Page 12 of Doctor Neighbor

Formal greeting. Icy. Okay. I got this. Counteract the ice with casual friendliness. “Just moved in, actually. Today's moving day." I gesture vaguely towards the building.

The little girl tugs on Cole's hand. "Mommy, can we go swimming now?"

Mommy? My brain short-circuits for a moment. Does Cole have a kid? How did I not know this?

"In a minute, sweetie," Cole says, her voice softening as she addresses her daughter. She turns back to me, her expression unreadable. "Well, welcome to the neighborhood, I guess."

I nod, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. "Thanks. I, uh, didn't know you had a daughter."

"There's a lot you don't know," Cole replies, her tone clipped.

The little girl looks up at me, curiosity written all over her face. "Who are you?"

"I'm Dr. Buster," I say, crouching down to her level. "I like your flamingo. I was just thinking about getting one of those for myself."

She grins, holding it up proudly. "His name is Pinky!"

Her smile is infectious, and I smile back. "That's a great name."

Cole clears her throat. "We should get going, Maddie. The pool's waiting."

I stand up, suddenly aware of how awkward this situation is. "Right, I won't keep you. Enjoy your swim.”

FOUR

Cole

11:11 am

I can't believe my eyes. For the third time in a week, there he is—Buster Hankel, standing right in front of me at the pool gate. Why is life insisting on trying to break me lately?

Seeing him, along with this sweltering heat, makes me want to crawl into a cool, dark cave and sleep for a month until this heat lets up and my luck turns around.

"Mommy, look! Watch Pinky jump in!" Maddie squeals as she throws her float in the pool, oblivious to the tension in the air. She clutches her own mini inflatable flamingo, a gift from her grandmother.

I force a smile. "I see, sweetie. Why don't you go put your things down on that chair over there?"

As Maddie scampers off, I turn to watch Buster walk away. His perfect physique is on full display in his short shorts and sweaty gray t-shirt. His back muscles fill it out perfectly, highlighting his tapered waist.

I hate that I notice.

Why does it feel like I’m fending off bad omens everywhere I turn? And of all the places in Birmingham? As big as this city is, why now do we keep running into each other?

I turn back to the pool and give Maddie the okay to dive in. Then I take off my cover-up and grab a lounge chair under an umbrella.

Maddie splashes in the shallow end, her giggles a stark contrast to the turmoil in my head. Almost five years ago now, I told Buster I wasn't looking for anything serious. So why does seeing him now, after all this time, still make my heart race?

Maddie's giggles echo across the pool area. It's a welcome distraction from my thoughts about Buster and the general cursing of my bad luck lately.

My phone buzzes in my bag. I fish it out, grateful for the interruption.

It's a text from Liesle.

Hey, sister from the same mister! Anna's been begging for a play day with Maddie. Any chance we could steal her for the day and night?

I smile, knowing how much Maddie adores her cousin.

Hey! That sounds great. We're at the pool now. Could drop her off after lunch?

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