Page 21 of Faking it With the Player Next Door
Chapter Twenty-One
Taylor
T he soft glow of candlelight danced across the wooden tables of Cedar View, our favorite local restaurant. As I settled into the familiar chair across from Amelia, the tension in my shoulders eased. Our Friday night dinners had become a ritual after my stay at her resort, a chance to reconnect amidst the whirlwind of our lives.
I couldn’t contain my smile as Amelia leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I still can’t believe you and Van Willis are finally dating,” she said, reaching for a breadstick. “It’s like a teenage dream come true, right?”
My fingers played with the edge of my napkin as warmth spread through my chest. “I know. Sometimes I still think I’ll wake up and it’s a dream. But it’s real, Amelia. I’m actually with him, and it feels...” I paused, searching for the right words.
“Yeah? How good?” Amelia smirked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “Not like that! Well, okay, that too, but seriously,” I leaned in, lowering my voice, “it’s just—he’s thoughtful and caring in ways I never expected. He asks about my day, and really listens, you know? And during our therapy sessions, he’s incredibly considerate. He’ll pause mid-exercise to ask if my hands are getting tired or if I need to adjust my position. Sometimes, he even reminds me to take breaks when I’m too focused on his progress.” I bit my lip, remembering the tender look in Van’s eyes during our last session.
“It’s hard to explain, but... with Van, I feel like I can completely be myself. He sees me - not just as the physical therapist, his best friend’s little sister, or the girl next door, but all of me. My dreams, my fears, even the quirky parts I usually hide. And he doesn’t just see them; he appreciates them. For the first time, I don’t feel I have to pretend or hold back any part of who I am.”
Amelia sighed dramatically, resting her chin on her hand. “Oh, to be adored by a man who can throw a fastball at ninety-five miles per hour.”
I giggled, swatting her with my napkin. “It’s more than that, you goof. But yeah, it’s pretty amazing.” My smile faltered slightly as I added, “I’m not looking forward to him leaving for L.A., though.”
Something shifted in Amelia’s expression, a flicker of... was that envy? She moved in her seat, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass. “I’m happy for you, Taylor, I am. But I don’t think I’m there with Brian. Not anymore.”
The sudden change in tone caught me off guard. I set down my fork, giving her my full attention. “Wait, what? You and Brian have been together for two years! What do you mean?”
Amelia sighed; her gaze distant as she twirled her fork aimlessly. “I don’t know, it’s just... I’m not invested anymore. Seeing how happy you are with Van, it’s like this lightbulb moment, you know? I don’t have that with Brian. I don’t feel excited when I see him or giddy when he calls. It’s more like... ‘Oh, it’s Brian. Cool.’”
I blinked, trying to process her words. “So... you’re thinking about breaking up with him?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I think it’s time. I deserve to feel what you’re feeling—more than just ‘cool.’”
I leaned back, considering her words carefully. “Well, I guess that’s true. But are you sure? Like, really sure? Or is it just a phase?”
Amelia’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I don’t know. All I know is I’m not excited about him anymore. And shouldn’t I want to feel more than contentment?”
Before I could respond, a familiar figure caught my eye. Hunter, my brother, was striding across the restaurant, looking every bit the successful businessman in his perfectly tailored suit. His face lit up as he spotted us, changing course to head our way.
“Well, well,” he said with a grin. “Fancy seeing you two here. You’re not causing too much trouble, are you?”
I snorted, falling easily into our usual banter. “Not yet. But the night’s still young.”
Hunter leaned down to hug me, his cologne, a familiar mix of cedar and citrus. As he turned to Amelia, I noticed a subtle shift in his expression. His smile seemed to linger a moment longer, and there was a warmth in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. “Hey, Amelia. You look great, by the way.”
To my surprise, a faint blush colored Amelia’s cheek. She never blushed. “Thanks, Hunter,” she said, twirling a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re looking pretty sharp yourself.”
“Always do,” Hunter winked, and I swear I saw Amelia’s breath catch. “Business dinner tonight. My client’s waiting, but I couldn’t pass by without saying hello.”
“Glad you did,” I said, eyeing him with a knowing smile. “We were just talking about relationships.”
“Were you now?” Hunter raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Hope I’m not being used as a poor example, while Van is the best example.”
“No,” Amelia chimed in quickly, her voice a touch higher than usual. “Definitely not.”
As Hunter turned to leave, he threw another smile Amelia’s way. “Well, you two enjoy dinner. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I waited until he was out of earshot before turning to Amelia, eyebrows raised. “Okay, what was that?”
“What?” Amelia’s eyes went wide with faux innocence, but the pink tinge to her cheeks betrayed her.
“Don’t play dumb with me. The blushing, the hair twirling—you were flirting with my brother!” I teased, unable to contain my laughter.
“I was not!” she protested, though her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink.
“You were,” I said, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin. “And he was flirting back. Is there something you want to tell me?”
Amelia glanced over at Hunter’s table, where he was now engrossed in conversation with his client, then back at me. She bit her lip, a gesture so uncharacteristically shy that I was momentarily taken aback. “Okay, fine. Is your brother seeing anyone?”
I almost choked on my drink. “What? Hunter? No, not that I know of. Why? Are you... interested?”
Amelia hesitated a bit, then a tiny smile tugged at her lips. “I don’t know... maybe. He’s charming, successful, and he smells good.”
“Ew, Amelia!” I laughed, wrinkling my nose. “You can’t tell me my brother smells good!”
She laughed, too, holding up her hands defensively. “Sorry, but it’s true! He does! And he’s got that whole, confident, put-together thing going on.”
I shook my head, still grinning. “What about Brian? You’re not single!”
“Don’t worry,” Amelia said, her voice taking on a more serious tone. “I’ll make sure Brian and I are over before I even think about looking in Hunter’s direction. I’m not that kind of person.”
“Well, who knew? You and Hunter, huh? I could get behind that.” I mused, trying to picture it.
“I have said nothing, Taylor. You are jumping the gun!” She said defensively, but I could see the spark of possibility in her eyes.
We both laughed, the tension from our earlier conversation dissipating. As our laughter died down, I decided to shift gears. “So, how is it going at the resort?”
A shadow passed over Amelia’s face so quickly that I almost missed it. “Business is slow, but I can’t complain,” she said, her tone suddenly guarded. “How are your plans for the practice going?”
I noticed her abrupt pivot in conversation, filing it away to ponder later. For now, I decided not to press. “Hunter has been invaluable in guiding me through the business setup process,” I said, grateful for the chance to share my progress. “I don’t know if I could navigate all the paperwork and regulations without his expertise. I found a building I think is ideal for office space in the neighboring town of Borewood, but we’ll see how it all pans out.”
Amelia’s face brightened, seeming genuinely excited for me. “Wow, Taylor, that’s wonderful news. You’re making progress.”
“Yeah,” I nodded, allowing myself a moment of pride. “I’m hoping we can open by summer.”
As we continued chatting over dessert, I couldn’t help but notice how Amelia’s eyes kept drifting over to Hunter’s table. Interestingly, he never glanced in our direction, fully focused on his client. A small knot of worry formed in my stomach. For Amelia’s sake, I hoped she wasn’t reading too much into that brief exchange with Hunter. It was hard to tell if there was any real interest on his part. But then again, what did I know about all this? I couldn’t tell that Van had been in love with me all these years!
As we prepared to leave, I found myself lost in thought. Amelia’s confession about Brian, her apparent interest in Hunter, and that momentary guardedness when I asked about the resort–there was a lot to unpack. I made a mental note to keep a closer eye on my friend. Something told me she might need support in the coming weeks, whether she was ready to admit it or not.