Page 27 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

"Ready to hit the trails?" His smile made my stomach do a little somersault.

My eyes darted from Trevor to the hulking motorcycle behind him, then down to my sad excuse for hiking shoes. "I... uh, I've never ridden one of those before. Is it safe?"

Trevor held out a helmet, his grin widening. "There's a first time for everything, right? Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

As we roared down the road, I clung to Trevor like a koala to a eucalyptus tree. But slowly, the fear melted away, replaced by exhilaration. The wind whipped through my hair, and I found myself grinning like an idiot behind my helmet. The world blurred past in a canvas of greens and browns, the familiar streets of Rivermint Cove giving way to winding country roads.

When we arrived at the trailhead, I was almost disappointed. Trevor helped me off the bike, his touch lingering just a bit too long to be casual. The air here was different—crisp and clean, with a hint of pine that made me feel like I'd stepped into another world.

"You alright?" His brow furrowed with concern.

"Never better," I lied, hoping my wobbly knees weren't too obvious. "So, this is where teenage Trevor used to hang out, huh? I'm picturing you brooding on rocks, writing angsty poetry."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Not quite. But I did come here to clear my head sometimes. Wait till you see the view—it'll take your breath away."

As we started up the trail, Hero's excited yips echoing around us, I found myself drinking in the scenery. Towering trees formed a canopy overhead, dappling the path with sunlight. Wildflowers peeked out from between rocks, adding splashes of color to the earthy palette.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, pausing to admire a particularly vibrant patch of wildflowers. "I bet these would look amazing in a bouquet."

Trevor smiled, a softness in his eyes I wasn't used to seeing. "I knew you'd appreciate it. Just wait, it gets better."

As we climbed higher, the trees began to thin out, revealing glimpses of the valley below. My legs burned with the effort, but the anticipation of what lay ahead kept me going. Finally, we emerged onto a rocky outcrop, and I gasped.

The view was stunning. Rivermint Cove lay spread out below us like a miniature model town, nestled in a patchwork of green fields and forests. In the distance, I could see the glint of the river that gave our town its name, winding its way through the landscape.

"Trevor, this is... wow." I was at a loss for words, which didn't happen often.

He stood beside me, a proud smile on his face. "Told you it was worth the hike. I used to come up here when I needed to escape. Somehow, seeing the town from up here made my problems seem smaller."

I turned to look at him, seeing not just the man he was now but glimpses of the boy he used to be. It made my heart ache in a way I wasn't quite ready to examine.

"Ready to catch some dinner? There's a pond over there." He handed me a rod like it was Excalibur.

I eyed the contraption warily. "I've never actually been fishing before. Is it as boring as it looks on TV?"

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. It's not boring when you're with the right person."

Famous last words. Within minutes, I'd tangled my line twice and nearly hooked Hero's tail. Trevor patiently untangled each mess, his fingers brushing against mine in a way that made me forget all about fishing.

"Maybe I should stick to flower arranging," I sighed, plopping down on a nearby rock like a deflated balloon. My fishing career was about as successful as a cactus in a rainforest.

Trevor, ever the optimist, handed me back the pole. "Nonsense. You just need more practice. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was a master angler."

For the next hour, I cast and reeled with all the grace of a drunk octopus. Just as I was about to throw in the towel (or the fishing rod), I felt a tug that nearly yanked my arm off.

"Holy petunias! I think I got something!" I yelped, jumping like I'd sat on a porcupine.

Trevor rushed over, eyes wide as saucers. "Reel it in slowly," he coached, his hands guiding mine on the pole. I tried not to focus on how warm or perfect they felt over mine.

Together, we battled the aquatic beast, the line zipping through the water like a caffeinated snake. With one final heave that nearly sent me tumbling into the lake, we pulled our prize ashore—a tiny trout could've been a sardine's younger brother.

We burst into laughter that echoed across the lake, probably scaring every fish within a mile radius. "I can't believe it," I gasped between giggles. "All that work for the Nemo of trouts."

Trevor grinned, gently unhooking our minuscule catch. "Hey, size doesn't matter. It's all about technique."

As he released the fish back into the water, I felt a ridiculous sense of pride. Amelia Carter, flower shop owner, and certified city girl had caught a fish. Sort of.

Riding high on my 'big catch,' I settled next to Trevor on the sun-warmed rocks. Hero curled up at our feet, probably wondering why we'd spent so long trying to catch his snack.

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