Work Text
2014
The party was already in full swing by the time Matty stumbled into the tiny Brooklyn apartment. Music thudded against the walls, a mix of early 2000s throwbacks and the kind of indie hits that sounded like they were recorded in someone’s garage. He rolled his eyes. So predictable.Clutching a six-pack of questionable craft beer—something with a label that looked like a toddler’s art project—Matty scanned the room. A sea of strangers surrounded him, most of them clad in a curated combination of thrift store finds and ironic accessories. Somewhere in this chaos was his friend George, who had not only convinced him to move to New York City just a couple of months ago, but also had texted him no fewer than six times demanding his presence at this party.“Matty, over here!” George’s voice cut through the crowd. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, already halfway through a red solo cup of what Matty could only assume was a disaster in liquid form.“What is this?” Matty asked, grimacing as he sniffed the cup George handed him.“Wine punch. Thought it’d be a hit. It’s mostly boxed wine and... uh, orange soda.”“Disgusting,” Matty said, but he took a sip anyway. It was every bit as horrifying as he’d expected.George chuckled. “Lighten up, mate.”Before Matty could retort, a voice from the other side of the kitchen cut in. “Are you really drinking that?”Matty turned. The woman standing in front of him was wearing a tee and jeans, her blonde hair pulled into a messy bun that made her look so effortlessly pretty. She was holding a glass of what looked like actual wine and regarding him with an amused smile.“I guess I am?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.“I wonder if you have a death wish,” she said, nodding toward the cup in his hand. “That stuff’s infamous. Last time George made it, someone threw up in the sink and then broke said sink.”“Ah, a critic,” Matty said, smirking. “I’ll have you know my refined palate can handle it.”She laughed, and the sound was enough to make Matty smile back. “If you say so." She extended her hand to him. "I’m Taylor, by the way.”“Matty.” He took her hand, and when she shook it, he noted the ink stains on her fingers. “You an artist?”“Writer,” she said, holding up her glass. “Or aspiring one, at least. I’ll be an English teacher soon, you know, to pay the bills.”“So, what’s with the ink?” Matty asked amused.Taylor looked to the side and then she blushed “I’m on a quill and ink phase,” she replied sounding a bit embarrassed.“That is…actually quite interesting,” Matty said honestly. “So, are you finding some inspiration in a place like this?”“Hardly. I’m here for moral support.” She nodded toward a blonde-haired woman in the living room who was passionately debating the merits of glitter as an art medium. “That’s my roommate, Gigi. She’s the social one.”“And you’re the...?”“The one who’d rather be at home with a book,” she admitted with a grin. “You know, very cliché of course, have to keep up with the whole tortured poet aesthetic.”Matty chuckled. “Sounds like we’ve got that in common. Parties aren’t really my thing either.”“Then why are you here?”“George forced me. Said I needed to get out more. Meet new people since I’ve only been in town for a couple of months.”Taylor’s eyes twinkled. “He’s got a point. You look like someone who spends a lot of time brooding in coffee shops.”“Guilty,” Matty admitted. “But only when I’m not working.”“What do you do?” Taylor asked interested.“Tattoos.” He replied smiling.Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re a tattoo artist?”“That I am,” he said, suddenly self-conscious. “Keeps me busy. I draw other stuff too, like illustrations and portraits but mostly for practice.”“Interesting,” she said, tilting her head. “You’ll have to show me your work sometime.”“Only if I get to read some of your writing in return.”Taylor hesitated, then nodded. “Deal.”For the rest of the night, they stuck close, swapping stories and poking fun at the more absurd aspects of the party. By the time Taylor’s roommate finally dragged her toward the door, Matty found himself wishing she’d stay longer.“Hey,” he called as she left. “Do you want to grab coffee sometime?”She paused, her smile soft. “Sure, ask George for my number and text me.”As she disappeared into the night, Matty realized he didn’t feel quite as cynical about the party anymore.
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2024
“Are you serious right now?” Taylor asked, staring at the steaming cup in front of her with an expression of pure betrayal.Matty smirked, leaning back in his chair. “What? You asked me to grab you coffee.”“This isn’t coffee,” she said, poking the cup as though it might bite. “This is... milk pretending to be coffee.”“It’s a latte,” he corrected, folding his arms. “With almond milk. You’re welcome.”“I wanted black coffee,” she groaned, throwing her head back dramatically.“And I wanted a quiet morning, but here we are,” Matty shot back, taking a sip of his own cup. “You’re too predictable, Taylor. Live a little.”She narrowed her eyes at him but took a cautious sip. “Fine. But if I hate it, I’m blaming you.”Matty grinned, watching her reaction. She’d never admit it outright, but the way her eyebrows arched told him she didn’t hate it. Victory.They were sitting in their usual spot, a corner table in a tiny, perpetually crowded café tucked between a dry cleaner and a record store. It was their Saturday ritual—coffee, a bit of banter, and just enough complaining about life to get it out of their systems.