Page 11 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

“What is going on here!” Hunter shouted, and I almost lost my balance on Van’s lap, but he tightened his grasp around my waist to secure me.

“Hunter!” I exclaimed and pushed off Van. “What are you doing back here?”

“I was going to…” He glared at me; his fists balled up at his side. “What are you two doing?”

Glancing at his face, I could see a little redness growing up his neck onto his cheeks, and I knew he was upset. More like furious. The last time I saw Hunter this mad was when we did a video chat after I broke up with Travis.

Hunter was ready to jump in his truck and drive all night to get to me, and he promised he wouldn’t hurt Travis. But I knew mybrother all too well. He may be a very reserved person, but when he was pushed and became angry, there was no telling what he would do.

“Nothing’s going on,” I pushed off Van, stood, and rubbed my hands on my denim shorts. For some reason, my palms felt clammy and moist.

I was about to speak when I saw movement from behind my brother.

“Didn’t seem like it from where I’m standing,” his bulky frame stepped outside the back door and approached me, blocking out who was behind him.

“Taylor,” Pastor Rick Pierce peeked around Hunter’s body. “I caught Hunter in town and he mentioned you’d returned home, so he thought to bring me by and see you.”

“Hello, Pastor Pierce. What a pleasant surprise!” I responded awkwardly.

As Hunter got closer, it seemed as though his towering body was covering up the sunlight. Glimpsing up at him, I thought I saw a vein in his neck throbbing. I felt my face drain with humiliation with the local pastor catching Van and me in a compromising position, and having to defend myself to my brother over something I wanted to happen.

“Hunter… come on,” I shook my head, hoping to diffuse the situation. “I was going to give Van a massage on his bad arm, and I lost my balance…”

“And his lips saved you from falling?” Hunter crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes.

“Hey, man,” Van jumped up from the chair, standing next to me. “Nothing was going on…”

“Really?” Hunter turned his attention to his best friend. “Do tell?”

“I dropped my beer,” Van pointed over his shoulder, “And Taylor was just trying to pick it up, and she…”

“Lost her balance,” Hunter finished his sentence.

“Look!” I exclaimed, pointing to the upturned bottle on the table. The spilled beer had spread across the table, and I looked back to Hunter and avoided eye contact with the pastor. “I don’t know why you’re getting all worked up about this.”

“Yeah, come on, Hunter,” Van threw his hands up. “Nothing happened. It wasjusta kiss.”

“A kiss with my little sister,” Hunter narrowed his eyes. “The same sister that just got out of a long relationship…”

“I know that, Hunter,” Van sighed.

“Maybe I should come back another time,” Pastor Pierce took a step back.

“She’s still vulnerable,” Hunter added, and I gasped.

Who did Hunter think he was? Me? Vulnerable?

“Hey!” I shouted, placing my hands on my hips. “I’m not vulnerable!”

“You’re still dealing with Travis’ deception,” Hunter challenged me.

“I’m not saying that’s true,” I jutted my chin upward. “But if that were the case, it’s my problem. Not yours.”

“Not now Taylor,” Hunter growled.

“Not now!” I shouted as Pastor Pierce took a few more steps toward the back door. “Pastor, I’m sorry about this,” I felt the need to apologize.

“It’s quite fine, Taylor,” the man of the cloth smiled. “I’ll just see myself out and come by… I’ll see you on Sunday.”

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