Page 23 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

Epilogue

Taylor

I stood in the nursery, my hand resting on my swollen belly as I gazed out the window of our new home. The past year had been a whirlwind of change, each day bringing us closer to this moment.

My therapy practice in nearby Borewood had flourished beyond my wildest dreams. With a dedicated team supporting me, I’d been able to divide my time between Coleman and LA, bridging the gap between my professional aspirations and my life with Van.

And Van... my heart swelled with pride thinking about his Catch the Dream Foundation. What had started as a simple idea had grown into something truly remarkable. Hundreds of kids who might never have had the chance were now stepping onto baseball fields, their faces lit up with hope and determination.

I smiled, remembering the last camp we’d attended together. Van had been in his element, patiently demonstrating pitching techniques, his eyes shining as he watched the kids practice. It wasn’t just about baseball anymore, but about showing these kids that no dream was too big.

A strong kick from our son brought me back to the present. I rubbed my belly gently, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

“Soon, little one,” I whispered. “We can’t wait to meet you.”

As if on cue, I heard Van’s car pull into the driveway. It was time for our doctor’s appointment. With one last look around the nursery, I headed downstairs.

***

The soft hum of the car engine mingled with Van’s quiet laughter as his hand rested on my swollen belly. Beneath his palm, a series of strong kicks made his eyes widen with delight.

“Whoa, he’s putting on quite a show today,” Van said, his voice filled with wonder.

I covered his hand with mine, wincing slightly at a particularly forceful kick. “I think he knows his grand debut is coming soon.”

Van’s eyes met mine, a mix of excitement and concern evident in his gaze. “How are you holding up?”

I offered him a tired smile. “Excited... exhausted... a little overwhelmed.”

As we pulled into the driveway of our new home, the late afternoon sun bathed the house in a warm glow. The sight of it - larger than I’d initially wanted, but perfect for the family we were building - brought a lump to my throat.

Van cut the engine and was at my door in an instant, his strong hands supporting me as I maneuvered my way out of the car. His arm slid around my waist, steady and comforting.

“I still can’t believe this is our life now,” I murmured, leaning into him as we made our way to the front door.

Van’s lips brushed my temple. “Believe it, babe. You deserve every bit of happiness.”

Inside, we gravitated towards the nursery, as we often did these days. The room, painted in soft blue and cream by Van and Hunter, was a testament to the love already waiting for our son. I ran my fingers along the edge of the crib, imagining the tiny life that would soon occupy it.

“Remember when we finished setting up this room?” Van asked, his voice soft with nostalgia. “Hunter insisted on putting together the crib himself.”

I chuckled, recalling my brother’s determined face as he wrestled with the instructions. “And it only took him three hours and two beers.”

Van’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “Worth it, though. The look on his face when he finished.”

A sharp twinge cut through my reminiscing, causing me to gasp and grab Van’s arm. His body tensed immediately; eyes wide with alarm.

“Taylor? What is it?”

I breathed through the sensation, feeling another wave hit, stronger this time. My heart began to race as realization dawned.

“I think...” I paused, meeting Van’s anxious gaze. “I think it’s time.”

Van’s face transformed, excitement and panic battling for dominance. “Time? Now?” His voice cracked slightly on the last word.

I nodded, gripping his arm tighter as another contraction built. “Yeah, now.”

For a moment, we stood frozen, the reality of what was happening sinking in. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, Van suddenly sprang into action.

“Okay, okay, we’ve got this,” he said, more to himself than to me. He grabbed the hospital bag we’d prepared weeks ago, then turned to me, his eyes softening. “You ready for this, Taylor?”

Despite the growing discomfort, I felt a smile spread across my face. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Van took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Then let’s go meet our son.”

As we made our way back to the car, I felt a mixture of excitement and nerves coursing through me. This was it - the moment we’d been waiting for, the start of a new chapter in our lives. With Van by my side, I knew we could face anything.

***

The hospital room blurred around me, time stretching and contracting like the waves of pain coursing through my body. My knuckles turned white as I gripped Van’s hand, each contraction stealing my breath.

“Breathe, Taylor,” Van’s voice cut through the haze. “That’s it, in and out.”

I locked eyes with him, anchoring myself in his steady gaze. Sweat trickled down my temples, and Van gently dabbed it away with a cool cloth.

“Another big one coming,” the nurse warned.

I clenched my jaw, a low moan escaping as the contraction built. Van leaned in close, his forehead almost touching mine.

“You’ve got this, babe,” he murmured, his breath warm against my cheek. “You’re the strongest person I know.”

The contraction peaked, and I squeezed Van’s hand so hard I feared I might break it. But he never flinched, his presence unwavering.

“I see the head!” the doctor announced. “One more big push, Taylor.”

I gathered every ounce of strength I had left, Van’s encouragement ringing in my ears. With a final, guttural cry, I pushed.

Suddenly, the room filled with a new sound - a high-pitched wail that made my heart leap.

“It’s a boy!” the doctor exclaimed.

The nurse placed a squirming, wet bundle on my chest. I gasped, my hands instinctively cradling this tiny being. Our son. His cries softened as I held him close, his skin warm against mine.

Van’s hand trembled as he reached out to touch the baby’s cheek. I looked up at him, seeing tears glistening in his eyes.

“Hey there, little man,” Van whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

I traced our son’s tiny features with my finger - his button nose, rosebud lips, and downy hair on his head. Each detail seared itself into my memory.

“Chad,” I murmured, testing the name we’d chosen. “Chad Hunter Willis.”

Van nodded, a tear spilling down his cheek. “Perfect name for a perfect boy.”