“So,” Taylor said, setting her cup down. “How’s the tattoo world treating you? Any interesting ones this week?”Matty smiled. “Always. Yesterday, this guy came in wanting a tattoo of his dog’s face. But get this—the dog was wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat.”Taylor laughed, nearly choking on her latte. “Please tell me you did it.”“Of course I did it. How could I not? The dog was named Sheriff Woofington.”“That’s incredible,” she said, laughing.“What about you?” Matty asked. “Any exciting tales from the world of Shakespeare and teenagers?”Taylor groaned. “One of my students turned in a haiku about TikTok this week. It was actually good, but I don’t know if I should be impressed or concerned.”“Impressed,” Matty said firmly. “Anyone who can find poetic inspiration in TikTok deserves credit.” Taylor rolled her eyes but then smiled, a soft, fond expression that always made Matty’s chest ache in a way he tried not to think about too much.“Anyway,” she said, leaning back. “What are we doing tonight? Gigi’s trying to drag me to a poetry open mic, but I need an exit strategy.”“You’re asking me for help escaping poetry?” Matty teased. “Isn’t that like, betraying your entire brand?”“Come on, Matty. The last time she took me, a guy read a poem called ‘Ode to My Ex’s Hedgehog’ and cried for ten minutes. I can’t do that again.”“Alright, alright,” he said. “We’ll do something. Pizza and a movie at my place?”“Perfect,” she said, visibly relieved. “You’re a lifesaver.”-*A few hours later, Matty was halfway through clearing the takeout boxes off his coffee table when Taylor barged into his apartment, clutching a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag of chips in the other.“Did you already start eating without me?” she accused, eyes narrowing at the stray crust of pizza on a plate.“Relax, princess,” Matty said, grabbing the wine from her hand. “I’m just tidying up so you don’t whine about the mess.”Taylor kicked off her shoes and curled up on the couch like she owned the place. “I don’t whine. I offer constructive criticism.”“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Matty muttered under his breath, heading to the kitchen to grab glasses.“What was that?” she asked.“Nothing,” he replied quickly, returning with two glasses and plopping down beside her. “Alright, what will it be? Rom-com, horror, some pretentious French film we will pretend to hate but actually love?”“Horror,” Taylor said confidently, earning a skeptical look from Matty.“Really? The girl who hid behind a pillow during Coraline wants to watch horror?”“Hey! That movie was unsettling,” she argued, crossing her arms.“Alright, your funeral,” Matty said, pulling up the streaming app and scrolling through the options. “How about this one?”Taylor squinted at the description. “The Night Watcher? Sounds tame enough.”Matty gave her a devilish grin. “Sure, tame. Let’s go with that.”-*Fifteen minutes into the movie, Taylor was already clutching a throw pillow for dear life.“I hate you,” she muttered, eyes wide as the ominous music swelled.Matty, sprawled comfortably beside her, chuckled. “You picked it, scaredy-cat. This is on you.”A particularly loud jump scare made Taylor yelp and bury her face in his shoulder. Matty froze for a moment, caught off guard by how warm she was pressed against him.“You alright there?” he teased, patting her head.“No, I’m not alright!” she hissed, peeking up at the screen. “Why would you let me choose this?”“Because it’s hilarious,” Matty admitted, laughing when she smacked his chest.They settled into a rhythm—Taylor flinching at every shadow and hiding in Matty’s side, while he alternated between mocking her and feeding her chips to keep her distracted.“You’re the worst,” she said when the credits finally rolled, flopping back dramatically.“I’m the best,” he countered, grabbing the remote. “You survived, didn’t you?”“Barely,” she said, shaking her head. “Next time, you’re picking the movie.”“Next time?” Matty laughed, “I should pick the movie every time.”Taylor glared at him, but her lips twitched. “Shut up and pour the wine.”He grinned, pouring them each a generous glass. As they sat there, trading sips and dissecting the absurdity of the movie, Matty felt the familiar warmth of being in Taylor’s company.“Thanks for tonight,” she said softly, looking at him with a smile that was all sincerity.“Anytime,” he said, his voice just as quiet.-*A couple of wine glasses later, Taylor was sprawled out on Matty’s couch, her feet on his lap. He didn’t mind; he’d long accepted that Taylor treated his furniture, and him, like her own personal jungle gym.Matty was sketching lazily in his notebook, the scratch of his pencil filling the quiet. Taylor was flipping through his Spotify playlists, her expression twisted in mock judgment.“Matty, this playlist title is literally just ‘For When the World Ends.’” She snorted, holding his phone up to his face.He glanced up briefly, unbothered. “And? It’s thematic.”