Page 31 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

I froze, my fork pausing midway to my mouth. A knot of dread twisted in my gut. I'd hoped she hadn't noticed that I could keep that part of myself locked away. But looking at her open, caring face... I took a deep breath. Maybe it was time to let someone in.

"I... have nightmares sometimes," I admitted, my voice rougher than I'd like. "From my time in the military. Things I saw, things I did..." I trailed off, watching her face carefully, bracing for pity or judgment.

But Amelia just nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "That must be hard," she said softly. "Carrying that with you."

I blinked, surprised. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

She reached out, her hand resting gently on mine. "I get it. I mean, not exactly, but... I struggle with anxiety. Have for years. It can feel like you're drowning sometimes, you know?"

I turned my hand over, lacing our fingers together. "I know." Looking into her eyes, I realized I truly did. For the first time, I felt like someone saw me—all of me, cracks and scars and all.

We sat like that for a long moment, hands intertwined, a new understanding stretching between us. Then Amelia grinned, squeezing my hand.

"You know what we need? An impromptu date night. Right now."

I raised an eyebrow. "Right now? With your ankle?"

She waved a hand dismissively. "Details. Come on, let's go to my flower shop. It's just down the hall."

Shaking my head but unable to suppress a smile, I helped her up, handing over her crutches. We made our way slowly down the hallway, Amelia determinedly hopping along.

Suddenly, a brown blur shot past us - Hero, chasing some imaginary prey. Amelia yelped, her crutch catching on Hero’s leg. I caught her quickly, giving Hero an exasperated look. The little dog just wagged his tail, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Hero," I scolded, "we talked about this. No tripping the injured lady."

Amelia laughed, steadying herself on my arm. "It's okay. He wants to join the party." She reached down to scratch Hero's ears, cooing, "Don't you, handsome boy?"

The three of us entered the flower shop together, Hero trotting at our heels.

As we entered the flower shop, I felt like a bull in a china shop, carefully maneuvering around the delicate displays. I was acutely aware of Amelia's crutches, trying my best not to knock anything over. My eyes darted around, quickly spotting a comfortable chair.

"Here, keep that ankle elevated," I insisted, gesturing to the chair. I couldn't help the concern that crept into my voice.

Amelia rolled her eyes but complied, propping her foot on a nearby stool. "Yes, Doctor Phillips," she teased.

I smirked, crossing my arms. "That's Firefighter Phillips to you."

A mischievous grin spread across Amelia's face, and I braced myself. "Hey, since we're in my domain now, how about a little challenge?"

"What kind of challenge?" I asked, suspicion creeping in.

"A flower-arranging contest!" she announced, and I felt a flash of panic.

I rubbed the back of my neck, eyeing the flowers warily. "I don't know, Amelia. I'm not exactly known for my artistic skills."

She waved off my concerns. "That's the point! It's about letting loose and getting creative."

With a sigh, I relented. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Amelia's laughter filled the shop as I began fumbling with the flowers. I was acutely aware of how out of place my large hands looked among the delicate blooms. I could feel my face scrunching in concentration.

"No, no," Amelia giggled, "the baby's breath goes between the roses, not on top."

I shot her a mock glare. "Hey, I'm a beginner, remember?"

As I tried to follow her instructions, I felt my tongue poking out slightly in focus. Despite my lack of skill, I was determined to create something beautiful for her.

I could feel Amelia's eyes on me as I struggled with the flowers, my fingers clumsy and awkward. I was way out of my depth here, but seeing her smile made it all worth it.

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