Page 48 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

"I can't believe you planned all this," she said, gesturing to the fire station behind us. "The heroic rescue, the dramatic proposal. It's like something out of a movie."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Believe me, this wasn't the plan. I was going to propose over a romantic dinner, with candles and roses and all that cheesy stuff. But then the fire happened, and I realized... I didn't want to wait another second to ask you to be my wife."

She smiled, leaning in to kiss me again. "Well, I'm glad you didn't wait. This was perfect, Trevor. Perfect."

And as I stood there, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, I knew she was right. It wasn't the proposal I'd planned, but it was the one we were meant to have. Messy, imperfect, and perfect. Just like our love story.

Chapter twenty-one

Amelia

Iwoke to the sound of Trevor returning from his morning jog. Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretched, enjoying the extra minutes in bed before beginning my day.

In the sunroom, I unrolled my yoga mat next to Trevor's new weight bench - a compromise we'd reached to accommodate both our morning routines. Trevor had agreed to go jogging before working out so that he wouldn’t wake me and then lift weights in the sunroom. Some mornings, I would wake up early and do my yoga while he lifted weights. As I moved through a sun salutation, I couldn't help but admire Trevor's toned physique as he started his weightlifting.

"Looking good, soldier," I teased, arching an eyebrow. "Care to join me for some yoga poses?"

Trevor chuckled, setting down his weights. "I don't know. Think you can handle my superior flexibility?"

"Oh, it's on." I grinned, gesturing for him to take the mat beside me. "Let's see what you're made of."

Trevor attempted a tree pose. His brow furrowed in concentration. I had to admit, he wasn't half bad. But just as I was about to compliment his form, Hero bounded into the room, tail wagging excitedly. Before either of us could react, he jumped onto Trevor’s leg.

"Whoa!" Trevor wobbled, arms flailing as he lost his balance. Gravity won out, and he toppled sideways - right into me.

We collapsed in a tangle of limbs and laughter on my mat, Hero happily licking our faces. I playfully swatted at Trevor, my heart full as our mirth filled the sunroom. These silly, unscripted moments were what I cherished most about our life together.

After our workout, we settled at the kitchen table with steaming mugs of coffee and cream cheese bagels to discuss the butterfly release plans. Trevor, ever the pragmatist, had been researching transport options.

"I think if we use these lightweight, ventilated boxes, we can safely move the butterflies to the park," he explained, sketching a diagram on a notepad.

I nodded, only half-listening, distracted by how my engagement ring sparkled in the morning light. I still couldn't believe this incredible man had chosen me, quirks and all.

"Earth to Amelia," Trevor teased, waving a hand in front of my face. "You with me, love?"

"Always," I smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Sorry, I just got caught up admiring my ring again. I can't help it - I'm marrying the most amazing man."

Trevor grinned, stealing another kiss. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing about my fiancée."

We continued brainstorming, Trevor offering practical solutions while I focused on the aesthetic details. Between ideas, he peppered me with feather-light kisses—on my cheek, my nose, and my forehead. Each one felt like a promise, a reminder of the beautiful future we were building together.

As we sat there, surrounded by notes, sketches, and the residue of our planning, I felt a surge of contentment. This was exactly where I was meant to be—by Trevor's side, dreaming up new adventures. With him, even the most mundane tasks felt extraordinary. I couldn't wait to see what the rest of our lives had in store.

I grabbed a fresh sheet of paper, and an idea for our butterfly ball costumes took shape in my mind. "What if we surprise each other with our outfits?" I suggested, already sketching a rough design. "We can coordinate colors but keep the details a secret until the big reveal."

Trevor grabbed a sheet of paper for himself. "I like the way you think, Carter." He started to draw something and then erased it. In a few minutes, he pretended to be stretching, but he leaned closer, trying to sneak a peek at my sketch.

I quickly pulled the paper to my chest, laughing. "Oh no, you don't! It's supposed to be a surprise, remember?"

"Aw, come on, just a little hint?" He made an exaggerated pouty face, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Nope, not happening, Phillips." I hopped up from my chair, holding the sketch behind my back. "You'll just have to wait and see."

Trevor grinned, rising slowly from his seat. "Is that so?" He took a step towards me, a playful glint in his eye. "Well then, I guess I'll have to resort to more...persuasive measures."

I let out a shriek of laughter as he lunged for me, and I darted around the kitchen table, keeping the sketch just out of reach. We chased each other in circles, our laughter echoing off the walls. Hero watched from his bed, head cocked curiously at our antics.

Finally, Trevor caught me around the waist, pulling me close. "Gotcha," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

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