“It’s melodramatic.” She scrolled further. “What’s on it? Let me guess—Radiohead? Joy Division? A bit of Bon Iver?”Matty smirked. “Don’t forget the sprinkling of existential jazz. Really sets the tone for the apocalypse.”Taylor rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”“And yet, here you are. On my couch. Eating my snacks.”Taylor reached for a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the coffee table and tossed one piece at him. It hit him squarely in the forehead.“Rude,” Matty said, tossing his pencil aside. He picked up a piece of popcorn and flicked it back at her, grinning when it landed in her hair.“Oh, it’s war now,” Taylor declared, sitting up with mock determination.Before either of them could escalate further, a loud crack of thunder rumbled outside, followed by a brief flicker of the lights.Taylor froze. “If the power goes out, I’m blaming you.”“Me? How is this my fault?” Matty asked, leaning back and crossing his arms.“You’ve probably angered the universe with your overly dramatic playlist titles,” she quipped.Matty chuckled. “Maybe you angered the universe by picking that bloody horror movie”“Matty!” She protested, looking visibly nervous again.-*An hour later, Taylor was curled up under a blanket, engrossed in Matty’s sketchbook. He’d given it to her without much fuss, a gesture reserved for only his closest people.“This one’s new,” she said, pointing to a sketch of a small coffee shop corner.Matty looked up from his phone. “Yeah, that’s the place we went to last week. You spilled half your coffee on the table while you were writing and didn’t even notice.”“I was inspired!” Taylor protested.“You were a mess,” Matty replied, laughing.Taylor stuck her tongue out at him but turned back to the sketch, her fingers brushing over the page. “You’re so talented, Matty. I hope you know that.”His ears turned pink at the compliment, and he waved her off. “Alright, alright. Stop buttering me up.”“I’m serious,” she said, looking at him earnestly. “I hope you never stop doing this. It’s amazing.”Matty met her gaze, his throat tightening slightly. “Thanks, Tay.”-*It was past 3 am and they were both considerably drunk so they’d transitioned to playing Scrabble, Taylor’s favorite and Matty’s sworn nemesis.“You can’t use ‘quixotic,’” Matty groaned, glaring at her triumphant grin.“Why not? It’s a word,” Taylor said innocently.“You’re just showing off now.”She shrugged, smug. “You should expand your vocabulary, Matty. Reading books is good for the soul.”“Yeah, well, so is not getting humiliated in Scrabble.”Taylor laughed. “This is your fault for agreeing to play with me.”“I’ll get my revenge one day,” he muttered.“You wish,” she said, placing her next word with unnecessary flair.By the time the rain stopped, they were back on the couch under a blanket. Taylor was half-asleep against Matty’s shoulder as he flipped through Netflix options.“You’re staying over, right?” he asked casually.“Obviously,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by his hoodie.Matty smiled to himself, pulling the blanket over both of them. He didn’t need to ask why she was always so comfortable in his space; he already knew. She was home, and so was he. The bar was noisy, just the way they liked it. The dim lighting and sticky tables made it feel lived-in, a place where no one cared if you stayed for hours nursing the same drink. Matty leaned back in his chair, one boot resting on the edge of the table as George returned with another round of beers.“Don’t say I never do anything for you,” George said, sliding a pint across to him.“Thanks, Mum,” Matty quipped, earning a snort from Jack.“Alright,” George said, plopping down in his seat. “We’re here, we’re hydrated, and I demand updates. Matty, what’s the latest in the world of tattoos and questionable life choices?”Matty rolled his eyes but indulged them. “Nothing too wild. Had a client yesterday who wanted a full sleeve of their favorite cryptids. Bigfoot, Mothman, the whole crew.”“Did you do it?” Jack asked, already grinning.“Course I did,” Matty said, taking a sip of his beer. “It’s gonna take a few sessions, though. Turns out cryptids require a lot of detail.”George laughed. “Sounds about right. And Taylor? What’s she up to these days?”Matty shrugged. “Same as always. Teaching, writing, being overly dramatic about how much grading she has to do. She came over the other night for pizza and movies.”“Oh, did she now?” George said, wiggling his eyebrows.Matty narrowed his eyes. “Don’t start.”“Start what?” Jack said innocently, though his smirk betrayed him.“This.” Matty gestured between them. “The whole ‘ooh, Matty and Taylor’ thing. We’re friends. That’s it.”“Mate,” George said, leaning forward with a grin that was equal parts amused and incredulous. “You spend half your time with her, you talk about her like she’s the bloody queen, and you’re telling us there’s nothing there?”“Yes,” Matty said firmly. “Because there’s not. We’ve been best friends for almost ten years. She’s... Taylor. You know? Like, she’s just... her.”Jack snorted. “That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”Matty frowned. “It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth. I don’t get why everyone’s so obsessed with this idea that there’s something more going on.”“Because,” George said, gesturing with his beer, “you’re blind. The way you look at her, the way she looks at you—it’s not just ‘best friends.’”