8. Trevor
Chapter eight
Trevor
B eep! Beep!
The alarm went off at 0530 sharp, but I was already awake, heart pounding from another nightmare. Flashes of sandy landscapes and the echo of explosions faded as I focused on the familiar surroundings of my apartment. These early mornings were my defense against the demons that haunted my sleep. I was up before the third beep, adrenaline already pumping. Hero lifted his head from his bed, giving me that "Are you serious?" look. Sorry, buddy, but the day waits for no man or dog.
I hit my workout hard—burpees, push-ups, the whole nine yards. Each rep felt good, like I was fortifying my mental defenses against the memories that threatened to surface. Sweat poured down my face, my muscles burned, and I loved every second. It was almost like being back in basic, pushing myself to the limit. Hero watched me from his bed, his head tilting back and forth like I'd finally lost it. Maybe I had, but in the best way possible.
After a quick shower, I stood at attention in front of my closet, suddenly aware that this wasn't just any morning. It was my first actual date with Amelia. I knew we were going to the park afterward, so I didn't want to be too dressy, but I wanted to look nice. I pulled out my best dark jeans and a black T-shirt, trying not to overthink it.
Standing in front of the mirror, I fussed with my hair more than I had since my first military inspection. "Get it together, Phillips," I muttered, but I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. Hero sat at my feet, looking at me like I'd grown a second head. "What?" I asked him. "Can't a guy make an effort?" His answering yap sounded suspiciously like laughter.
I grabbed Hero's leash, and we headed downstairs to Amelia's. Standing at her door, I felt like a rookie on his first day again. Excited, nervous, the whole deal. I knocked, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet.
When the door swung open, she looked like something out of a dream in a bright yellow floral sundress. Her hair was perfectly styled. She was breathtaking, even with the slight shadows under her eyes.
"Morning, beautiful," I managed to say, hoping I didn't sound as breathless as I felt.
"Good morning, Mr. Human Alarm Clock." She sounded upbeat, but I could see tiredness in her eyes. "I'm thinking of renaming your apartment 'The Thunder Dome.'"
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. "Sorry about that. How about I make it up to you with some of Rosewood Cafe's delicious pancakes?"
Amelia tapped her chin, pretending to consider. "Throw in a large latte, and you're forgiven. For now."
As we headed out, Hero dancing around our feet, I couldn't help but grin. I'd gladly adapt my morning routine for more moments like these, this playful banter, the easy back-and-forth.
The bell jingled as we stepped into Rosewood Café. I scanned the room instinctively, noting exits and potential cover spots—old habits die hard. We slid into a cozy booth, our knees accidentally brushing under the table. I felt like a teenager again, hyper-aware of every touch.
Amelia perused the menu, biting her lower lip in concentration. "Sweet or savory? It's the eternal breakfast dilemma."
I grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Why not both? Live a little, Amelia."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Trevor Phillips, are you trying to corrupt me with the decadence of pancakes and bacon?"
"Absolutely." I winked. "But you'll have to fight Hero for the bacon. He's got a nose for these things."
Hero whined dramatically from under the table, his tiny paws scratching at my leg.
Amelia decided on pancakes, and I ordered an omelet with a side of fruit. I figured I could share a few blueberries with Hero. We fell into easy conversation. Amelia regaled me with tales of her latest floral creations, her eyes lighting up as she described the intricacies of each arrangement. I found myself getting lost in the cadence of her voice, the way her hands danced through the air as she spoke. It reminded me of how my squad mates would light up talking about their families back home.
Time seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, we were stepping out into the sunny street, Hero trotting ahead of us. As we walked towards the park, our hands brushed against each other. I debated taking her hand, my heart racing like I was about to run into a burning building.
Just do it, Trevor. I psyched myself up, reaching for her hand, only to chicken out at the last second. Hero glanced back at me, and I swore he was giving me an exasperated look as if to say, "Come on, man. Just go for it!"
We arrived at the park to find everyone already gathered, a vibrant array of picnic blankets, laughter, and delighted shrieks from the kids. Hero and I stood, taking it all in, when I noticed Kevin's icy stare directed at me. Did he know about my growing feelings for Amelia? Was he going to give me the big brother talk?
