Page 17 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

The doorbell chimed again, and my heart skipped a beat. There stood Trevor looking unfairly handsome for someone who probably got up at the crack of dawn to do push-ups, save kittens from trees, or whatever it is disgustingly fit firefighters do on Sunday mornings.

"Something smells amazing," he said, sniffing the air appreciatively. "Please tell me there's coffee involved."

I pulled him inside and led him to the kitchen table, grinning like a kid with a secret. "Only the finest funny face pancakes for our caterpillar enclosure day!”

Hero trotted in behind us, settling on his usual spot on the rug with a contented huff.

Addy, her cheeks bulging like a chipmunk's, sprang from her seat and barreled towards Trevor. "When do we start the butterfly project?" she mumbled around her mouthful of pancakes.

I crouched down to her level. "Well, sweat pea. First, we finish breakfast. Then we will make a cozy home for the caterpillars."

Addy's jaw dropped. "Like a princess castle?"

Trevor caught my eye, a mischievous glint in his. "Exactly. But with more leaves, fewer towers."

Addy nodded solemnly and marched back to her seat, attacking her pancake with renewed vigor.

"Oh!" I clapped my hands, struck by inspiration. "We could paint it like a magical garden. Flowers, vines, the works!"

"Can we use glitter?" Addy bounced in her seat.

"Of course!" I turned to Trevor, daring him to object. "What's a butterfly garden without sparkle?"

Trevor mumbled something like, "Doesn’t sound very safe for the caterpillars."

His eyes met mine, a mix of amusement and concern. "Maybe we build the structure before we bedazzle it? I think that safety trumps pretty."

Addy and I exchanged a look and burst into giggles. His practicality was both frustrating and oddly charming.

After breakfast, we trooped out to the garden where I'd set up our workstation. Addy zeroed in on the container of caterpillars, her face scrunched in concentration.

"This one should be named Sir Fuzzy McWiggles," she declared, pointing at a particularly plump caterpillar. "And this one can be Princess Leaf-a-lot!"

I bit back a smile, wondering how long it would take before she ran out of names. But Trevor, it seemed, was just getting started.

"Well, if we're going for royalty, how about King Crawly the Magnificent?" He gestured grandly at a caterpillar inching its way up a leaf.

Addy giggled, clapping her hands. "Ooh, ooh! And this one can be Queen Munchie!"

Not to be outdone, Trevor pointed at another. "That's Colonel Crawly von Inchworm, the bravest of the bunch."

Their naming ceremony grew increasingly ridiculous until I couldn't hold back anymore. A most unladylike snort escaped me.

Trevor's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Amelia, I had no idea you were fluent in Caterpillar-ese."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "It's a little-known talent."

"Oh really?" His grin widened. "What other secrets are you keeping?"

I grabbed a wooden plank, deflecting his teasing. "Alright, you two. Let's build this palace before our royal residents get impatient."

Trevor joined me at the workstation, his focus shifting to careful measurements and precise cuts. I couldn't help but admire his dedication—and maybe his forearms a little bit, too.

We toiled away under the afternoon sun, sawdust clinging to us like a second skin. Addy, our self-appointed foreman, perched on a step stool, barking orders with all the authority a nine-year-old could muster.

As I climbed the ladder to attach the netting, my foot slipped. My heart leaped into my throat, but before I could channel my inner acrobat, Trevor's hands were on my waist, steadying me.

I glanced over my shoulder, suddenly very aware of how close he was. Those brown eyes of his had flecks of gold in them. How had I never noticed that before?

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