“Thank you,” Jack chimed in. “Finally, someone said it.”Matty shook his head, feeling a flicker of frustration. “You’re both imagining things. Taylor and I have been through a lot together, yeah, but that doesn’t mean there’s some grand romantic undercurrent.”George raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you’ve never thought about it? Not once?”The question caught Matty off guard, and he faltered for a moment. “No,” he said eventually, though the word felt heavier than it should.Jack and George exchanged a look that made Matty want to throw his beer at them.“Alright, alright,” George said, holding up his hands. “We’ll drop it. For now. But don’t come crying to us when you finally figure it out.”“There’s nothing to figure out,” Matty muttered, though the words felt hollow.They moved on to other topics—work, music, the ridiculousness of George’s most recent dating app match—but even as Matty laughed and bantered with them, his mind kept circling back.Why were they so convinced there was something between him and Taylor? A couple of days later Taylor was perched on Matty’s kitchen counter, legs swinging as she nibbled on a piece of toast. She always seemed to gravitate toward the kitchen when they hung out at his place, like it was some unspoken safe zone. Matty, leaning against the opposite counter with a mug of coffee, watched her with mild amusement.“You now what I was thinking?” Taylor said between bites, “I really hate that you’ve been here for way too long and still call cookies ‘biscuits’”.Matty groaned. “We’ve been over this before, it’s irrelevant.”“No, it’s ridiculous,” she said, her American accent overemphasizing every syllable for effect.“You’re the one who says ‘y’all,’ so maybe don’t throw stones,” Matty shot back, pointing his mug at her.“‘Y’all’ is efficient!” Taylor countered, laughing.Matty smirked. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you trying to fake a British accent when you’re annoyed with me.”She gasped, putting a hand to her chest like he’d wounded her. “My British accent is flawless!”“Your British accent sounds like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins,” Matty deadpanned.Taylor laughed, nearly dropping her toast. “Okay, fair. But you have to admit, I’m improving.”“Sure you are, love,” Matty said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.Taylor tossed the crust of her toast at him, which he dodged with ease. “You’re impossible,” she said, still grinning.They lapsed into an easy silence, the kind that came with years of knowing someone inside and out. Taylor pulled out her phone to scroll through emails, while Matty fiddled with the hem of his shirt.Finally, he broke the quiet. “Hey, can I ask you something?”Taylor glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “Of course.”“George and Jack were giving me grief the other night,” he began, setting his mug down. “They, uh, seem to think there’s... something between us.”Taylor blinked, then burst out laughing. “What? Seriously?”“Yeah,” Matty said, though her reaction made him laugh too. “They were going on about how we spend too much time together and how we ‘look at each other.’ It was ridiculous.”Taylor shook her head, still laughing. “Oh my God, that’s crazy. They clearly have too much time on their hands.”“Right?” Matty said, relieved she wasn’t taking it seriously. “I told them we’re just friends. Always have been, always will be.”“Exactly,” Taylor agreed, “Besides, can you imagine us together? We’d kill each other within a week.”“More like a day,” Matty said.“Anyway, it’s kind of sweet that they care so much,” Taylor said, hopping off the counter and stretching. “But they need to get a hobby.”“Couldn’t agree more,” Matty responded, though something about the conversation lingered in his mind. He shook it off, determined not to overthink.As Taylor grabbed her bag and prepared to head out, she turned back and grinned at him. “You know, for all your flaws, you’re still my favorite Brit.”“And you’re my favorite annoying American,” Matty replied, tossing her a wink.“See you tomorrow?”“Of course.”As the door closed behind her, Matty just stood there, smiling. Just friends, he reminded himself. And that was exactly how it should be.-*Taylor stepped out of Matty’s apartment building and into the brisk New York evening. She tugged her coat tighter and started walking, her mind replaying the conversation they’d just had.George and Jack are ridiculous, she thought with a shake of her head. The idea of her and Matty being more than friends? Laughable. They’d been best friends for nearly a decade. They knew everything about each other—the good, the bad, and the mortifying. If there were ever going to be something more, wouldn’t it have happened by now?And yet...The thought lingered, unwanted but persistent, as she turned a corner and made her way toward the subway. She thought about the way Matty always seemed to know exactly how to cheer her up, the way his teasing never crossed the line, and the way she’d catch him looking at her sometimes, like she was the only person in the room.Her cheeks flushed, and she stopped in her tracks. Oh, no. Absolutely not.Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she scrolled to Gigi’s name and hit call, pacing on the corner as it rang.Gigi’s voice answered, warm and curious. “What’s up?”“I need to ask you something, and you have to be honest,” Taylor blurted, words tumbling out in a rush.“Okay…” Gigi said slowly. “What’s going on?”