As Chad’s tiny hand wrapped around my finger, a wave of love so intense it was almost painful washed over me. I looked from our son to Van, seeing my wonderment reflected in his eyes.

Chad yawned, his little face scrunching up, and I laughed softly through my tears.

“Welcome to the world, Chad,” I whispered. “We love you so much already.”

***

A few days later, we were back home, nestled in the coziness of our living room. The baby was asleep in his bassinet, and I was curled up on the couch with Van. My body was exhausted, but my heart was so full it felt like it might burst.

Just as we settled in, the doorbell rang.

Amelia’s bright smile greeted us as she swept into the room with an enormous basket of gifts for the baby.

“Amelia!” I exclaimed, feeling a rush of affection for my best friend. She enveloped me in a gentle hug before leaning down to admire the sleeping baby.

“Chad is even more adorable in person,” she whispered, grinning. “You’re both glowing. Parenthood looks good on you.”

I laughed softly. “I’m not sure about that, but we’re getting by.”

Amelia placed the basket on the coffee table and sat beside me, her energy as vibrant as ever. “I couldn’t let this moment pass without coming to spoil my little man. And speaking of which…” She pulled out a tiny baby blanket embroidered with stars and Van’s baseball number. “A little something from his biggest fan.”

Van chuckled, leaning over to admire the blanket. “You spoil us, Amelia. Thank you.”

“I can’t help it,” Amelia replied with a smile. “I was in love once I saw the photos you sent of him.”

We continued chatting, and suddenly, the doorbell echoed through the house. I glanced at Van, confused, and he grinned, moving to answer it.

Hunter strode in, his arms laden with an array of presents. I could see several items clearly: tiny onesies and other baby clothes in pastel colors, a couple of soft plush toys peeking out from the pile, and most noticeably, a small leather baseball glove perched on top. Clearly, he had gone all out to prepare for his nephew.

“Hey, sis,” Hunter greeted me warmly, setting the gifts down and giving me a gentle hug. He peered into the bassinet, his smile widening. “Look at this little guy. Already a baseball legend in the making.”

As Hunter straightened up from peering into Chad’s bassinet, his eyes locked with Amelia’s.

“Amelia,” Hunter said, his voice softer than usual. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Amelia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she stood up. “Hunter! I... well, I couldn’t miss seeing this little one in person.”

I watched Hunter move towards her, his usual confident stride faltering. They stood facing each other, close enough that I could see Hunter’s hand twitch, as if he wanted to reach out but thought better of it.

“It’s good to see you,” Hunter murmured, his eyes never leaving Amelia’s face.

“You too,” Amelia replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s been a while.”

I glanced at Van, wondering if he noticed the change in atmosphere. He caught my eye and raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Hunter cleared his throat. “So, uh, how’s the resort?”

Amelia’s eyes lit up. “It’s great! We just finished some renovations. You should... you should come by sometime. If you want, I mean.”

“Yeah?” Hunter’s smile widened. “I’d like that.”

They stood momentarily, looking at each other until Chad’s soft coo broke the spell. They both turned to the bassinet, laughing softly.

“He’s perfect, isn’t he?” Amelia said, moving closer to the baby.

Hunter nodded, following her. “Yeah, he is.”

As they stood side by side, cooing over Chad, I couldn’t help but notice how their shoulders brushed, neither of them moving away from the contact. Hunter leaned in to whisper something to Amelia, and her resulting laugh was softer, more intimate than I’d ever heard from her before.

My heart raced as I processed what I was seeing. They kept stealing glances at each other, the subtle touches, the soft smiles. Something was definitely brewing between my brother and my best friend.

Van squeezed my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. When I looked at him, he mouthed, “You seeing this?”

I nodded as he left the room.

When Amelia excused herself to leave, I caught the quick, almost shy glance she exchanged with Hunter before she headed out the door.

As soon as she was gone, I smirked and turned to Hunter. “So… what’s going on with you and Amelia?”

His face flushed, and he tried to brush it off with a shrug, but the look in his eyes betrayed him. “Nothing… we’re just friends.”

“Uh-huh,” I teased. “Friends who look at each other like that? Please.”

He sighed, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Okay, fine. I like her a lot. But… it’s complicated.”

I laughed softly, reaching out to pat his arm. “Nothing worth having is easy, Hunter. I didn’t know you liked her, but I think you should go for it.”

Hunter glanced back at the door, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Maybe I will.”

I nodded, both excited and apprehensive about what this could mean for all of us.

As I stood up to escort Hunter out, Van returned to the room. He gently wrapped his arms around me from behind, a comforting presence. We walked together to the front door, where I said goodbye to my brother. Just before Hunter left, I turned back to look at Van. Our eyes met in a meaningful glance, conveying a mix of emotions and understanding that words couldn’t adequately express.

After watching Hunter’s truck disappear into the darkness, I closed the door and returned inside.

As I walked back into the living room, I paused in the doorway, captivated by the scene before me. Van had already picked up our son from the bassinet and was gently rocking him in his arms. Seeing him cradling our baby with such tenderness filled my heart with joy.

He looked up, his eyes full of warmth. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?” he whispered, his voice soft.

I nodded, feeling a surge of intense love that almost overwhelmed me.

I moved beside him, resting my head on his shoulder, watching our little boy’s peaceful face as he slept.

Van kissed the top of my head, pulling me closer. “This is everything, babe.”

And it was. Everything I’d ever wanted, and more than I ever dreamed possible.

As we stood together, I felt a deep sense of peace, knowing that this—our family, our life—was just the beginning.