Page 43 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

The phone rang once... twice... three times. Each ring felt like an eternity. Then, finally, his voice came through, rough and low.

“Taylor?”

My breath caught in my throat at the sound of his voice. “Van... I’m sorry. I should’ve stayed. I should’ve listened.”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear him exhaling slowly. “Taylor, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking about ambushing you like that. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to hear from me again.”

“Please don’t apologize,” I responded, my heart thudding. “I let fear get the best of me and didn’t handle things as I should have. But I want to fix this. I want to hear what you have to say. Can you come back? Please?”

Another pause, this one longer. My fingers gripped the table’s edge as I waited for his answer.

“Of course, Taylor. I’ll turn around right now. I’ll be there in about an hour,” he replied, his voice softer now.

Relief flooded through me, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Thank you, Van. I’ll be waiting.”

As I ended the call, I looked across the table at Amelia, who was grinning like she’d just watched the best drama unfold.

“Well?” she asked, raising her glass in a mock toast.

“He’s coming back,” I said.

Amelia clinked her glass against mine. “Here’s to second chances, Taylor. You deserve it.”

I nodded, feeling a warmth settle in my chest. Whatever happened next, I was done running. And for the first time in a long time, I was ready to face it.

Chapter Eighteen

Van

The car’s hum was the only sound in the dark, empty stretch of highway as I drove back toward Coleman. The headlights lit up the darkness, but my attention was not on the road ahead. Instead, all I could think about was the look on Taylor’s face as she ran out of the restaurant. I’d made a mess of things—again.

I had thought the grand gesture would show her how much I cared and would go to any length for her. But now, in the silence of my car, I realized I had completely misread the situation. She didn’t want a big spectacle. She wanted something real—something I wasn’t sure I could give without messing up.

The car’s speakers chimed, interrupting the quiet hum of the engine and pulling me out of my thoughts. The car’s infotainment system announced, “Incoming call from Ellie.” Ihesitated for a moment, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the answer button on the steering wheel.

“Hey, Van,” her familiar voice came through the car’s speakers. “I saw the pictures online. Are you okay?”

I sighed. Of course, it had made its way onto social media already. “I’m fine, Ellie. Just on my way home.”

“I figured you might be. It looked like things didn’t go exactly as planned.” There was a pause, her tone softening. “I’m still in town at the moment. Why don’t you swing by my hotel? We can talk, or not talk if you don’t want to. I could just be here for you, as a friend.”

I appreciated her offer—more than I wanted to admit. It was kind of her, but I knew what going there would mean, and I could not risk making things even more complicated. Not now.

“I appreciate that, Ellie, I really do. But I think I just need some time to clear my head. Thanks for understanding.”

There was a brief silence before she responded. “I get it. Just know I’m here if you change your mind.”

“Thanks, Ellie. Take care.”

I ended the call.

That conversation didn’t weigh on me as much as I thought it would. Maybe because I knew it was the right decision. The only sensible decision.

But as the miles stretched on and the resort was farther and farther behind me, a sinking feeling settled in my chest. What if that was it? What if Taylor didn’t want to talk to me anymore, not after I embarrassed her in front of everyone?

I was about to lose myself in those doubts when the car’s speakers chimed once more. “Incoming call from Taylor.” My heart nearly stopped at the sound of the name. Taking a steadying breath, I kept my eyes on the road and pressed the answer button on the steering wheel.

My voice wavered slightly as I spoke into the car’s built-in microphone, “Taylor?”

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