“Do you think Matty and I—like, do we seem—ugh, how do I even say this?” Taylor groaned, rubbing her temple. “Do we seem... too close? Or, I don’t know, into each other?”There was a beat of silence before Gigi’s laughter rang out. “Oh my God. What brought this on?”“George and Jack,” Taylor muttered, kicking at a loose piece of sidewalk gravel. “They were teasing Matty about it, and we laughed it off, but now I can’t stop thinking about it.”“Well,” Gigi said, her tone thoughtful, “you and Matty do have a vibe.”“A vibe?” Taylor repeated, her voice rising slightly.“Yeah,” Gigi continued, unbothered by Taylor’s growing panic. “You’re comfortable together in a way that’s rare. You’re always laughing, you lean on each other a lot… it’s not a bad thing, Tay. Honestly, it’s sweet.”“But we’re just friends!” Taylor protested, though the words felt oddly hollow.“Sure,” Gigi said. “But have you ever thought about it? Like, what it would be like if you weren’t just friends?”“No!” Taylor said quickly, a little too loudly. A passing dog walker gave her a curious glance, and she lowered her voice. “Okay, maybe once or twice. But it’s never been serious. Matty’s…Matty.He’s snarky and messy and he can’t take anything seriously. We’d never work.”“Sounds like you’ve given this more thought than you’re admitting,” Gigi teased gently.Taylor groaned. “You’re not helping.”“Okay, okay,” Gigi said, laughing. “Look, whatever’s going on, you don’t have to figure it out right this second. Just... pay attention to how you feel around him. And maybe think about why this is bothering you so much.”“Great,” Taylor said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Now I have homework.”“You’re welcome,” Gigi said cheerfully. “Call me if you need more unsolicited advice.”Taylor hung up with a sigh, her confusion swirling around her like the cold evening air. As she headed toward the subway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the conversation with Gigi had only opened more questions than it answered.And somewhere deep down, she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted those questions to stay unanswered.
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Taylor’s phone buzzed for the third time that morning, and she couldn’t stop the small smile from tugging at her lips as she glanced down at the screen.Matty: If a cat wore pants, would it wear them on all four legs or just the back two?Rolling her eyes, she tapped a quick reply.Taylor: I’m literally teaching right now. Why are you like this?Matty: Bored. Answer the question.Taylor: Back two. Obviously.Matty: Wrong. All four.She snorted, earning a curious glance from one of her students. “Get to work,” she said, waving them off and setting her phone facedown.Throughout the day, Matty’s texts continued to pop up, each more ridiculous than the last.Matty: Is a hot dog a sandwich?Matty: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?Matty: Just saw a pigeon with one foot. Do you think pigeons have little crutches in their pigeon hospitals?By the time her class ended, Taylor was thoroughly entertained and only mildly annoyed.-*The subway ride home felt like it took an eternity. Taylor slumped in her seat, staring blankly at the ads lining the car. Her shoulders ached, her feet were sore, and her mind replayed the day on an endless loop.Her interaction with Jacob, one of her more challenging students, had been the tipping point of what it started out as a perfect day. He’d stormed out of class after a heated argument over his refusal to turn in an assignment. The other students had watched the scene unfold in uncomfortable silence, and Taylor had felt every ounce of her composure cracking under the weight of their judgment.By the time she reached her apartment, she was drained, both physically and emotionally. The cats greeted her at the door as usual, but not even their antics could lift her spirits.She changed into sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, then collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. Grabbing her phone, she scrolled aimlessly, trying to distract herself, but her thoughts kept circling back to Jacob and the nagging feeling that she’d failed him.A knock at the door startled her.Frowning, Taylor padded to the door and peeked through the peephole. “Matty?” she called, confused but already unlocking the door.He stood there, holding a brown paper bag and a mischievous grin. “Evening, Miss Grumpy. Thought you might need this.”“What are you doing here?” she asked, stepping aside to let him in.“Had a feeling,” he said with a shrug, heading straight for the kitchen to unload the bag. Inside were her favorite Thai takeout dishes, a pack of her go-to chocolate bars, and a six-pack of sparkling water.Taylor crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “You had a feeling?”“Yeah.” Matty glanced over his shoulder. “You didn’t reply to the last meme I sent you this afternoon. That’s usually a red flag.”She laughed despite herself, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”“And you’re welcome” he said, setting plates on the counter.They ate on the couch, Taylor curled up with her legs tucked under her, Matty sprawled out like he owned the place. He didn’t push her to talk about her day, instead filling the space with easy chatter about his latest clients, a disastrous trip to the grocery store, and the one-legged pigeon he had decided to name Bernard.Bit by bit, Taylor felt the tension in her chest loosen.