Page 22 of Doctor Neighbor

I catch a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror and wince. My eyes are red-rimmed, my hair a mess. I run my fingers through it quickly, trying to look somewhat presentable.

Another knock, more insistent this time.

"Hold on," I mutter, reaching for the doorknob.

I take a deep breath and open the door, ready to politely dismiss whoever it is.

My jaw drops.

"Buster?"

I stand frozen in the doorway, staring at Buster in disbelief. Of all the people I expected to see, he wasn't even on the list.

"What are you doing here?" I manage to croak out, my voice still raw from my body’s attempt to fall apart.

Buster's eyes widen, clearly as surprised as I am. "I... uh... I didn't realize…you lived here," he stammers, running a hand through his hair. "Just moved in. On Saturday," he says, turning and pointing to the goddamn door directly across from mine. "Got off work early to meet the delivery. My kitchen.”

He is speaking in half sentences. Is he breathing heavily?

We both fall silent, the awkwardness hanging thick in the air between us. I'm acutely aware of my disheveled appearance, and I can feel a blush creeping up my neck.

"You... live here?" I finally ask, my brain struggling to catch up with this new information.

"Yeah, that's my place," Buster replies, gesturing vaguely behind him. "I had no idea you were... I mean, what are the odds, right?"

I nod numbly, still trying to process this unexpected turn of events. First, we keep running into each other around town, and now we're neighbors? What the absolute fuck?

"So, um..." Buster starts, then trails off, clearly at a loss for words.

I'm not faring much better. My mind races, trying to come up with anything to say. But all I can focus on is the fact that Buster Hankel, the man I've been trying to forget for the last week, is now living across the hall from me.

SEVEN

Buster

2:42 pm

I stand there, mouth agape, staring at Cole. Of all the people to have for a neighbor, it had to be her. These coincidences are getting to be a bit much, even for me.

"I... uh... sorry to bother you," I stammer, trying to regain my composure. Her eyes look red and puffy, like she's been crying. I want to ask if she's okay, but I've already learned the hard way not to cross the line into personal matters with her, not yet, anyway.

"I just moved in on Saturday," I explain, gesturing vaguely down the hall. "Got off work early to meet the kitchen delivery guys."

"You mentioned that literally thirty seconds ago," Cole nods, her expression unreadable beyond her curt words. We stand in awkward silence for a moment before I remember why I knocked in the first place.

"Look, this is going to sound stupid, but I was hoping to borrow a screwdriver. I got this ridiculous wooden box from Williams Sonoma with my new dishes. And I can't get the damn thing open."

I force a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Cole's eyebrows raise slightly, but she doesn't smile.

"Anyway, I thought I'd take the opportunity to meet my neighbor. Didn't realize it would be you."

More silence. I shift uncomfortably, wondering if I should just apologize again and leave. But then Cole sighs and steps back from the doorway.

"Come in," she says flatly. "I think I have a screwdriver in here somewhere."

I hesitate for a second before following her inside. Her condo is a mirror image of mine but infinitely more lived-in and homey. Family photos line the walls, and a child's toys are scattered across the living room floor.

"Nice place," I offer lamely, trailing behind her as she heads toward what I assume is a utility closet.

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