Before I could dwell on it, a high-pitched squeal pierced the air. "Auntie Amelia! Trevor!" Addy came barreling towards us. She skidded to a halt in front of Hero, her eyes wide with excitement. "Is this your dog? What's his name? Can I pet him? Can I hold his leash?"
Amelia laughed, kneeling to Addy's level. "Whoa there, sweet pea. One question at a time." She looked up at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "This is Trevor's dog, Hero. And I'm sure he will let you help in a little while. Let us go over and see how he does with the other dogs first."
Addy seemed content with her answer and ran off toward the playground.
We made our way over to the group, Hero trotting beside me, his tail wagging in anticipation. But as we got closer, the excitement of being around Baxter and Lady Oreo must have been too much for him. He started darting around, his leash tangling around everything in his path.
"Hero, no! Stop!" I lunged for him, but it was too late. The leash wrapped around my legs, then Amelia's, and before I knew it, we were stumbling into each other.
Instinctively, I reached out to catch Amelia. We collided, my arms wrapping around her waist as she grabbed my shoulders. Time slowed as I stared into her eyes, our faces inches apart. Her breath hitched, a soft gasp escaping her lips. I could kiss her, I realized. Just lean in and...
Hero's insistent barking shattered the moment. We jumped apart, laughing nervously as we untangled ourselves from the leash. I was keenly aware of the amused looks we were getting.
And then there was Kevin's stare, a mixture of warning and assessment. A shiver ran down my spine, like when I'd face a particularly challenging obstacle course.
Amelia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well, that was... something."
"Yeah..." I swallowed hard, trying to calm my racing heart. "Never a dull moment with Hero around, huh?"
She laughed, which was like music to my ears. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Nate asked us if we wanted to join in throwing the frisbee, and I was thankful for the distraction. But as we played, I couldn't help but steal glances at Amelia.
I was falling for her, hard and fast. And I had no idea what to do about it. It was scarier than any fire I'd ever faced.
"Heads up, Trev!" Nate's shout pulled me from my thoughts just in time to see a frisbee hurtling towards my face. I lunged to the side, narrowly avoiding a broken nose, and snatched the disc out of the air.
"Nice catch!" Amelia grinned at me across the field, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But let's see if you can throw as well as you catch."
Challenge accepted .
I wound up, ready to impress her with my ultimate frisbee skills, when a blur of tan fur streaked past me. With a burst of energy that defied his tiny legs, Hero leaped into the air and intercepted the frisbee meant for Baxter.
Chaos erupted as Hero took off, the frisbee clamped firmly in his mouth. Baxter and Lady Oreo gave chase, their barks mingling with the laughter and shouts of our friends.
"I'll go left, you go right!" Amelia called out, already sprinting to cut off Hero's escape route.
Together, we zigged and zagged across the field, diving and lunging in a valiant effort to corral the mischievous chihuahua. But Hero was a pint-sized menace, dodging our attempts with a speed and agility that left us breathless.
"Trevor, watch out for the—"
Amelia's warning came too late. My foot caught on something, and I stumbled forward, right into a raised sprinkler head. There was a loud click, and suddenly, we were caught in a spray of water. I sputtered, wiping the water from my eyes, just in time to see Amelia slip on the wet grass and land on her backside.
We stared at each other briefly, completely drenched and grass-stained. Then, we burst into laughter, the sound ringing across the park as the sprinkler continued its assault.
"Well," Amelia giggled, pushing her wet hair out of her face, "if being a firefighter doesn't work out, you might have a future in synchronized swimming."
I smirked, shaking my head to spray her with more water. "Only if you're my partner. Your graceful fall was quite the performance."
She opened her mouth to retort, but Hero chose that moment to drop the frisbee at our feet, his tail wagging triumphantly.
"You little troublemaker," I scooped him up and planted a kiss on his head.
I couldn't help but notice the speculative glances. Susan's eyebrows were practically wiggling off her face, and Emily had a smile that could only be described as a "cat that ate the canary."
But Kevin's gaze made my stomach churn. His eyes were dark and serious as they found mine.
"Need a hand there, Amelia?" He wiped his hands on his shorts before helping her up. His gaze flicked to me, almost dismissive.
"Think you can manage Hero on your own, Phillips?"
I grunted, pushing myself upright and dusting off dirt and water from my clothes.
"Aw, come on, Kevin." Emily nudged him with her elbow. "Don't be a Grinch. It's all harmless fun."
