Page 32 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

As I reached for a particularly stubborn stem, my elbow knocked against the vase, sending a spray of water straight at Amelia. She gasped, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh, man, I'm so sorry!" I stammered, frantically searching for a towel.

But instead of getting angry, Amelia burst into laughter. She grabbed a handful of rose petals and tossed them at me.

"Oh, it's on," I growled playfully, scooping up my ammunition.

We began a full-on flower fight, petals flying through the air as we laughed and dodged. I was careful to keep the action within Amelia's reach, mindful of her limited mobility, but she held her own, her aim surprisingly accurate.

As the last petal fluttered to the ground, I looked at Amelia, her hair disheveled and cheeks flushed, and felt a warmth spread through my chest.

In that moment, I realized that this - the laughter, the playfulness, the easy companionship - was what I had been missing for so long. And I knew, with a certainty that both thrilled and terrified me, that I never wanted to let it go.

I sat down in the chair next to her. "I think it's safe to say I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon," I joked, gesturing to my pitiful attempts at flower arranging.

Amelia reached for one of my creations, a lopsided arrangement of daisies and baby's breath. "I don't know, Trevor. This one has a certain... charm."

"Charm? Well, that’s one way to put it."

She laughed, the sound filling the shop. "Okay, maybe 'charm' is a bit of a stretch. But it's the effort that counts, right?"

I watched as she carefully rearranged the flowers, her delicate fingers coaxing them into a more pleasing shape. The simple act felt intimate, like a glimpse into her world.

"Thank you," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Amelia looked up, her eyes searching mine. "For what?"

"For tonight. For listening. For... everything."

She reached out, her hand finding mine. "You're welcome, Trevor. I'm glad you trusted me enough to open up."

We sat like that for a while, the silence comfortable and familiar. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I felt a sense of peace.

As the night wound down, I helped Amelia navigate back to her apartment, her crutches clicking against the floor. We reached her bedroom door, and I was about to say goodnight when Amelia bit her lip, looking sheepish.

"Um, Trevor? I hate to ask, but... I might need some help changing into my pajamas. I can change my shirt, but I don't think I can manage the bottoms with my ankle wrapped."

My face instantly felt hot. "Oh, uh, sure. No problem," I stammered, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.

I helped Amelia locate her pajama bottoms, then stood awkwardly holding them out. My eyes squeezed shut so tightly that I saw stars.

"Okay, I've got the top on," Amelia said. "Just... keep your eyes closed for a minute?"

I nodded, feeling like a fool standing there with my eyes clenched shut. I heard the rustle of fabric and Amelia's occasional huffs of frustration.

Suddenly, there was a yelp and the sound of Amelia losing her balance. My eyes flew open without thinking as I reached out to steady her, my hands grasping her waist. Our eyes met, and for a moment, we both froze. Amelia's shirt was long enough to preserve her modesty, but the situation was still awkward.

We both busted out in laughter. The absurdity of the situation hit us both at once - me, standing there like a statue, and Amelia hopping around on one foot, caught in a pajama-changing fiasco.

"I think I can manage from here," Amelia said, still giggling. "Thanks for being my knight in shining armor... or should I say, my firefighter in flannel?"

I grinned, my face burning as I quickly averted my eyes again. "Anytime, damsel in distress. Just don't make a habit of it, or I might have to start charging for my services."

"Well, Mr. Phillips, I'll keep that in mind."

"Goodnight, Amelia," I called back as I retreated towards the door. Hero followed, and I hooked on his leash with a gentle click. His tail wagged in response. I bent down to pat his small head, getting licked in the face for my effort. "Alright, buddy," I said, "time for some shut-eye."

I returned to my apartment, feeling a bit giddy from the evening's events. It had been a long time since I'd felt so at ease with someone, and I couldn't help but smile as I settled into bed.

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