Page 18 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

She hesitates, then lowers her voice. “Watch your back, Joel. Rivkin… he’s not exactly known for playing fair.”

“I know,” I reply. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

The rest of the day is a blur of patient rounds, meetings, and trying to focus while my mind races. Rivkin is everywhere—at the nurses’ station, in the cafeteria, his smile too wide, his voice too loud. He’s working the room, shaking hands, laughing at jokes that aren’t funny. It’s calculated, a performance designed to win favor.

By the time I finish my shift, I’m drained. The thought of going home, seeing Lucy and the boys, is the only thing keeping me upright. When I walk through the front door, the smell of dinner greets me, and the sight of Lucy in the kitchen is comforting to my frayed nerves.

“How was your day?” she asks, handing me a beer.

I take it gratefully, letting the cool liquid soothe my dry throat. “Eventful,” I say. “I… I made the list.”

Her eyes light up. “Joel, that’s amazing!”

“Thanks,” I say, but my tone is heavy. “Rivkin’s on it too.”

Her smile fades slightly. “That explains a lot.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s going to be a fight.”

She steps closer, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “You’ll win. You’re the best choice, Joel. Anyone can see that.”

Her faith in me is humbling, and for a moment, I let myself believe her. I offer her a small smile. “Thanks, Lucy. That means a lot.”

After dinner, I help the boys with their homework while Lucy tidies up the kitchen. Her presence is a steadying force,grounding me even as my mind buzzes with strategies and scenarios. By the time the boys are in bed, I’m ready to collapse.

Lucy is sitting on the couch when I return downstairs, a book open in her lap. She looks up when I enter, her blue eyes soft and inviting.

“You should get some rest,” she says, setting the book aside.

“I will,” I say, sitting down beside her. “Just… need a minute.”

She doesn’t press, just sits quietly beside me, with her hand resting lightly on my back. Her presence is enough to ease some of the tension in my chest. As the minutes tick by, the weight of the day starts to lift, replaced by something softer, something I’m almost afraid to name.

Without thinking, I reach over and take her hand. Her fingers are warm and soft in mine, and she doesn’t pull away. We don’t say anything, but the silence between us isn’t heavy—it’s calm, like the stillness of a lake at dawn.

Just sitting here with her feels like enough as I contemplate going upstairs to get some rest.

“Goodnight, Lucy,” I say, kissing the top of her head as I stand and head toward the stairs.

“Goodnight, Joel,” she replies, her voice soft as I retreat to my room.

As I lie in bed, the day’s events replay in my mind. Rivkin’s smirk, Lucy’s unwavering support, the weight of the promotion hanging in the balance. It’s a lot. But for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe.

Tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but tonight, I will let myself rest.

9

LUCY

The days in Joel’s house have a rhythm now, one that feels so natural it’s hard to remember a time before I was part of it. Mornings are filled with laughter and the clatter of cereal bowls, afternoons bring endless energy with Miles and Finn’s antics, and evenings end with the quiet intimacy of bedtime stories and whispered goodnights.

The boys have become my partners in crime. Miles is a bundle of curiosity, always eager to try something new, while Finn is a little whirlwind of mischief and giggles. Today, our kitchen table is covered in construction paper, glue, and glitter as we tackle an ambitious art project. The boys are making cards for Joel—their idea—and the sheer concentration on their faces makes me smile.

“Is this too much glitter?” Finn asks, holding up a card that sparkles so brightly it’s almost blinding.

“There’s no such thing as too much glitter,” I say, and he grins, satisfied with my answer.

Miles, ever the perfectionist, carefully adds the finishing touches to his card. “Do you think Dad will like it?” he asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

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