Page 48 of Faking it With the Player Next Door

I chuckled softly, my heart feeling fuller than I ever thought possible. “Probably. But can we just... stay like this for a minute?”

Taylor nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I think we can manage that. Doctor’s orders.”

As we sat there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, I realized that for the first time in my life, I was more excited about what awaited me off the field than on it. And somehow, that didn’t scare me at all. It felt like the start of something amazing,something I never knew I was missing until Taylor came into my life. The road ahead might be uncertain, with L.A. and continued rehab looming. But right now, I was exactly where I needed to be. My arm was healing, and somehow, in the process, I’d found a part of myself I never knew was missing.

Chapter Twenty-One

Taylor

The soft glow of candlelight danced across the wooden tables of Cedar View, our favorite local restaurant. As I settled into the familiar chair across from Amelia, the tension in my shoulders eased. Our Friday night dinners had become a ritual after my stay at her resort, a chance to reconnect amidst the whirlwind of our lives.

I couldn’t contain my smile as Amelia leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I still can’t believe you and Van Willis are finally dating,” she said, reaching for a breadstick. “It’s like a teenage dream come true, right?”

My fingers played with the edge of my napkin as warmth spread through my chest. “I know. Sometimes I still think I’llwake up and it’s a dream. But it’s real, Amelia. I’m actually with him, and it feels...” I paused, searching for the right words.

“Yeah? How good?” Amelia smirked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “Not like that! Well, okay, that too, but seriously,” I leaned in, lowering my voice, “it’s just—he’s thoughtful and caring in ways I never expected. He asks about my day, and really listens, you know? And during our therapy sessions, he’s incredibly considerate. He’ll pause mid-exercise to ask if my hands are getting tired or if I need to adjust my position. Sometimes, he even reminds me to take breaks when I’m too focused on his progress.” I bit my lip, remembering the tender look in Van’s eyes during our last session.

“It’s hard to explain, but... with Van, I feel like I can completely be myself. He sees me - not just as the physical therapist, his best friend’s little sister, or the girl next door, but all of me. My dreams, my fears, even the quirky parts I usually hide. And he doesn’t just see them; he appreciates them. For the first time, I don’t feel I have to pretend or hold back any part of who I am.”

Amelia sighed dramatically, resting her chin on her hand. “Oh, to be adored by a man who can throw a fastball at ninety-five miles per hour.”

I giggled, swatting her with my napkin. “It’s more than that, you goof. But yeah, it’s pretty amazing.” My smile faltered slightly as I added, “I’m not looking forward to him leaving for L.A., though.”

Something shifted in Amelia’s expression, a flicker of... was that envy? She moved in her seat, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass. “I’m happy for you, Taylor, I am. But I don’t think I’m there with Brian. Not anymore.”

The sudden change in tone caught me off guard. I set down my fork, giving her my full attention. “Wait, what? You and Brian have been together for two years! What do you mean?”

Amelia sighed; her gaze distant as she twirled her fork aimlessly. “I don’t know, it’s just... I’m not invested anymore. Seeing how happy you are with Van, it’s like this lightbulb moment, you know? I don’t have that with Brian. I don’t feel excited when I see him or giddy when he calls. It’s more like... ‘Oh, it’s Brian. Cool.’”

I blinked, trying to process her words. “So... you’re thinking about breaking up with him?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I think it’s time. I deserve to feel what you’re feeling—more than just ‘cool.’”

I leaned back, considering her words carefully. “Well, I guess that’s true. But are you sure? Like, really sure? Or is it just a phase?”

Amelia’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I don’t know. All I know is I’m not excited about him anymore. And shouldn’t I want to feel more than contentment?”

Before I could respond, a familiar figure caught my eye. Hunter, my brother, was striding across the restaurant, looking every bit the successful businessman in his perfectly tailored suit. His face lit up as he spotted us, changing course to head our way.

“Well, well,” he said with a grin. “Fancy seeing you two here. You’re not causing too much trouble, are you?”

I snorted, falling easily into our usual banter. “Not yet. But the night’s still young.”

Hunter leaned down to hug me, his cologne, a familiar mix of cedar and citrus. As he turned to Amelia, I noticed a subtle shift in his expression. His smile seemed to linger a moment longer, and there was a warmth in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. “Hey, Amelia. You look great, by the way.”

To my surprise, a faint blush colored Amelia’s cheek. She never blushed. “Thanks, Hunter,” she said, twirling a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re looking pretty sharp yourself.”

“Always do,” Hunter winked, and I swear I saw Amelia’s breath catch. “Business dinner tonight. My client’s waiting, but I couldn’t pass by without saying hello.”

“Glad you did,” I said, eyeing him with a knowing smile. “We were just talking about relationships.”

“Were you now?” Hunter raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Hope I’m not being used as a poor example, while Van is the best example.”

“No,” Amelia chimed in quickly, her voice a touch higher than usual. “Definitely not.”

As Hunter turned to leave, he threw another smile Amelia’s way. “Well, you two enjoy dinner. I’ll catch up with you later.”

---