Page 75 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

“How was your day?” June asks, ruffling his hair as he climbs into the car.

“It was great! We made robots out of cardboard, and mine can shoot lasers!” Ethan says, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Lasers, huh? That sounds impressive,” I say, buckling him into his seat.

“Yeah! I’ll show you when we get home. And Mrs. Thompson said my robot was the best!”

June and I exchange amused glances as we get back in the car. “I can’t wait to see it,” June says, starting the engine.

As we drive toward the wedding rehearsal venue, Ethan keeps up a constant stream of chatter, regaling us with tales of his day. His excitement is infectious, and I find myself relaxing, the earlier tension melting away.

By the time we reach the venue—a charming building with fairy lights strung across the patio—the sun is beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the cobblestone street.

“There’s Dad and Liam!” Ethan exclaims, unbuckling himself as soon as the car stops.

We all get out, and Ethan runs straight to Damon, who lifts him up with one arm. Liam walks over to me, a smile playing on his lips.

A familiar warmth blooms in my chest. “Hey, stranger,” I greet him, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

His smile widens. “Hey yourself,” he replies, pulling me in for a quick hug. The scent of his cologne—a mix of something citrusy and woodsy—brings back a flood of last night’s memories, and I can't help but lean into him for a moment longer than necessary. When we finally pull apart, a soft blush rises to my cheeks.

We all head inside, the venue buzzing with activity. The space is beautifully decorated, with fairy lights strung across the ceiling and flowers adorning every surface. There’s a sense of anticipation in the air, the kind that comes with the final stages of wedding preparations.

Liam and I find seats near the front, with Ethan between us. We watch as June and Damon consult with Olivia, the instructor, going over the day’s plans. I can see the love in their eyes as they look at each other, and it makes my heart swell.

June looks at us, her face breaking into a wide grin. “There you are! This is Olivia everyone, our wedding day instructor. Olivia, this is Emma, Liam, and of course, the star of the show, Ethan.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you all,” Olivia says, her smile as bright as her name tag. “Ethan, ready to be the ring bearer at the wedding?”

Ethan puffs out his chest proudly. “Yup! I'm gonna hold the shiny rings for Ms. June and Dad.”

“Good.”

The afternoon flies by in a flurry of introductions, explanations about the ceremony flow, and practice walks down a faux aisle Olivia has marked out with chairs. An hour later, Olivia claps her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Alright, everyone, let’s go through the couple’s dance. It’s a traditional folk dance, so it might take some practice.”

June and Damon take their positions on the dance floor, but it quickly becomes clear that they’re struggling. Damon’s movements are awkward, and June keeps giggling as he stumbles through the turns, and she steps on his feet. Olivia tries to give them tips, but it doesn’t seem to help.

“June?” Liam chimes in, a teasing smile on his face. “Maybe you should have picked someone with a better sense of rhythm.”

Damon shoots him a mock glare. “Oh, really? You think you can do any better?”

“Maybe,” Liam replies, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

June claps her hands together. “Alright, alright. Here's an idea. Why don't you and Emma show us how it's done?”

Emma? Me? My stomach lurches. Public dancing is not on my list of favorite activities. Yet, before I can voice my protest, Liam turns to me, his voice surprisingly gentle.

“Mind giving it a shot, Emma? Just to show Damon he's the only one with two left feet?”

My breath catches in my throat. My initial reaction is to refuse, but something in Liam's gaze holds me captive. A flicker of amusement dances in his eyes, but there’s an undercurrent of something else too, a warmth that sends a shiver down my spine.

I feel a flutter of nerves but nod. “Sure, why not?”

We stand up, and Liam takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor. Olivia starts the music, a lively jig with an infectious melody. Liam holds my hand securely as Olivia quickly walks us through the basic steps—a step to the side, a hop, a turn.

At first, my movements are awkward and hesitant. I stumble over my own feet, my focus solely on not tripping over myself. But Liam is a great partner, his voice a steady murmur in my ear as he guides me through the steps.

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