Page 61 of Doctor Neighbor

"Have a good day, Dr. Hankel," she says with a wink.

"You too, Ms. Johnson," I reply, forcing myself into the hall. God, I’m such a sap.

As I close the door behind me, I lean against it for a moment, taking a deep breath. The real world awaits, but my entire heart remains in that room with Cole.

TWENTY

Cole

12:26 pm

John's City Diner

12 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N

I step into John's City Diner, the vacuum of the outside, warm air, and ice-cold air inside sucking me in as I push open the heavy glass door. The quaint sandwich shop is bustling with the lunch crowd, a mix of office workers and locals. The aroma of fresh-baked bread and grilled meats fills the air.

Star is at a corner booth, her vibrant red hair impossible to miss. She waves, and I walk over, sliding into the worn leather seat across from her.

"Hey, girl," Star greets me with a warm smile. "You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."

I force a laugh, but it comes out weak. "That obvious, huh?"

Our server approaches. She’s a friendly, middle-aged woman with a Southern drawl. We order our usual—a Reuben for me and a club sandwich for Star.

While waiting for our food, I fidget with my napkin, trying to work up the courage to spill what's been eating at me.

"Alright, what's eating you? I can tell there is something," Star says, leaning forward. Her green eyes search my face with concern, and she reaches across the table to gently squeeze my hand. "What's going on, Cole? You know you can tell me anything."

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of my troubles pressing down on me. The bustling diner around us fades into the background as I focus on my best friend's worried expression. I've never been good at hiding my emotions from Star, and today is no exception.

I take a deep breath. "I think... I think Buster might be Maddie's father."

Star's eyes widen. "What? How?"

I explain my suspicions, the timing, the little mannerisms I've noticed. "And to complicate things further, we've been sleeping together. Star, I've fallen for him. Hard."

Our food arrives, but I barely notice it. I'm too caught up in my dilemma.

"I don't know what to do," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of my secret feels like it's crushing me. I push my untouched plate of food away, my appetite completely gone. "Should I just keep quiet and move forward? Or do I have to tell him? God, Star, I'm terrified of what this could mean for Maddie... for me... for everything we've built."

I pick at my fingernails, which are now a short mess, a nervous habit that has been on overdrive as of late.

The thought of potentially upending Buster's life—and mine—with this revelation makes my stomach churn. I feel physically ill like I might actually be sick right here at the table.

My mind races with all the possible outcomes, each one seeming worse than the last. The weight of my secret presses down on me, making it hard to breathe. I can't help but wonder if I'm about to destroy everything—my life, Buster's career, Maddie's future.

God, Maddie. What would this mean for her? My beautiful, innocent little girl is blissfully unaware of the turmoil churning all around her.

How would this affect her life and her future? The thought of potentially upending her world, of introducing such a massive change into her young life, makes my heart ache. I can't help but picture her confused face, her big dark eyes looking up at me, searching for answers I'm not sure I can give.

Would this revelation bring her joy or pain? Would it complicate her already complicated life as the daughter of a single mom?

The weight of these questions presses down on me, making it hard to breathe. The churning in my gut intensifies, and I have to take a deep breath to keep from spiraling further into panic.

Star reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. "Oh, honey. That's a lot to carry around."

I nod, feeling tears prick in my eyes. "I'm scared, Star. What if I'm right? What if I'm wrong? Either way, it could change everything."

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