“Thanks for this,” she said softly after a while.Matty looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he smiled. “Anytime.”They fell into a companionable silence, the faint hum of the city outside their window. As Taylor rested her head on the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling, she felt Matty shift beside her.Taylor turned her head to look at him just as his hand came up, his fingers brushing lightly against her temple to move a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, his movements uncharacteristically soft.For a moment, neither of them said anything.Taylor felt her breath catch, her heart skipping a beat as Matty’s hand lingered just a fraction too long before he pulled away, clearing his throat and leaning back into his usual slouch.Matty grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV, filling the silence with a rerun of some old sitcom.But Taylor wasn’t paying attention. All she could think about was the ghost of his touch and the way it had left her feeling far more unsettled—and far more alive—than she cared to admit. The boutique was buzzing with weekend shoppers, but Taylor barely noticed. She was too busy helping Gigi’s four-year-old daughter, Khai, try on a pair of sparkly pink sunglasses.“How do I look?” Khai asked, striking a pose.“Like a rock star,” Taylor said, grinning.Khai giggled, twirling around in her oversized sunglasses, while Gigi chuckled from a nearby rack of dresses. “You spoil her, you know,” Gigi said, casting Taylor a knowing look.“Isn’t that my job as the cool aunt?” Taylor shot back, crouching to help Khai with a bracelet she’d picked out.“That, and sugar her up before sending her home,” Gigi quipped.After making their purchases—which included a plush unicorn Khai had insisted she had to have—the three of them headed to a nearby café. They found a cozy corner table, Khai happily munching on a chocolate croissant while Taylor and Gigi sipped their coffees.“So,” Gigi began, giving Taylor a pointed look, “how’s life in the land of Matty?”Taylor rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. “Why do you always phrase it like that?”“Because you light up like a Christmas tree every time his name comes up,” Gigi teased.Taylor groaned, slumping back in her chair. “You guys are getting really annoying with this you know?”Gigi laughed. “And?”“And,” Taylor continued, fiddling with the rim of her cup, “it was funny at first. But then Matty mentioned it, and I laughed it off, but... I don’t know, Gigi. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about it. Like, what if?”Gigi leaned forward, her expression gentle. “And how does that make you feel?”“Confused,” Taylor admitted. “I mean, he’s my best friend. The thought of losing that if things got weird? It terrifies me. He’s just always been there, you know? I don’t want to mess that up.”Gigi nodded thoughtfully. “But you can’t ignore how you’re feeling, either. Those thoughts don’t just come out of nowhere.”“I know,” Taylor said softly. “But if I give them too much space, what if they ruin everything? I’d rather keep things as they are than risk losing him entirely.”Khai, oblivious to the heavy conversation, piped up with a cheerful, “Can I have another croissant?”Taylor smiled, grateful for the momentary distraction, and nodded.Once the little girl was happily occupied with her second pastry, Gigi turned the conversation in a different direction. “What about your plans for the future? Do you think about things like settling down, having kids, marriage?”Taylor raised an eyebrow, “We’ve had this conversation before, Gigi.”“Yeah, but it’s been a long time and I want to talk about it now”“Well. I love kids—I mean, look at this one.” She gestured toward Khai. “But I’ve never felt a ticking clock or anything. I guess I’ve just been focused on other things.”“Like teaching and writing?” Gigi asked.“Exactly,” Taylor said. “It’s not that I don’t want those things someday, but I’m not sure I want them enough to go chasing them right now. And dating in this city? It’s exhausting.”Gigi smiled knowingly. “Fair enough. But what about Matty?”Taylor laughed, shaking her head. “What about him?”“Well,” Gigi said, leaning back with a smirk, “if you’re not thinking about those things now, maybe it’s because you haven’t realized the person you want them with is already in your life.”Taylor’s laughter faded, and she looked down at her cup, her thoughts swirling. “I think you’re reading too much into this,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction.“Maybe,” Gigi said, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “But maybe not. Just don’t be afraid to figure it out, Tay. You deserve to be happy, however that looks for you.”Taylor gave her a small smile, grateful for her friend’s unwavering support. But as they left the café, Khai skipping ahead with her new unicorn in hand, Taylor couldn’t help but wonder if Gigi was right—and what that might mean for her and Matty’s carefully balanced world. Matty lounged on Taylor’s couch, absently scrolling through her Netflix options with the remote. “How do you have this many documentaries on your list and no actual movies?”Taylor, sitting cross-legged on the armchair with a mug of tea, smirked. “Knowledge is power, Matty. Maybe you should watch one sometime.”“Or,” Matty said, stretching his legs out dramatically, “you could let me fix this tragic queue.”She threw a pillow at him, which he dodged with ease.