Page 36 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

Because I'd fallen for him somewhere along the way without even realizing it. Hard. And the thought of losing him now, just when I'd finally found the courage to open my heart again...it was almost too much to bear.

Chapter sixteen

Trevor

Idouble-checked my mental checklist, ensuring every detail was in place for Amelia's surprise. Train tickets–securely in my wallet. The dinner reservation in the dining car—is confirmed. I patted my pocket, feeling the small velvet box containing the delicate silver bracelet I'd picked out for her. It wasn't much, but I hoped it would symbolize my commitment to our relationship.

Susan had graciously agreed to dog-sit so I could whisk Amelia away for some much-needed quality time. Her distant behavior lately gnawed at me like an unsolved puzzle.

When I arrived at Susan's, Hero practically vibrated with excitement, recognizing where we were. Susan opened the door, smiling at us both.

"Hi, Trevor! And hello, Hero," she giggled as Hero nearly bowled her over in his enthusiasm. I could hear Baxter howl in the background.

Hero looked up at me with his head cocked. "You be good for Aunt Susan today, okay, buddy?" He yipped in agreement as I handed over his leash.

After dropping Hero off, I headed to pick up Amelia. I was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering her and remind her how much she meant to me. I barely knocked before the door opened.

"Ready for an adventure?" I grinned at Amelia, the silk scarf dangling from my hand like a colorful invitation.

Amelia hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly. "Trevor, I'm not sure I'm up for surprises right now."

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I know things have been... off between us lately. But please, give me a chance to make it right."

She sighed, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

As I tied the scarf over her eyes, I couldn't help but notice the tension in her shoulders. I gently took her hand, leading her to the car. The silence between us felt heavy, starkly contrasting our usual easy banter.

In the car, Amelia sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap. I glanced at her profile, wishing I could read her thoughts.

"Are you going to give me any hints about the surprise?" she asked, her voice lacking its usual playful curiosity.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I did," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. "But I promise, it's something special. I think you’re going to love it."

The rest of the drive passed in relative silence, the anticipation building in my chest with every mile. When we finally arrived, I helped Amelia out of the car, positioning her in front of the vintage train.

"Okay, you can look now," I said, my heart racing.

Amelia removed the blindfold, blinking as she took in the magnificent locomotive. Her eyes widened a genuine surprise flicking through her reserved demeanor.

"Trevor, what... how did you..." she trailed off, her gaze moving from the train to me.

"Your chariot awaits," I said, extending my arm. "Welcome aboard the Rivermint Express."

As we boarded the train, I couldn't resist launching into tour guide mode. The hours spent poring over the Rivermint Express's history were about to pay off.

"Did you know this beauty was built in 1927? She's one of the last remaining examples of the Pullman Standard 28-series parlor cars."

"I had no idea you were such a train aficionado." Her expression was neutral, but I saw a flicker of interest in her eyes.

"Well, I couldn't let you be the only one with hidden depths, now could I?"

I took her hand, hoping to build on this small moment of connection. "Shall we find our seats?"

She nodded, a small smile crossing her lips.

As we stepped into the dining car, the soft glow of pendant lamps danced off the polished mahogany tables. I pulled out a chair for Amelia, ceremoniously helping her sit before sliding into the seat opposite her.

I steeled myself to address the elephant in the room. "Amelia, I-"

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