Page 17 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

Chapter Seventeen

Taylor

I stepped off the elevator, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure it echoed through the resort’s dimly lit hallway. My legs are heavy with a mixture of anxiety and hope. The soft, warm glow of wall sconces created dancing shadows that seemed to mock my nervousness.

When I reached the restaurant’s ornate double doors, I paused. My reflection in the polished brass handles shows a woman on the precipice of something life-changing. I took a deep breath, the scent of fine cuisine and expensive perfume wafting through the air, and pushed open the doors.

But Van was gone.

My eyes frantically swept the room, searching for that familiar face, the tousled hair, the intense gaze that always made me feel simultaneously safe and unnerved. The elegant dining room, with its crisp white tablecloths and sparkling crystal, suddenly felt vast and empty.

Nothing.

The soft murmur of conversation, the delicate clink of silverware against fine China, the flicker of candlelight casting intimate shadows—it all felt surreal now, like a beautiful dream shattered by harsh reality. How could he just leave?

Disappointment knotted in my chest, heavier than expected, threatening to pull me to my knees in the doorway. He’d come all this way, braved a storm of emotions, and now... he was just gone?

I stood there for a moment, frozen, my emerald dress now feeling like a foolish costume. Diners at nearby tables glanced curiously in my direction, their faces a mixture of pity and mild interest. The ma?tre d’h?tel approached, concern etched on his face, but I barely heard his polite inquiry.

Part of me wanted to run after Van, to tear through the resort, find him, and tell him all the things I hadn’t been able to say earlier. My heart screamed for me to move, act, and do something. But my body refused to cooperate. Indecision weighed on me like a physical force, paralyzing me, and rooting me to the spot where my world had just tilted on its axis.

Finally, as if in a trance, my feet dragged me back through the hallway. The journey to my room felt endless, each step a reminder of my failure.

I collapsed onto the bed, the soft duvet doing nothing to cushion the emotional blow. Staring at the ceiling, I watched as the last rays of sunset painted the room in hues of orange and pink, a beautiful ending to a day that had promised so much and delivered such heartache.

The silence in the room was suffocating, pressing in on me. I needed to talk to anyone before I drove myself crazy. Without thinking, I grabbed my phone and called Hunter again. He picked up on the second ring as if he’d been waiting for my call.

“Hey. Did you talk to Van? How did it go?”

I let out a shaky breath, fighting the tears threatening to spill over. “Van was gone. He left.”

“Oh, Taylor, sorry about that. So, what next? Are you coming back?”

I swallowed hard, trying to organize my thoughts. “I don’t know what to do next.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Hunter spoke again, his voice calmer now. “Taylor, you’ve been avoiding this for months. You need to be honest with yourself. What are your true feelings for Van?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I hadn’t allowed myself to really think about my feelings for Van—at least, not in a way that made them real. I hesitated, the words caught in my throat, but I knew Hunter wouldn’t let it go. He was determined to protect me, like a dog with a bone.

“When you walked in on us kissing months ago with Pastor Pierce...” I started; my voice was shaky. “We weren’t together. Not in the way you thought. Van only said that to save face, to protect me... and not to upset you.”

The line went quiet. I could almost hear Hunter processing what I’d just told him. His silence felt like an accusation, and I rushed to fill the gap.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you the truth sooner, but everything got complicated. Van and I—“

“So, you’re saying you’ve been pretending this whole time?” He cut in, his voice a mix of disbelief and frustration. “Taylor, I thought you two were going through a rough patch... I thought it was real.”

Guilt swelled in my chest. “It isn’t real, but my feelings for him have been real since we were teenagers.”

I could almost picture Hunter on the other end. His brow furrowed; his jaw tight. “I think Van’s feelings for you are real, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Taylor, do you know how much that man cares about you? He drove for hours just to see you. That’s not the move of someone who’s pretending.”

I closed my eyes, tears finally slipping down my cheeks.

