Page 26 of Off the Wall
Cullen calls people like Sandra buddy magnets, and he should know. He’s a buddy magnet too. Wherever he goes, he collects contact information like souvenirs. But he doesn’t just exchange numbers. He actually follows up, turning strangers into friends. To be clear, he’s not thinking about what he can gain from the introductions. My brother is genuinely interested in others. He cares about everyone.
I do too, or I wouldn’t work as hard as I do to ensure good outcomes in the OR. But those patients are—for the most part—anonymous to me. They enter my life for the length of a surgery, and I can generally tell by the time they’re doing final X-rays if the procedure’s been a success. Then I move on to the next case. No muss or fuss. No commitment.
Just the way I like it.
Sandra drags me by the elbow over to a table in themiddle of the shop and introduces me to three women in yoga pants and ponytails. “Cash works at Springs Memorial,” she informs them. “And he’s never even been to Serendipi-Tea.”
“Then you have to try their lavender latte,” the blonde named Beth gushes. “It’s the best.” She’s nibbling a bagel. Beth Bagel. This is how I remember people’s names. The brunette next to Beth confirms her latte is, in fact,the best. She’s Leanna. She’s got lipstick on her teeth. Leanna Lipstick.
See?
Totally works.
Woman Number Three—Eloise—waves a dismissive hand. “You’re both wrong. The wildflower coffee lemonade is much better.” She looks up at me and bats her eyelashes. They’re so long, they practically touch her forehead.
Eloise Eyelash.
“I’m not much of a coffee guy,” I say, and the group cracks up like what I said was hilarious.
“Cash was going to bring donuts to the hospital today,” Sandra blurts. “Obviously I had to intervene.”
“Donuts are a no.” Beth wrinkles her nose. “Too many trans fats.”
Leanna rolls her eyes. “Do you know how many carbs are in that bagel?”
“We’re talking about Cash now,” Eloise chimes in, her gaze still focused on me. “I don't think I’ve seen you around town before.”
Sandra reaches for my elbow again. “That’s because he just moved here two months ago,” she explains. “He lives at The Serendipity.”
“Really?” Leanna’s lip quirks. “Youhaveheard all the stories about that place, right? About how the building is … magic?”
I rub a hand along the back of my neck. Sure, I’ve heardthe stories, but I’m not here to discuss rumors with Leanna Lipstick. I just want to score some points with Sandra, grab a few boxes of whatever she recommends, and get to the hospital.
Back to my comfort zone.
“The fountain in the courtyard is supposed to have special powers,” Eloise purrs. “Because of the water.”
“Which is ludicrous,” Beth chimes in.
“But don’t you think it’s strange how many people fall in love there?” Leanna asks.
Man. I should’ve called her Leanna Question Mark. But then I would’ve lost the alliteration.
“I think the legends are romantic,” Eloise murmurs. Her gaze drops to my bare ring finger. “Do you feel any magic there, Cash?”
Beth leans over the table and lowers her voice. “If living at The Serendipity helped people find love, Nori Sinclair would have someone by now.”
“You’re right.” Eloise offers up an exaggerated sigh. “That girlhaslived there for practically ever.”
“And she’s definitely not lucky,” Beth whispers.
Leanna shrugs. “Is it possible the magic just doesn’t work for her?”
“She does have an unusual backstory,” Eloise says, and everyone nods.
Wait.
Nori has some kind of unusual, unlucky backstory?
