Page 26 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

The aroma of toasted bread wafts through the air, pulling me from my dreams. Another morning, another breakfast solo. Sunlight streams through the kitchen window, painting bright squares on the countertop. I yawn, stretch, and go about making my usual—scrambled eggs and toast.

The familiar patter of footsteps on the stairs brings a smile to my face. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” I greet Damon as he enters the kitchen, his hair a mess and a tired smile on his face.

“Morning,” he mumbles, grabbing a mug and pouring himself some coffee. “June and Ethan up yet?”

“Not yet,” I reply, stirring the eggs in the pan. “June's probably wrestling with Ethan's clothes as usual.”

As if on cue, a chorus of giggles and Ethan's whiny protests reach us from upstairs. A moment later, June appears, her hair half-pulled back and a sleep mask dangling from her wrist. Ethan, a mop-haired whirlwind, trails behind her, fully dressed but sporting a mismatched pair of socks.

“Good morning, sunshine,” June says, ruffling my hair as she grabs a plate. “Thanks for the breakfast. You're a lifesaver.”

“No problem,” I laugh. “Although, at this rate, you might need to start taking turns. I can't keep up with how late I go to bed.”

I wink at her, and both she and Damon burst into laughter. Ethan, ever the inquisitive five-year-old, frowns.

“What's so funny?” he asks, his big brown eyes blinking in confusion.

“Just an adult joke, honey,” I say quickly, placing a plate in front of him. “Something you wouldn't understand.”

We all settle in, and the chatter around the table is a welcome change from the quiet mornings I'm used to. Halfway through breakfast, I catch Damon and June stealing glances at me with their faces stretched into wide, mischievous grins.

I scrape some butter onto my toast, then carefully slide my eggs on top. Perfect. Just as I take a bite, I feel their stares again.

“What are you two looking at?” I ask, wiping a stray bit of butter from my mouth.

“There's no crumb on your lip, Aunt Emma,” Ethan pipes.

I chuckle. “Thanks, Ethan. I wonder if you know why your dad and June are staring at me, though.”

I turn back to Damon and June. Their smiles have only gotten wider.

“You okay, Em?” Damon asks, his voice laced with amusement.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I reply, taking another bite of toast. “Why do you ask?”

“Just wondering,” he says, taking a long sip of his coffee.

“It’s more than wondering. You haven't stopped smiling all morning.”

He glances around the table, then back at me. “I gotta say, I'm happy. Glad everyone's finally finding their place.”

A bitter pang shoots through me. Yes, everyone except me. I force a smile and mumble agreement. “Eat up, you guys. We don't want to be late.”

Just then, Ethan looks up at me. “Are you dating Uncle Liam, Emma?”

That’s the worst curveball I’ve ever been thrown in my life. The question hangs in the air, and my head snaps up to meet Damon and June's gazes. I immediately realize why they’ve been smiling.

Oh, fuck Liam Miller!

“Where did you hear that, Ethan?”

“The kids have been talking about your open-air PDA, my friend,” June coos.

Before I can object, Damon lets out a hearty laugh. “You guys played us long enough, Em,” he says, his voice teasing. “I shouldn’t be hearing about my own sister and friend’s relationship through the grapevine.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“We figured it out,” June chimes in, her eyes sparkling. “That's why you were so weird around him. You were just trying to hide it!”

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