"Just making sure Amelia's okay?" He wrapped a protective arm around her waist and whispered something in her ear.
Emily rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more, settling back on the blanket to watch the kids play. Susan nudged me gently, silently encouraging me as Kevin and Amelia walked over to talk.
The conversation was out of earshot, but Kevin's furrowed brow and Amelia's clenched jawline painted a clear enough picture. An unsettling dread boiled in my gut. Was Kevin warning her off me? I couldn't decipher their hushed tones, but the air seemed to spark with tension between them. He shifted uncomfortably, and she threw her hands up in exasperation.
Suddenly, she whirled around and marched towards me, determination setting her features into a fierce grimace. She stopped in front of me, hands on her hips, and huffed out a breath.
"I need to get back to Petals & Blooms, Trevor. I have some arrangements that have to be done for a customer tomorrow." Amelia's voice was steady, but her eyes held a spark of agitation.
She visibly calmed herself and then said a sweet goodbye to Trent and Michael. I grabbed Hero, and we stopped at the playground to say goodbye to Addy.
We walked back home in silence. I started to ask her what Kevin said several times, but I didn't even think I wanted to know.
When we got to the shop, Amelia paused, looking straight up at me, her gaze filled with a curious mix of emotions.
"Trevor." She bit her lower lip in a way that was far too distracting. "Kevin…you know he can be overprotective, right?"
I shrugged, the tense lines of my body betraying my nonchalance. "Yeah, I get it."
"But I need you to know," she continued, her voice stronger now. "What he thinks…what anyone thinks...It doesn't matter to me. It's none of their business."
I stared at her, surprised by her firm declaration. "Amelia, I don't…" Before I could finish, she stood on her tiptoes, planted a soft yet firm kiss on my cheek, and quickly entered the shop.
Later that evening, I fidgeted with my napkin at Luna's Italian Bistro while waiting for Susan and Mom to arrive. The cozy, romantic atmosphere of the restaurant felt at odds with the turmoil churning in my gut, and I couldn't seem to sit still.
What am I doing here? I wondered, my leg bouncing nervously under the table. I should be at home, trying to figure out how to prove to Kevin that I'm not the same screw-up I was in high school.
I was so lost in my brooding that I didn't notice Mom and Susan's arrival until they slid into the booth across from me. Mom's eyes were soft with concern, her maternal instincts clearly picking up on my distress.
"Everything okay, sweetie?" she asked gently, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
I opened my mouth to brush off her concern, to insist that everything was fine. But something in her expression stopped me.
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. "It's Amelia. I think... I think I'm falling for her. Hard." I felt my cheeks flush at the admission, but I couldn't stop now. "But I'm scared. Scared that I'm not good enough for her, that I'll end up hurting her like I did before."
Mom's expression softened, her hand reaching out to cover mine. "Oh, Trevor. You can't keep punishing yourself for your past mistakes. You've grown so much since then."
Susan nodded in agreement. "She's right, Trev. Anyone can see how much you care about Amelia. The way you look at her, the way you make her laugh... That's not the Trevor from high school. Is this because of Kevin and what happened at the park?"
I nodded, grimacing slightly as I remembered Kevin's stern expression and pointed words. "Partly, yeah. He made it clear he doesn't trust me with Amelia."
Susan sighed, shaking her head. "You know how protective Kevin is. He has always been overly cautious when it comes to Amelia."
Mom agreed, patting my hand reassuringly. "And remember, Amelia is no shrinking violet. She can stand up for herself."
I wanted to believe them and trust in the possibility of a future with Amelia. But a nagging doubt persisted, a whisper in the back of my mind that I wasn't worthy of her love.
We finished our meal in contemplative silence, the weight of my confession hanging in the air. As we said our goodbyes outside the restaurant, Mom hugged me tightly, her voice a fierce whisper in my ear. "Don't let your fears hold you back, Trevor. You deserve happiness, and so does Amelia."
As I walked home, I passed by "Petals & Blooms" and saw Amelia working late. Our eyes met, and she smiled. At that moment, all my doubts and fears seemed to melt away, replaced by a certainty I hadn't felt since deciding to join the fire department.
I went to bed that night with my mind full of possibilities and my heart full of Amelia. As Hero snuggled against me, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I would face them head-on.