“Anyway,” Taylor began after a moment, her tone suddenly shifting to something softer, “what do you think about marriage?”Matty blinked, lowering the remote. “Wow. Okay, not the direction I thought this was going. What the fuck is going on?”“Just curious,” Taylor said, shrugging.He sat up a little straighter, tilting his head. “You mean in general or for myself?”“Both.”Matty considered her question. “I think it’s nice... for people who want it. But I’ve never been in a rush, you know? I mean, look at my parents—absolute chaos.”Taylor nodded, her mug resting against her knee. “And kids?”“What about them?”“Would you want them someday?”Matty raised a brow, clearly intrigued by the line of questioning. “I think I’d like the idea of it—teaching a kid all my bad habits, turning them into a little menace.” He grinned. “But it’d have to be with the right person.”Taylor hummed in response, sipping her tea.“Okay, what’s this about?” Matty asked, narrowing his eyes. “This is weirdly existential, even for you.”“Nothing!” she said quickly, waving him off. “Just making conversation.”Matty didn’t buy it for a second but decided not to push. Instead, he leaned back against the couch, smirking. “Fine. Your turn. Marriage and kids—yay or nay?”“Kids, yay,” Taylor said, smiling. “Marriage... maybe? I don’t know. It depends.”“On what?”“On if the guy doesn’t snore,” she teased, earning a laugh from Matty.“Good luck with that,” he said. “You have terrible taste in men.”Taylor gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “Excuse me?!”“You dated that guy who didn’t know how to spell ‘squirrel’,” Matty reminded her. “What was his name? Brad?”“It was Brian,” Taylor corrected, throwing another pillow at him.“Brian,” Matty repeated, dragging the name out with exaggerated disdain. “He called himself a ‘mixologist.’”“He made good cocktails!” Taylor protested.“And had a Spotify playlist called ‘Vibes and Feels’ that he played at every party,” Matty shot back, grinning.Taylor burst out laughing, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. But let’s not forget your ex who named her plants after herself. What was her name? Dani?”“I must admit I miss Dani the Cactus, sometimes” Matty said, laughing along with her. “Yeah, that was... a choice.”They continued trading jabs about their past relationships, the banter easy and full of laughter. Taylor’s cheeks hurt from smiling, and for a moment, the weight of her earlier thoughts about Matty faded.As the laughter subsided, they found themselves sitting in a comfortable silence, the kind that felt natural between them. Matty looked over at her, his eyes lingering just a second too long before he spoke.“You’re weird tonight, Tay,” he said, his voice softer now. “But I like it.”Taylor felt her cheeks warm, and she quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the throw blanket over her lap. “You’re the weird one,” she said lightly, though her voice wavered just enough to make her bite her lip.Matty didn’t respond right away, but when he did, it was with a teasing grin. “For the record, if I ever do have kids, you’re not allowed to be the fun aunt. You’d corrupt them.”“Me?” Taylor exclaimed, laughing again. “You’re the one who’s going to teach them bad habits!”“Exactly. Only room for one bad influence,” he quipped, his grin softening into something more genuine.Taylor rolled her eyes, but her heart felt lighter. The tension lingered, subtle but undeniable, like the spaces between their laughter were holding onto something unspoken. George’s apartment was buzzing with laughter, music, and the hum of a dozen overlapping conversations. His place wasn’t exactly spacious, but it was packed with the usual crew and a few new faces. Taylor was standing near the kitchen, chatting with Gigi and Margaret about a recent book she’d read, while Matty was by the makeshift bar, unsuccessfully trying to open a bottle of wine.“You’re hopeless,” George teased, taking the bottle from him and popping the cork with ease.“Show-off,” Matty muttered, grabbing two glasses and weaving through the crowd toward Taylor.“Your savior has arrived,” he announced, handing her a glass of wine.“Impressive timing,” Taylor quipped, taking it. “I was starting to think you abandoned me for good.”“Never,” Matty said dramatically, earning an eye-roll from Gigi.Before Taylor could reply, a familiar voice cut through the din. “Well, if it isn’t the two inseparables!”Both Taylor and Matty turned to see Phoebe, a former staple of their friend group, grinning at them. She looked almost the same as she had years ago—bright eyes, a mischievous smile, and an energy that instantly commanded attention.“Phoebe!” Taylor exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. “When did you get back to the city?”“Just last week,” Phoebe said, stepping back. “And of course, my first stop had to be a George party. Some things never change.”“Clearly,” Matty said, grinning. “Still have a habit of disappearing without a trace, though.”Phoebe shrugged. “What can I say? Life happens. But speaking of things that never change...” Her gaze flicked between Taylor and Matty, her grin widening. “Are you two finally together now?”Taylor choked on her sip of wine, while Matty blinked in surprise.