Page 21 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

“Not today,” I hissed. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Then when?”

“Maybe tomorrow,” I muttered. “I have to go…”

I disconnected the call, stared at Van’s house, and wanted nothing more than to march over there and give him a piece of my mind. But I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. He’d probably have some lame excuse for who the woman was, and I didn’t need another man lying to me. Not when my heart was involved.

I saw movement in the window across the way and ducked down so Van wouldn’t see me. The last thing I needed was for him to come over here. I’d lose it if I saw him face to face.

All I can do is imagine that woman clinging to him in the store yesterday, and the tears begin to flow again.

“You don’t need this, Taylor Miller,” I sniffled. “You don’t deserve this.”

But yet here I am, crying over a man who I had strong feelings for, and getting my heart broken again.

“Life sucks,” I sobbed.

Hours later, someone knocked on the front door. I was so emotionally drained I opened it expecting a confrontation with Van, but instead, I saw Hunter.

I began sobbing again, and he took me in his arms.

Chapter Eight

Van

“Ellie,” I moaned and threw my hands up in the air. “There is nous. We are over.”

“Oh, come on, Van,” Ellie’s lips turned pouty, and she frowned. “You weren’t serious about all that…” She waved her hand in a spiral. “We’re still going to the awards show back in L.A., and I have…”

“Stop, Ellie,” I shook my head and strode across the room. “I told you months ago we were over, and I never once gave you any indication that we’d reconcile.”

“Oh, you were just speaking out when you were too emotional,” Ellie whined. “I get it. I’m emotional too, and you’d never tossed me to the curb.”

“This isn’t tossing anyone to the curb, Ellie, and that’s a terrible analogy,” I snorted, glancing over my shoulder at her.

“Always nitpicking,” Ellie giggled. “I came here…” She held out her hands. “To this forsaken backwoods town to make sure you were coming back to…”

“No,” I shook my head. “I’m here recovering, and even if I wasn’t, I’m not coming back to L.A. regardless.”

“You don’t mean that,” Ellie sashayed towards me, and the way she seductively sauntered wasn’t lost on me.

Sadly, being a man, my body reacted to her tempting sexual expertise, and I had to glance away. I didn’t want Ellie to get the wrong idea. I meant it when I said we were over and no longer an item.

I had broken up with her before coming home, and when I had, I thought I saw a glimmer of relief from Ellie. I had been injured, had just had my surgery, and was beginning my therapy. There was chatter on the sports shows and in the tabloids that my career was over.

I saw the lonely gaze in Ellie’s eyes when she thought I’d be a nobody, a washed-up has-been, and have lost my multi-million-dollar contract and endorsements. At that moment, I knew I didn’t want to be with Ellie or any other woman like her.

I wanted someone who appreciated me for me, who wasn’t here for the fame my name brought to the table, and someone who had my back during good times and bad. Ellie was definitely notthat girl.

Glancing out the kitchen window, I thought I saw movement next door, and wondered why Taylor still hadn’t answered any of my messages or calls. She’s been standoffish since we walked along the trail, and I had no idea why.

I called Hunter earlier, and he said he spoke to her yesterday, and she was planning on cooking dinner for him, but she canceled within an hour. He continued to say that he’d spokenwith her briefly after I called her earlier, and then I got sidetracked when Ellie showed up unannounced.

When I heard someone at the door, I got excited that it was Taylor, so I dashed through the house to open the door, but imagine my surprise when Ellie crossed the threshold and attempted to kiss me, to which I turned my head, and her lips grazed over my cheek. She pouted, set her little purse on the side table in the foyer, and tilted her head to one side.

Seeing her in this sulky mood, made me sigh. I didn’t want her around, and I thought I’d made that very clear in the grocery store yesterday. I had gone shopping and when I turned the corner on an aisle, there was Ellie.

But at that moment, all I could think about was that I hoped Taylor wasn’t near a window in her Gram’s house and would see Ellie here. The last thing I needed was for Ellie to be why Taylor and I didn’t get together.

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