Page 41 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

As the sun began to set and the crowd started to disperse, I took a moment to survey the scene. The shop was a flurry of activity, with people milling about, admiring the arrangements, and chatting excitedly about the calendar.

And there, in the midst of it all, was Trevor. My heart swelled with love as I watched him interact with our friends and neighbors, his easy charm and genuine warmth evident in every smile and handshake.

"Amelia, darling!" Frances called out, waving her camera in the air. "I simply must get a shot of you and Trevor together. The two of you, surrounded by your gorgeous flowers... it'll be the perfect finale for the calendar!"

I glanced at Trevor, who shrugged and grinned. "What do you say, Amelia?"

"Oh, why not?" I laughed, letting him take my hand and lead me to the center of the shop.

As we posed among the blooms, Trevor's arm slid around my waist, pulling me close. I leaned into him, savoring his body's solid, comforting presence against mine.

The bracelet he had given me caught the light, sparkling on my wrist—a tangible reminder of his love, of the unbreakable bond we now shared.

Our eyes met, and in that moment, the world fell away. It was just us, lost in each other's gaze, remembering the declarations of love we had whispered in the darkness, the kisses we had shared that had set my soul on fire.

"Perfect!" Frances chirped, snapping away with her camera. "You two are adorable together. This will be the best calendar Rivermint Cove has ever seen!"

As the event wound down and the last of the guests trickled out, Trevor and I began tallying the proceeds from the pre-orders and raffle.

"Wow," I breathed, staring at the final number. "This is... incredible. I can't believe we raised this much."

Trevor wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. "I never doubted it for a second. You've worked so hard, Amelia. You deserve this success."

I turned in his embrace, looping my arms around his neck. "We deserve it. I couldn't have done any of this without you, Trevor."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Together, then. Always."

Our lips met in a slow, sweet kiss, a promise of all the tomorrows yet to come. The future stretched out before us, bright and full of possibility.

As we locked up the shop, hand in hand, a deep sense of contentment settled over me. I had the support of a fantastic community, a thriving business, and the love of an incredible man.

Life, I decided, was pretty near perfect.

Chapter eighteen

Trevor

Iwiped the sweat from my brow as I strung another strand of twinkling fairy lights through the oak tree's branches. The early morning sun bathed the garden in a warm golden glow. Hero darted between my feet, his tiny tail wagging in excitement.

"Looks like someone's eager to help," Donovan chuckled, carefully arranging a vase of vibrant sunflowers on the rustic wooden table.

"He's not the only one who's eager." I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves in my stomach. "I just want everything to be perfect, you know?"

Donovan clapped me on the shoulder. "Relax, man. Amelia's going to love it. You two are meant for each other."

I couldn't help but smile. He was right. Amelia had burst into my life like a vibrant sunflower, bringing color and joy to my world when I needed it most. After years of struggling with the darkness of my past, she'd shown me that love and laughter could heal even the deepest wounds.

"Speaking of meant to be..." I turned to face Donovan, my heart full of gratitude for our long friendship. "I wanted to ask you something. Would you be my best man?"

Donovan's eyes widened before a grin spread across his face. "Of course, Trevor! I'd be honored."

We shared a brief hug, the weight of the moment settling between us. Donovan had been by my side through thick and thin, from our days in high school to my rocky transition back to civilian life. Having him stand with me as I started this new chapter felt right.

"Just don't forget your lines when you pop the question," Donovan teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Don't remind me. I've been practicing for weeks, but I still feel like I'm going to trip over my words."

"Here, pretend I'm Amelia." Donovan struck a pose, batting his eyelashes exaggeratedly. "Oh Trevor, my love, what did you want to ask me?"

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