Page 46 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

The world tilted, and I felt the color drain from my face. Emily and Susan were at my side in an instant, their arms around me. As I collapsed into their arms, I whispered a silent prayer that Trevor would come back to me.

Chapter twenty

Trevor

Pain. Searing, white-hot pain in my leg. I groaned, blinking to clear my hazy vision. The acrid smell of smoke filled my nostrils as I slowly regained consciousness. What happened?

I tried to move, but a shooting pain stopped me short. Glancing down, I saw a massive tree trunk pinning my left leg. Panic rising in my throat, I instinctively reached for my radio. My fingers brushed against empty air. It must have fallen off in the chaos. Just out of reach, like everything else in my damn life.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. Of course, the moment I finally figured out what I wanted, what really mattered, I found myself trapped under a tree in the middle of a raging forest fire. The universe sure had a twisted sense of humor.

Amelia's face flashed through my mind. I had to get back to her. I tried to push on the tree and pull my leg out, but it was useless. I was stuck.

"Trevor! Thank God!" Relief washed over his soot-stained face as he knelt beside me, already calling for backup on his radio. "Just hang in there, buddy. We'll get you out."

I waved off his concern. "I'm fine, Frank. Just a scratch."

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure, if by scratch you mean a tree on your leg."

"Minor detail. I've got more important things to worry about.” Like proposing to the woman of my dreams.

"Let me guess, a certain florist with a fondness for chihuahuas?" Frank shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Only you would prioritize romance over a broken leg, Phillips."

"What can I say? Love makes fools of us all." I tried to lift the tree again, but the movement sent another jolt of agony through my body.

Frank's expression sobered. "Amelia's going to have both of our heads if I don't get you out of here in one piece. So stop straining and wait for help."

"She has a fiery temper," I agreed, picturing her adorably scrunched-up face when angry. Usually at me, for some reason or another.

I heard footsteps running, orders being shouted, and then the sound of chainsaws. I felt helpless and nervous, so I started rambling to Frank to try to calm myself down.

"You know, I planned on proposing to Amelia the night we got called out here. I decorated the back area of her property, prepared a speech, and even hung twinkling lights."

Frank chuckled. "You, Mr. 'Romance-Is-For-Suckers' Phillips, going all out for a proposal? Never thought I'd see the day."

I couldn't help but smile despite the pain. "What can I say? Amelia brings out my inner sap. She's special, Frank. I want to do this right."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but this," he gestured to the chaos around us, "isn't exactly a picture-perfect proposal setting."

"No kidding." I grimaced as the tree shifted, sending a fresh wave of agony through my leg. "But I'm not letting a little thing like a workplace injury stop me."

Frank laughed. "Spoken like a true lovesick fool." He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "You know, when I proposed to Laura, I had this whole speech planned out. But I got so nervous when the moment came that I dropped the ring in my spaghetti."

I blinked. "You're joking."

"Wish I was. I spent the next ten minutes fishing it out with a fork while Laura laughed her butt off." He shook his head, a fond smile on his face. "Not my finest moment, but she said yes anyway."

The absurdity of the image - tough-as-nails Frank fumbling with a ring in a plate of pasta - startled a laugh out of me. "Guess there's hope for me yet, then."

With a final heave, the team lifted the tree, and I was free. I tried to stand, determined to walk out of here on my own two feet, but my leg buckled beneath me. Frank caught me before I could face-plant in the dirt.

"Easy there, Casanova. Let's get you to the ambulance."

I gritted my teeth, the pain now impossible to ignore. "I'm fine. Just a little shaky."

Frank shook his head up and down. "Sure, and I'm the Easter Bunny. You're getting checked out, Trevor. No arguments."

I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on Frank's face made me reconsider. He was right, as much as I hated to admit it.

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