“I know. And I blew it. I didn’t even give Van a chance to express himself. I simply panicked.”

Hunter let out a sigh, softer this time. “Taylor, you need to stop running from Van, your feelings, everything. If you are sure you care about him, you need to talk to him. Hear him out. Tell him how you feel.”

I wiped at my eyes, my heart twisting painfully. “You’re right. I’ll call him. I’ll make it right.”

“Awesome,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “Look, whatever happens, I’ve got your back. But don’t let fear stop you from something real.”

“I won’t,” I promised, my voice steadier now. “Thanks once again, Hunter. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up, feeling both lighter and more anxious than before. I stared at my phone for a long time, debating whether to call Van immediately or wait until I’d had time to calm down. But before I could decide, I received a text.

It was from Amelia.

‘Just got to the bar. Waiting for you.’

I typed a response immediately:

‘On my way.’

I quickly grabbed my purse and ran out of my room.

As I made my way to the bar, I felt a weird mixture of relief and dread. I needed the distraction but knew I couldn’t avoid Van much longer.

“Taylor, over here,” Amelia called from a corner of the bar.

As we settled into a cozy booth in the corner, she ordered a couple of cocktails and turned to me with a knowing look.

“So,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re going to tell me what happened, right? I was told there was some sort of romantic celebrity chaos in the restaurant earlier.”

I sighed, swirling the drink in my glass. “Yeah. Van showed up, and I panicked.”

Amelia frowned. “Panicked? Why? I thought you two were—“

“It’s complicated,” I cut in, not wanting to rehash the fake relationship details again. “But the point is, I didn’t stick around long enough to hear him out. I felt overwhelmed, so I bolted.”

Amelia sipped her drink, her eyes thoughtful. “And now you regret it?”

“Big time,” I admitted. “I called Hunter, and he told me I should’ve listened to Van. He thinks Van is in love with me.”

“And what about your feelings?” Amelia asked gently, her eyes soft but piercing. “Do you love him?”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her question settle in my chest. “I do. But I’m so scared, Amelia. What if I’m wrong? What if this whole thing just ends in a mess?”

She smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “Taylor, love is always a risk. But you’ll never know what might happen if you don’t give it a chance. Call him. Talk to him. And if he’s not already in Coleman, ask him to come back.”

Her words hit me with a clarity I hadn’t expected. She was right. I couldn’t keep running, and I couldn’t keep letting my fear dictate everything. I had to try. For me. For Van.

I pulled out my phone, my heart racing as I scrolled through my contacts. Van’s name stared back at me, and for a moment, I hesitated. What if he didn’t answer? What if he’d already given up on me?

But then I remembered my promise to Hunter.

With trembling fingers, I pressed the call button.

The phone rang once... twice... three times. Each ring felt like an eternity. Then, finally, his voice came through, rough and low.

“Taylor?”

My breath caught in my throat at the sound of his voice. “Van... I’m sorry. I should’ve stayed. I should’ve listened.”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear him exhaling slowly. “Taylor, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking about ambushing you like that. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to hear from me again.”

“Please don’t apologize,” I responded, my heart thudding. “I let fear get the best of me and didn’t handle things as I should have. But I want to fix this. I want to hear what you have to say. Can you come back? Please?”

Another pause, this one longer. My fingers gripped the table’s edge as I waited for his answer.

“Of course, Taylor. I’ll turn around right now. I’ll be there in about an hour,” he replied, his voice softer now.

Relief flooded through me, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Thank you, Van. I’ll be waiting.”

As I ended the call, I looked across the table at Amelia, who was grinning like she’d just watched the best drama unfold.

“Well?” she asked, raising her glass in a mock toast.

“He’s coming back,” I said.

Amelia clinked her glass against mine. “Here’s to second chances, Taylor. You deserve it.”

I nodded, feeling a warmth settle in my chest. Whatever happened next, I was done running. And for the first time in a long time, I was ready to face it.