Page 54 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

"I can't believe we pulled off that butterfly dance," Amelia chuckled, shaking her head.

"Hey, we make a pretty good team," I grinned, squeezing her hand. "Even if our coordination needs a little work."

We approached the butterfly enclosure, now empty save for a few stray leaves and flowers. I felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering the breathtaking sight of the butterflies taking flight and the look of wonder on Amelia's face.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught my eye. A lone butterfly fluttered weakly inside the enclosure, its wings a brilliant blue.

"Look," I whispered, pointing.

Amelia gasped softly. "It must have been missed in the release."

We carefully opened the enclosure together, coaxing the butterfly onto Amelia's outstretched finger. It rested there for a moment, its wings gently opening and closing.

Then, with a burst of energy, it soared into the starry sky until it was nothing more than a distant speck.

I looked at Amelia, her face filled with the same wonder and joy as when we'd first met. In that instant, I was overwhelmed by the depth of my love for her, by the sheer gratitude I felt for having her in my life.

"Amelia," I said softly, turning to face her fully. "I...I don't even know how to put into words how much you mean to me. How much this, all of this, means to me."

She smiled, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. "You don't have to, Trevor. I feel it, too."

And with that, I leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. A kiss that held the promise of a future together, of a love that could weather any storm.

Under the starry sky, with the distant sounds of the festival fading into the night, I knew I had found my home, my heart, and my everything.

Chapter twenty-three

Amelia

The floral archway I'd spent hours perfecting decided to stage a revolt. One second, it stood tall and proud; the next, it was raining petals like confetti at a child's birthday party. I lunged forward, arms outstretched, as if I could catch the entire structure mid-collapse.

The bell above the door chimed, followed by a gasp that could only belong to Trevor. I blew a stray petal off my nose and turned to face him, still sprawled in my failed rescue attempt.

"Don't say it," I warned, narrowing my eyes at his poorly concealed amusement.

Trevor's lips twitched. "Say what? That you look radiant covered in rose petals? Or that your interpretive dance with the archway was truly inspired?"

I groaned, torn between laughing and crying. "This is a disaster! The party starts in an hour, and I look like I lost a fight with a flower shop!"

"Hey now," Trevor's voice softened as he knelt beside me, gently brushing petals from my hair. "No need to get your stems in a bunch. We've got this."

As we worked to resurrect the archway, our hands brushed together more times than strictly necessary. Each touch sent a little zing through me like I'd stuck my finger in a socket—but in a good way. Was that a thing? Enjoyable electrocution?

"Ta-da!" Trevor stepped back, admiring our handiwork. "Crisis averted. Although..." He cocked his head to the side. "I think it looks even better now. Has that artistic, 'survived a floral hurricane' vibe."

I snorted, about to retort when Trevor's expression changed. "Oh! I almost forgot." He disappeared behind the counter, reappearing with a bouquet that took my breath away.

"You made this?" I whispered, taking in the vibrant mix of sunflowers, daisies, and lavender.

Trevor rubbed the back of his neck, a hint of pink tinging his cheeks. "Thought I'd redeem myself after that first attempt. You know, the one you said looked like a blindfolded octopus arranged it?"

I inhaled the sweet fragrance, my heart doing a little jig in my chest. Our eyes met, and suddenly, the chaos of the past hour faded away. It was just us, surrounded by flowers and possibility.

The moment shattered as the bell rang again, announcing our first guests' arrival. I reluctantly tore my gaze from Trevor's, plastering on my best hostess smile.

Grace swept in like a tornado, her hat so enormous it practically needed its own zip code. I half expected a flock of birds to emerge from its depths.

She was followed by Frank, Danny, and Mike. I saw my neighbor, Mrs. Landry, walk in, and my parents. The flood of guests that followed blurred together into a whirlwind of family, friends, regular customers, and a few new faces.

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