Page 16 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

I stared at her, surprised by her firm declaration. "Amelia, I don't…" Before I could finish, she stood on her tiptoes, planted a soft yet firm kiss on my cheek, and quickly entered the shop.

Later that evening, I fidgeted with my napkin at Luna's Italian Bistro while waiting for Susan and Mom to arrive. The cozy, romantic atmosphere of the restaurant felt at odds with the turmoil churning in my gut, and I couldn't seem to sit still.

What am I doing here? I wondered, my leg bouncing nervously under the table. I should be at home, trying to figure out how to prove to Kevin that I'm not the same screw-up I was in high school.

I was so lost in my brooding that I didn't notice Mom and Susan's arrival until they slid into the booth across from me. Mom's eyes were soft with concern, her maternal instincts clearly picking up on my distress.

"Everything okay, sweetie?" she asked gently, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.

I opened my mouth to brush off her concern, to insist that everything was fine. But something in her expression stopped me.

I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. "It's Amelia. I think... I think I'm falling for her. Hard." I felt my cheeks flush at the admission, but I couldn't stop now. "But I'm scared. Scared that I'm not good enough for her, that I'll end up hurting her like I did before."

Mom's expression softened, her hand reaching out to cover mine. "Oh, Trevor. You can't keep punishing yourself for your past mistakes. You've grown so much since then."

Susan nodded in agreement. "She's right, Trev. Anyone can see how much you care about Amelia. The way you look at her, the way you make her laugh... That's not the Trevor from high school. Is this because of Kevin and what happened at the park?"

I nodded, grimacing slightly as I remembered Kevin's stern expression and pointed words. "Partly, yeah. He made it clear he doesn't trust me with Amelia."

Susan sighed, shaking her head. "You know how protective Kevin is. He has always been overly cautious when it comes to Amelia."

Mom agreed, patting my hand reassuringly. "And remember, Amelia is no shrinking violet. She can stand up for herself."

I wanted to believe them and trust in the possibility of a future with Amelia. But a nagging doubt persisted, a whisper in the back of my mind that I wasn't worthy of her love.

We finished our meal in contemplative silence, the weight of my confession hanging in the air. As we said our goodbyes outside the restaurant, Mom hugged me tightly, her voice a fierce whisper in my ear. "Don't let your fears hold you back, Trevor. You deserve happiness, and so does Amelia."

As I walked home, I passed by "Petals & Blooms" and saw Amelia working late. Our eyes met, and she smiled. At that moment, all my doubts and fears seemed to melt away, replaced by a certainty I hadn't felt since deciding to join the fire department.

I went to bed that night with my mind full of possibilities and my heart full of Amelia. As Hero snuggled against me, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I would face them head-on.

Chapter nine

Amelia

Iflipped the pancake with a flourish, admiring my culinary masterpiece. Blueberry eyes and a banana nose grinned up at me from the griddle, looking far too chipper for this hour on a Sunday morning. The kitchen smelled like a delicious collision between a coffee shop and a butter factory.

My mind drifted to yesterday's "walk" with Trevor and Hero. That furry little matchmaker had somehow managed to turn our park outing into an impromptu game of human pretzel. Not that I was complaining about ending up nose-to-nose with Trevor. Of course, Kevin had to rain on our parade. Honestly, sometimes I think my brother's life mission is to single-handedly spoil all my fun.

But today was going to be different. No overprotective big brothers allowed—just me, Trevor, and Addy knee-deep in butterfly chaos. Sure, Trevor's military precision might clash with my "let's wing it and see what happens" approach, but they say opposites attract—maybe there is something to the saying after all.

The doorbell chimed, causing me to jump and nearly drop the spatula. When I opened the door, Addy was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Auntie Amelia! Are the caterpillars here yet? Can I name them?"

Emily's smile looked a bit strained as she leaned in close. "Kevin's still in full grumpy bear mode about you and Trevor. Apparently, some gossip from the high school days is making the rounds at the station."

Great. There is nothing like a decade-old reputation to spice up a new relationship. I plastered on my best "everything's fine" smile for Addy's sake.

"Well, Emily, people change. Look at me—I used to think mixing plaids and stripes was fashionable."

Emily snorted. "I'll work on Kevin. Maybe I can get him to dial down the 'protective big brother' act from an eleven to a solid seven."

As she left, I turned to Addy. "Who's ready for some funny-face pancakes?"

Addy giggled, racing to the kitchen. I followed, pushing aside the nagging worry. Trevor wasn't that hotheaded teenage rebel anymore. He was a man who had served his country, a firefighter, and a devoted dog dad. And if I had anything to do with it, my soon-to-be official boyfriend. Kevin would not dampen my mood.

I flipped a pancake onto a plate and gave it to Addy. The golden face seemed to wink at me as if sharing a secret joke.

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