Page 31 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

Van

Ipaced around the kitchen, adjusting the last of the candles, and rechecked the table, even though I knew it was perfect. The warm scent of pasta filled the air, mingling with the soft flicker of candlelight. The room had just the right glow—simple, intimate, exactly how I wanted it.

Tonight wasn’t just about dinner—it was about finally telling Taylor my feelings for her. I’m done hiding behind this fake relationship. I couldn’t pretend anymore.

A soft knock on the door broke my focus. “Come in, it’s open,” I called, trying to sound casual.

I heard the door creak open, followed by the quiet click as it shut. Her footsteps padded softly across the floor, and I turned just in time to see Taylor walk in. Her eyes swept the roombefore landing on me, widening slightly as they took in the candlelit table.

“This is… really nice, Van,” she said, her voice gentle, but I could hear the hint of surprise.

I couldn’t help but grin as I crossed the room to meet her. Leaning in, I pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. Her familiar floral scent wrapped around me—soft and sweet. It was like breathing in spring. For a second, I just stood there, soaking it in.

“You smell like spring,” I teased, my voice low. “And you look like you’ve been stealing all the sunshine.”

She blushed, a quiet laugh escaping her lips as she glanced away, clearly flustered. “Oh, stop,” she murmured, smoothing a hand over her dress, trying to compose herself. “You’re laying it on thick tonight.”

I chuckled, stepping back enough to pull out her chair. “What can I say? A quiet night with the best company deserves a little effort.”

She sat down, still smiling, but I could see something else flicker across her face—something more serious. The charm did not fool her. She knew tonight was different.

“Thanks, Van. This… this is really thoughtful.”

I took a seat across from her, my smile softening. “We should talk.”

Her smile faded a little, her expression growing more guarded. She was bracing herself for something. She could sense it, the same as I could. But she nodded, ready to hear me out.

Dinner started quietly, the clinking of silverware the only sound between us. I kept glancing at her, watching how the candlelight danced over her face. I had so much I wanted to say, but every time I tried to form the words, they stuck in my throat.

Halfway through the meal, I set my fork down, leaning forward. I couldn’t wait any longer. “Taylor, I’ve been thinking a lot. About us, about everything that’s been going on—“

Before I could finish, a loud voice boomed from outside, cutting through the calm. “Taylor! Taylor, where are you?”

My stomach dropped. I didn’t recognize the voice, but Taylor’s freezing and tensing up like she had been struck told me all I needed to know.

I followed her gaze to the window. Her face had gone pale, her fork frozen in mid-air. She whispered a name that sent a surge of anger through me.

“Travis.”

I stood up, my heart racing. So, this was him. The ex-fiancé who’d broken her heart, the guy who had no business being here now. Taylor pushed her chair back, moving toward the door stiffly like she was preparing for battle.

“I’ll deal with him,” she mumbled, her voice hardening.

I followed her, my fists clenched at my sides. I’d heard enough about Travis to know he wasn’t welcome here. The thought of him just showing up, like he had any right to be in her life again, made my blood boil.

Outside, Travis stood by the porch, hands casually stuffed in his pockets, a cocky smirk plastered on his face. “There you are, Taylor. Took you long enough.”

Taylor stopped a few feet away from him, her body rigid, every part of her on guard. “What are you doing here, Travis?”

“I wanted to see you,” he said, his voice dripping with entitlement. “I need to talk to you. You’ve been avoiding me long enough.”

My patience snapped. I stepped forward, ready to end this, but Taylor shot me a look that told me to stay back. She didn’t want me to get involved. Not yet.

“I’ve been avoiding you because there’s nothing left to say,” she replied, her voice strained but steady.

“Oh, come on, Taylor,” Travis said with a dismissive wave. “Don’t be like that. We were engaged once, remember? You can’t just pretend I don’t exist.”

I took another step forward, fists clenched, but Taylor raised her hand, her voice calm but strained. “Enough, Travis. Just leave.”

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