Page 42 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

“Taylor, do you know how much that man cares about you? He drove for hours just to see you. That’s not the move of someone who’s pretending.”

I closed my eyes, tears finally slipping down my cheeks.

“I know. And I blew it. I didn’t even give Van a chance to express himself. I simply panicked.”

Hunter let out a sigh, softer this time. “Taylor, you need to stop running from Van, your feelings, everything. If you are sure you care about him, you need to talk to him. Hear him out. Tell him how you feel.”

I wiped at my eyes, my heart twisting painfully. “You’re right. I’ll call him. I’ll make it right.”

“Awesome,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “Look, whatever happens, I’ve got your back. But don’t let fear stop you from something real.”

“I won’t,” I promised, my voice steadier now. “Thanks once again, Hunter. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up, feeling both lighter and more anxious than before. I stared at my phone for a long time, debating whether to call Van immediately or wait until I’d had time to calm down. But before I could decide, I received a text.

It was from Amelia.

‘Just got to the bar. Waiting for you.’

I typed a response immediately:

‘On my way.’

I quickly grabbed my purse and ran out of my room.

As I made my way to the bar, I felt a weird mixture of relief and dread. I needed the distraction but knew I couldn’t avoid Van much longer.

“Taylor, over here,” Amelia called from a corner of the bar.

As we settled into a cozy booth in the corner, she ordered a couple of cocktails and turned to me with a knowing look.

“So,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re going to tell me what happened, right? I was told there was some sort of romantic celebrity chaos in the restaurant earlier.”

I sighed, swirling the drink in my glass. “Yeah. Van showed up, and I panicked.”

Amelia frowned. “Panicked? Why? I thought you two were—“

“It’s complicated,” I cut in, not wanting to rehash the fake relationship details again. “But the point is, I didn’t stick around long enough to hear him out. I felt overwhelmed, so I bolted.”

Amelia sipped her drink, her eyes thoughtful. “And now you regret it?”

“Big time,” I admitted. “I called Hunter, and he told me I should’ve listened to Van. He thinks Van is in love with me.”

“And what about your feelings?” Amelia asked gently, her eyes soft but piercing. “Do you love him?”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her question settle in my chest. “I do. But I’m so scared, Amelia. What if I’m wrong? What if this whole thing just ends in a mess?”

She smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “Taylor, love is always a risk. But you’ll never know what might happen if you don’t give it a chance. Call him. Talk to him. And if he’s not already in Coleman, ask him to come back.”

Her words hit me with a clarity I hadn’t expected. She was right. I couldn’t keep running, and I couldn’t keep letting my fear dictate everything. I had to try. For me. For Van.

I pulled out my phone, my heart racing as I scrolled through my contacts. Van’s name stared back at me, and for a moment,I hesitated. What if he didn’t answer? What if he’d already given up on me?

But then I remembered my promise to Hunter.

With trembling fingers, I pressed the call button.

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