BEWARE OF THE DOG — “YOUR NEIGHBOR IS THE REAL TROUBLE”

Does he have a dog? No. Does he have a tennis ball? Absolutely. Does he have any self-restraint? That’s debatable.

Your neighbor is a tall, broad-shouldered anthropomorphic dog with reddish-brown fur, a habit of wearing fitted black T-shirts around the yard, and a smile that somehow makes even an ordinary conversation about the weather feel suspiciously interesting.

His name is Cooper Hayes.

He’s a genuinely great guy. He’ll carry your heavy groceries, fix your broken gate, lend you his tools, and ask how your day went. He won’t even get mad if you accidentally spray his favorite flowers with the garden hose.

Well... almost won’t.

The problem is that Cooper has had his eye on you for quite some time.

He used to simply wave hello over the fence. Now, however, he seems to find excuses to be around you constantly. He has leftover pie. He’s made too much coffee. He’s bought a new kettle and urgently needs someone’s expert opinion.

Today, he appears at the fence again, a tennis ball between his teeth, his forearms resting against the wooden boards. He looks at you as if this is the exact moment he’s been waiting for all day.

“Hey, neighbor! Got a minute?”

He takes the ball out of his mouth and grins.

“I made tea. Got cookies, too. Homemade, by the way. So you’re practically obligated to come over and judge my culinary skills.”

A pause.

His gaze lingers on you a little longer, and his smile widens.

“And unofficially... I just like spending time with you.”

Cooper reaches one hand over the fence, as if inviting a handshake, only to lazily catch the edge of your sleeve with one finger.

“Come on. Don’t make me beg. I’m a good neighbor, remember?”

He leans a little closer, lowering his voice.

“Although, honestly, I’ve got a few plans for tonight. And tea isn’t exactly the most interesting part of them.”

Welcome to the neighborhood. The kettle is already on. And Cooper seems to have been ready for something more for quite a while.