20. Trevor
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.
As the paramedics helped me onto the stretcher, I caught Frank's eye. "Hey, do me a favor. Don't tell Amelia about the whole proposal thing. I want it to be a surprise."
He mimed, zipping his lips. "My lips are sealed. But you better hurry up and ask her before she comes to her senses and realizes she's too good for you."
I playfully swatted at his arm, but he jumped out of reach. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, buddy."
As the ambulance doors closed, I leaned back, my mind racing ahead to the moment I'd see Amelia again. Injured leg be damned, I was going to propose to that woman if it was the last thing I did.
The drive back to Rivermint Cove seemed to stretch on forever. I fidgeted with the ring box in my pocket, my fingers tracing the velvet surface. I'd been carrying it around for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. But now, with the adrenaline of the fire still coursing through my veins, I realized there might never be an ideal moment. Life was messy and unpredictable, and I didn't want to waste another second.
I closed my eyes, letting my imagination run wild. I pictured proposing to Amelia in a hot air balloon, the ring tied to a bouquet of her favorite flowers. Or maybe I'd spell out "Marry Me" in wildflowers on the hillside behind the fire station.
A smile tugged at my lips despite the throbbing in my leg. I couldn't wait to see her face when I finally popped the question.
As we pulled up to the fire station, my heart began to race. I scanned the crowd of firefighters and onlookers, searching for a familiar flash of dark hair. And there she was, standing apart from the rest, her arms wrapped around herself.
I drank in the sight of her, my breath catching in my throat. Even with mascara streaks on her cheeks and her hair in disarray, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Her worried expression melted into relief as our eyes met, and I felt a surge of love so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet.
I stepped out of the ambulance, trying to hide my limp. I didn't want her to worry any more than she already had. But as I drew closer, I could see the tears glistening in her eyes.
"Trevor," she breathed, launching herself into my arms. I stumbled slightly, biting back a grunt of pain, but I held her tight. "I was so scared. When I heard about the fire..."
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here now." I stroked her hair, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo. "You can't get rid of me that easily."
She pulled back, sniffling. "Don't even joke about that. I can't lose you, Trevor. I love you too much."
My heart swelled at her words. "I love you too, Amelia. More than anything in this world."
I reached into my pocket, my fingers closing around the ring box. This was it. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. Injured leg, soot-streaked face and all, I was going to ask this woman to be mine forever.
But just as I opened my mouth to speak, a commotion broke out behind us. I turned to see Hero barreling towards us at top speed. He must have slipped his leash in all the excitement.
"Hero, no!" Amelia cried, but it was too late. The little dog leaped at me, his tiny paws scrabbling at my legs. I tried to catch him, but my injured leg buckled beneath me. I stumbled, the ring box flying from my hand as I struggled to keep my balance.
For a moment, the world seemed to move in slow motion. I watched in horror as the box arced through the air, glinting in the sunlight. It hit the ground with a soft thud, bouncing once before rolling to a stop at Amelia's feet.
She stared at it, her eyes wide. "Trevor, what...?"
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. This wasn't how I'd planned it. Not by a long shot. But maybe this was the perfect moment after all. Messy and imperfect, just like us.
I lowered myself to one knee, wincing slightly as my injured leg protested. Hero danced around me, his tail wagging furiously. I shot him a grateful look before turning my gaze to Amelia.
"Amelia Carter," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "I had this whole speech planned out. Something about flowers and firefighting and how you light up my world. But now, looking at you, I can't remember a single word of it."
She let out a watery laugh, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. I reached for the ring box, flipping it open to reveal the simple diamond solitaire.
"All I know is that I love you. I love your smile, your laugh, and how you always burn the toast. I love how you see the best in people, even when they don't deserve it. I love how you make me want to be a better man."
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know I'm not perfect. I'm stubborn, I have a temper, and I wake you up with my early morning workouts. But I promise to love you, cherish you, and be your partner in every sense of the word. Forever and always."
I held out the ring, my hand trembling. "Amelia Carter, will you marry me?"
The seconds seemed to stretch on forever as I waited for her answer. I was acutely aware of our audience - the firefighters, the paramedics, the curious onlookers. But in that moment, they all faded away. It was just Amelia and me; our hearts were laid bare.
And then, finally, she smiled—a radiant, joyful smile that lit up her entire face. "Yes," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Yes, Trevor Phillips, I will marry you."
I surged to my feet, ignoring the pain in my leg as I swept her into my arms. Our lips met in a fierce and tender kiss, a promise of forever. Around us, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. But I barely heard them. All I could focus on was the woman in my arms, the love of my life.
We broke apart, both of us grinning like fools. I slipped the ring onto her finger, marveling at how right it looked there. Hero barked excitedly, jumping up and down at our feet. Amelia scooped him up, laughing as he licked her face.
"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.