Page 44 of Claimed by my Bestie's Dad

“Yeah, there is. Spill the tea, Mia.”

But Mia refuses to give us any details.

“I just want to be an aunt already,” Aurora says. “I don’t think I’m ever going to have kids, so one of you can at least get around to having one.”

I roll my eyes. “Not going to happen here. I don’t even have any prospects.” But I think about Ethan. Of course, we could never have a family together. Ethan had one, and it didn’t work out that well for him. And I would never pick someone as old as him to be the father of my kids. But we can have fun together for a little while.

“That’s why it’s up to you, Mia, to give us a niece or nephew.”

“Hey, if you cover the costs of diapers and everything, sure. Why not?”

But we all know she’s joking. She and Theo don’t want kids together, and their relationship is less than six months old.

Oh well. At least we can pretend there will be a beautiful baby in our midst in the future.

Stella turns her attention to Aurora, prodding her to see if she has any new prospects, but Aurora refuses to say anything. I pull Zoe aside instead, yanking her into the kitchen and saying something about the wine.

“Are you okay?” Zoe asks as soon as we’re alone.

“I’m…not feeling great. I think I might have picked up some bug.”

Zoe’s eyes grow wide, and she backs away from me. “Please don’t give it to me. I don’t want to get sick right before Christmas.”

“Hey, think about it this way. If you’re sick right before Christmas, then you can’t be sickonChristmas.”

“I’m pretty sure germs don’t work that way. There’s no limit on how many times you can get sick.”

“I’m pretty sure there is.” I press a hand to my stomach and swallow the feeling of nausea. I nod toward the dining room table. “I want to help, but I’m not creative like this. I think Aurora is just going to throw all of mine away.”

“Oh, don’t be such a Debbie Downer. If you feel sick, then go home and rest. But don’t go home just because you feel stressed or overwhelmed with whatever’s going on with…him.” Zoe gives me a significant look.

I panic that someone might overhear us, but then Zoe’s expression changes. Maybe I’m reading too much into this.

“Okay, I think I’ll make one more, then I want to get home and rest. I feel exhausted.”

“This virus must be hitting you hard.”

I follow Zoe back into the dining room and remain quiet as Mia talks about a ridiculous request one of her guests made. We all laugh at the story, but I can barely pay attention to the punch line. I feel like I’m just copying them without really being present.

21

ETHAN

“Dr. Taylor,take a look at this x-ray!” I’m on my way out the door. I can almost feel the frosty air on my face. I’ve been texting with Madison, and I’m going to help her with the dogs as soon as I get home.

“I’m…already on my way home.”

“I know, but the patient in room 351 has a bad break. Look at the way the bone is cutting into the muscle.”

I take a look at the x-ray and wince. It’s definitely not one that’s going to be easy to fix. And while I feel bad for the guy, I’ve learned that I can’t always put my patients before myself. Right now, I’m picking myself first, and that means going to Madison’s house and helping her with the dogs.

“Dr. Stephen will get it. He’s suiting up in the other room.”

The orderly nods and heads back down the hall.

Finally, I have real freedom. I duck my head as I hurry into the biting cold, relishing the sting of it on my skin yet wanting to hurry home so I can see Madison. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a reason to want to be at home.

For the last few years, I’ve used any excuse possible tostay out of my house, whether that meant I was at a bar, strip club, or some other type of entertainment, I just didn’t want to be at home.

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