roseanne blinked, "Mr. Reynolds, your AC''s down?"


    Owen''s eyes finally met hers, "You''re home?"


    "Yeah, it''s Saturday."


    He chuckled ruefully, gesturing


    towards the malfunctioning AC


    broke morning


    down this morning."


    to en kilet


    belongs


    Sweat drenched his shirt, clinging to him.


    Roseanne, fresh from her cool room, felt hot just looking at him.


    "The workers are on it, but... maybe you''d like toe over? My AC''s working."


    Owen hesitated.


    "Would that be okay?"