Page 35 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

As we continued to chat, I warmed to the idea of a vacation. Maybe some distance would help me sort out my feelings about Van, deal with the Travis situation, and figure out what I wanted.

“Okay,” I said finally. “I’ll do it. I’ll come to the resort.”

Amelia clapped her hands together, beaming. “Excellent! You won’t regret it, Taylor. We’ll have a great time, and you can relax and recharge.”

As we planned my visit, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. A week away from everything—Travis, Ellie, and all the complications with Van—felt exactly what I needed.

***

Steam rose from the pot as I stirred the pasta, the kitchen windows fogged with the hearty aroma of garlic and herbs. The familiar sound of Hunter’s key in the lock made me glance up just as he stepped inside.

“Smells good, sis,” he said, wrapping me in one of his brief but tight hugs. The normalcy of our weekly dinner routine felt like a lifeline.

As we settled into our meal, the words tumbled out—my unexpected reunion with Amelia, her offer of sanctuary disguised as a vacation invitation.

Hunter kept his eyes on me as he ate, methodically twirling pasta onto his fork. His expression was thoughtful, and attentive, letting me speak without interruption. I could tell by the slight furrow in his brow that he was carefully considering each word I said, even as he continued to take measured bites of his dinner. The silence between my sentences was filled only with the quiet sound of his fork against the plate.

“I think I’m going to accept,” I said finally, watching the pasta twist around my fork without seeing it. My voice dropped almost to a whisper. “Maybe when I come back, the dust will have settled. Ellie... Travis... they’ll have moved on to their next drama.” The hope in my voice sounded fragile even to my ears.

His fork clattered against his plate. “You can’t just run away. You need to talk to Van.”

I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I can’t, Hunter. Not yet. I need time to think and sort out my feelings. Promise me you won’t tell him until I’m gone.”

My brother’s face was a mask of concern. “I really think you should stay and talk to him first. You know how he feels about you, right?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know,” I admitted. “Sometimes I think maybe he feels the same way, but then Ellie shows up, and... I just don’t know anymore.”

Hunter sighed, pushing his plate away. “You can’t keep running from this. Van’s my best friend, and you’re my sister. I hate seeing you both dance around each other like this.”

“Please,” I pleaded. “I need this. While I’m away, I promise I’ll figure things out. I’ll talk to Van when I get back, I promise.”

He studied me for a long moment, then reluctantly nodded. “Alright. I won’t say anything to Van. But promise me you’ll think about what you want while you’re gone. No more hiding from your feelings, okay?”

“I promise,” I said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “Thank you, Hunter.”

As I cleared the plates, I felt relief and apprehension. I was running away; I knew that. But right now, it felt like my only option. I needed space to think, to figure out what I wanted.

Pretending to be in a relationship with Van was exhausting.

The situation was complicated because, in my mind, the relationship was real. To make matters worse, Hunter also believed our relationship was real. This discrepancy between the fake reality, my true feelings, and Hunter’s misunderstanding made the whole charade particularly draining.

Later that night, as I packed my bag for the trip, my phone buzzed with a text from Van.

‘Hey, want to grab coffee tomorrow?’

I stared at the message, my heart racing. Part of me wanted to say yes, to see him one last time before I left. But I knew I might lose my nerve about going if I did.

With a heavy sigh, I typed out a reply.

‘Sorry, I can’t make it tomorrow. I’ve got some things I need to take care of. I’ll let you know when my schedule opens up.’

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth. As I hit send, I felt a pang of guilt. But I pushed it aside, focusing on folding my clothes and packing my suitcase.

Tomorrow, I’ll be on my way to Amelia’s resort. A week away from everything - from Travis’ appearance, Ellie’s intimidating presence, and the complicated dance Van and I had been doing for years.

I have a week to figure out what I want and to find the courage to pursue it.

As I zipped up my suitcase, I took a deep breath. This trip could change everything. I just hoped I was ready for whatever came next.

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