Page 15 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

Chapter Fifteen

Taylor

T he two-and-a-half-hour drive to Amelia’s resort felt like a journey into another world. As the familiar sights of Coleman faded in the rearview mirror, so did the complications I was trying to escape. At least, that’s what I told myself.

When I finally pulled into the resort’s expansive driveway, I couldn’t help but gasp. The place was gorgeous–all rustic charm and modern luxury seamlessly blended. Amelia wasn’t kidding when she said her family had invested much in this place.

I barely had time to grab my suitcase before Amelia bound down the front steps. Her face split into a wide grin.

“Taylor! You made it!” she exclaimed, pulling me in for a warm hug. “How was the drive? Not too bad, I hope?”

I returned her embrace, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders. “It was fine. Gave me some time to think.”

Amelia’s eyes twinkled with understanding.

“Well, we’ll make sure you don’t have too much time to think this week. Come on, let me show you to your room.”

As we walked through the resort, Amelia pointed out various amenities–the spa, the pool, and the hiking trails. But the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains caught my attention. It was so peaceful here, so far removed from the drama back home.

“And here we are!” Amelia announced, stopping in front of a door. “Your home away from home for the next week.”

She opened the door, and we walked into a more luxurious room than any hotel I had ever stayed in. A plush king-sized bed, draped in crisp white linens, took up most of the space along one wall. Opposite, towering floor-to-ceiling windows framed a stunning view—rolling hills bathed in golden sunlight, stretching endlessly into the horizon, like a painting brought to life.

“Amelia, this is... wow,” I breathed, setting my suitcase down.

She beamed at me. “Only the best for my oldest friend. Now, let’s talk about plans!”

We settled onto the couch in the sitting area, and Amelia pulled out a tablet. “Okay, so I’ve got some ideas. Tomorrow, I thought we could start with a spa day—massages, facials, and the works. Then maybe a hike in the afternoon if you’re up for it?”

I nodded, already feeling more relaxed just thinking about it. “That sounds perfect.”

“Great! And then the day after, I thought we could try out the resort’s new rock-climbing wall, maybe do some yoga, then dip in the pool...”

As Amelia rattled off activities, I found myself genuinely excited. This was exactly what I needed—a chance to relax, focus on myself, and forget about...

“Oh!” Amelia’s exclamation pulled me from my thoughts. “I almost forgot. There’s this elite club about thirty minutes from here. I was thinking we could go dancing tonight. You know, kick off your vacation with a bang!”

The thought of a noisy, crowded club made me wince internally. “Actually, Amelia, I’d rather have a quiet night in. You know, decompress from the drive and all.”

Disappointment flickered across her face, but an understanding smile quickly replaced it. “Of course, no problem. How about this—I’ll go out for a bit, and when I get back, we can meet up for a drink at the bar. Kind of the best of both worlds situation.”

I smiled, grateful for her flexibility. “That sounds perfect. Thanks, Amelia.”

After Amelia left, I stood in the middle of my suite, taking in the plush carpet beneath my feet and the panoramic view of the mountains through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The late afternoon sun painted the peaks in hues of gold and amber, a sight that never failed to take my breath away.

With a contented sigh, I unzipped my suitcase and began unpacking. I carefully hung up my clothes, smoothing any wrinkles from the journey. My fingers lingered on a soft, emerald green dress I’d packed on a whim. Maybe for dinner tonight, I thought.

Once everything was in its place, I curled up in the oversized armchair by the window, my worn copy of Pride and Prejudice in hand. The familiar words washed over me as I lost myself in Austen’s world, the stress of the drive melting away with each page turn.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the room, I reluctantly set my book aside. It was time to get ready for dinner.

I stood before the closet, my hand hovering over the emerald dress. Why not? I slipped it on, and the silky fabric was cool against my skin. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, its hem swishing around my knees as I twirled experimentally.

