Page 37 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I opened it to find Hunter, folders in hand and a concerned look on his face.

“Hey man, ready to work on those foundation plans?” Hunter asked, stepping inside.

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

We settled at the kitchen table, spreading out blueprints and documents. But as we worked, I found my mind wandering, my eyes constantly drifting to the window that faced Taylor’s house.

Hunter noticed my distraction. “Alright, what’s going on with you?” he asked, putting down his pencil. “You’ve been off for days.”

I hesitated, then let out a long breath. “It’s Taylor,” I admitted. “She’s been avoiding me, I think. And now Travis is back in the picture, and I just had to ask Ellie to stop coming around.”

Hunter’s expression softened with understanding. “Look, Van, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but... Taylor’s thinking about going away for a week.”

“What? Why?” I asked, the alarm clear in my voice.

Hunter shook his head. “She needs some time to think, I guess. But Van, if you ask me, you need to talk to her. Tell her how you really feel before it’s too late.”

I stood up abruptly, determination setting in. “You’re right. I’m done waiting. I’m going to tell her everything.”

Without another word, I strode out of my house and next door to Taylor’s. My heart was pounding as I knocked, rehearsing what I’d say. But after several moments of silence, I realized no one was home.

“She left a few hours ago, dear,” a voice called out. I turned to see Mrs. Peterson, the elderly neighbor from across the street, peering at me over her fence. “Had a suitcase with her, too.”

My heart sank. I was too late.

“Thank you, Mrs. Peterson. Have a nice day.”

She nodded.

I trudged back to my house, finding Hunter still at the kitchen table. “She’s gone,” I said, my voice hollow. “Mrs. Peterson said she left with a suitcase. Hunter, where did she go?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Van, I don’t think…”

“Please,” I interrupted, my eyes pleading. “I need to know. I swear I won’t do anything to hurt her. I just need to talk to her.”

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. “Alright. But you didn’t hear this from me, got it?”

At my nod, he continued, “She’s staying at the Horton family resort. Amelia Horton - you remember her from high school? - she’s managing it now. Invited Taylor for a week-long stay.”

I was already grabbing my keys. “Thanks, Hunter. I owe you one.”

“Van, wait!” He called after me. “What are you going to do?”

I paused at the door, a mix of determination and hope surging. “I’m going to tell Taylor how I feel. It’s long overdue.”

As I rushed out to my car, I felt a surge of nervous energy. I did not know how this would play out, but I knew one thing for sure: I couldn’t let Taylor slip away without at least trying to tell her the truth.

The drive to the Horton resort would take a few hours, giving me plenty of time to think about what I’d say when I saw Taylor.

As I pulled out of the driveway, I caught sight of Mrs. Peterson watching me with keen interest. In a small town like ours, news travels fast. When I got back, everyone would probably know about my impromptu road trip.

But right now, I couldn’t care about town gossip. All that mattered was getting to Taylor and finally being honest about my feelings. As I merged onto the highway, I allowed myself a small smile.

Things were about to change, no matter what.

Chapter Fifteen

Taylor

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