At the vanity, I applied a light touch of makeup—just enough to enhance my features without looking overdone. I let my hair down from its travel-day ponytail, running my fingers through the loose waves.

As I slipped on strappy sandals, I caught sight of myself in the full-length mirror. The woman staring back at me looked relaxed, almost glowing in the warm light of the setting sun. She was far from the stressed-out physical therapist who’d arrived just hours ago.

With one last glance at the breathtaking view outside my window, I grabbed my clutch and headed for the door. The resort’s restaurant awaited, and my stomach gave an appreciative rumble at the thought of the coming meal.

As I stepped into the hallway, the soft carpet giving way to cool marble beneath my feet, I couldn’t help but smile. This week-long getaway was exactly what I needed, and it was only just beginning.

The restaurant was cozy and elegant, with soft lighting and a crackling fireplace. I chose a quiet table in the corner, ordered a glass of wine, and settled in with the menu. For the first time in weeks, I felt myself truly relaxing.

Just as I was halfway through my entrée, an unexpected disturbance abruptly interrupted the peaceful atmosphere. The doors burst open, and suddenly, people flooded into the restaurant. Flashbulbs went off, voices rose in excitement, and I glimpsed a familiar figure amid it all.

My heart leaped into my throat. It couldn’t be... could it?

Before I could process what was happening, the restaurant’s sound system cracked to life. A love ballad replaced the soft background music—one that I recognized with a jolt as a song Van and I had once slow-danced to at a high school party.

All eyes in the restaurant turned to me. I felt my face grow hot as the whispers started.

“Is that her?”

“The girl from his hometown?”

“Oh, how romantic!”

I couldn’t take it. The attention, music, and the other diners’ shocked faces were too much. I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. Without a backward glance, I fled the restaurant, my half-eaten dinner forgotten.

I didn’t stop running until I reached the elevator, my heart pounding. As the doors closed behind me, I turned and leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. It was then that the reality of what had just happened hit me.

Van. It was Van.

He had come all this way, created this grand gesture... and I had run away. Again.

Shame and regret washed over me as I returned to my room. I collapsed onto the bed, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of me wanted to go back downstairs, to face Van, and finally have the conversation we’d been avoiding for so long. But another part—the part that had driven me to run away in the first place—was terrified.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my phone and dialed Hunter’s number. He picked up on the second ring.

“Taylor? Is everything okay?”

The concern in his voice made my eyes well up with tears. “Hunter, I... I messed up.”

“What happened?” he asked gently.

I poured out the whole story—my arrival at the resort, the peaceful dinner, and then Van’s dramatic entrance. “And I just... I ran away, Hunter. He came all this way, and I couldn’t even face him.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then Hunter spoke, his voice soft but firm. “Taylor, listen to me. I know you’re scared. I know this thing between you and Van seems complicated. But you can’t keep running away from it.”

I wiped my eyes, sniffling. “I know, but...”

“No buts,” he interrupted. “Van cares about you. He cares enough to drive for hours and make a fool of himself in front of strangers. Don’t you think that’s worth hearing him out?”

I closed my eyes, remembering the glimpse I’d caught of Van in the restaurant. He had looked so determined, so hopeful. “You’re right,” I whispered. “I need to talk to him.”

“That’s my girl,” Hunter said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “Now go find him. And Taylor? Whatever happens, I’m here for you. Always.”

“Thanks,” I said, feeling affection for my brother. “I love you.”

“Love you too, sis. Now go get your man.”

As I ended the call, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to do. I stood up, smoothened my dress, and headed for the door. It was time to stop running. Time to face Van, and whatever came next.

With each step toward the elevator, I felt a mix of nervousness and determination. I did not know what to say to him, or how he would react to my earlier flight. But I knew one thing for certain—I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. Not again.

I took one last deep breath as the elevator doors closed. Whatever happened next, at least I was finally moving forward instead of running away. And right now, that felt like the biggest step of all.