“What?” Taylor managed, her voice an octave higher than usual. “No, no, we’re not—”“Just friends,” Matty finished, nodding quickly.Phoebe raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Right,” Phoebe said with a wink.Matty let out an awkward laugh. “Yeah, well, hate to disappoint you, but nothing's happening here.” He said pointing between him and Taylor.Taylor shot him a quick glare, but Phoebe just laughed, clearly enjoying their discomfort. “Alright, alright. Deny it all you want. But you two are giving off serious couple vibes.”With that, Phoebe drifted off to catch up with someone else, leaving Taylor and Matty standing there, both slightly dazed.“Well,” Taylor said after a beat, trying to break the awkward silence, “that wasn’t weird at all.”“Not at all,” Matty agreed, his tone dry. “What is up with everyone?"Taylor sipped her wine, avoiding his gaze. “Phoebe's just being her usual self. You know how she is.”“Right.” Matty said, though his voice lacked conviction.They stood in silence for a moment before Matty smirked. “You know, you didn’t have to look so horrified when she suggested we were together.”Taylor’s head snapped up. “I wasn’t horrified!”“Please. Your face went full deer-in-headlights.”“Maybe because it was a ridiculous question,” Taylor shot back, narrowing her eyes.Matty raised an eyebrow. “Ridiculous?”“Yes,” Taylor said firmly, though the heat rising to her cheeks betrayed her confidence.“Good to know,” Matty said, as he took a sip of his drink.Taylor rolled her eyes, but her heart was doing that annoying fluttering thing again. She hated that Phoebe’s comment had unsettled her so much.They rejoined the party, but the rest of the night, Taylor couldn’t quite shake the memory of Phoebe’s words—or the way Matty had looked at her in that moment, like he was waiting for her to say something she wasn’t ready to admit.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The sun had barely risen over New York City, and Taylor’s alarm blared its shrill tune. She groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow before dragging herself out of bed. Her cats, Benjamin, Olivia and Meredith twisted around her ankles, meowing their demands for breakfast.“Alright, alright,” Taylor muttered, shuffling to the kitchen. After feeding the furry trio, she brewed her coffee and sat down to glance at her lesson plans for the day, thanking God it was finally Friday.Across town, Matty was in his studio, coffee in hand and sketchbook open. He had a 10 a.m. client for a floral tattoo and wanted to refine the design. He scratched at his curls absently, already thinking about what sarcastic text to send Taylor as his daily wake-up call.7:15 a.m.Matty: Tell me again why you voluntarily hang out with hormonal teenagers every day? Are you a masochist?Taylor: Says the guy who has like a million tattoos.Matty: Touché. But seriously, how’s my favorite teacher this fine morning?Taylor: Slightly caffeinated and already regretting my life choices.Matty: Atta girl. Want me to fake a family emergency so you can skip work?Taylor: Tempting. But no. Gotta inspire the youth or whatever.Matty: Good luck with that. Don’t let them eat you alive.Taylor smiled at her phone before stuffing it in her bag and heading out the door. -* At school, the chaos began as soon as she stepped into her classroom. A handful of students were already arguing over a group project, and the smartboard refused to turn on. She sighed, summoning her “calm but stern teacher voice” and diving headfirst into the fray.During her lunch break, Taylor finally had a moment to breathe and checked her phone.Matty: Got a client today who wanted a sunflower sleeve. Guess who Googled 50 flower references?Taylor: Is it you, you overachieving nerd?Matty: Damn right. What’s your chaos level today?Taylor: Currently at “why did I choose this career?”Matty: Hang in there. I’ll send you a meme to boost morale.Seconds later, a ridiculous meme appeared on her screen, making her snort into her salad. -* Matty’s day wasn’t without its challenges. His client arrived late, and the sunflower design required more adjustments than anticipated. By mid-afternoon, his wrist was sore, and he was half-convinced his back would never forgive him.Matty: I think I just aged 10 years. My spine is rebelling.Taylor: Welcome to my world.Matty: You’re the same age as me!Taylor: Exactly. We’re old.Matty: Speak for yourself. I’m in my prime.Taylor: Prime whiner is what you are.Matty smiled at her comeback, shaking his head as he cleaned up his station. -* By the time Taylor was home, she was greeted by her demanding cats and a pile of ungraded essays. She sighed but took a moment to text Matty.Taylor: Survived another day. Barely. What’s the verdict on the sunflowers?Matty: Masterpiece, obviously. Wanna see?He sent a photo of the tattoo, and Taylor was genuinely impressed.Taylor: Okay, show-off. That’s amazing.Matty: Thanks, darling.Taylor: Alright, Picasso. I’m off to grade papers. Wish me luck.Matty: Good luck, Ms. Swift. Don’t let the run-on sentences kill you. And also, don’t forget to pack extra snacks for me for the weekend!As Taylor settled in with her red pen and Matty sprawled on his couch sketching a new design, they both felt a little less tired knowing the other was just a text away. Taylor adjusted her sunglasses and squinted at the sprawling countryside as the group’s caravan of cars pulled into the gravel driveway of a quaint, wood-paneled cabin. They had planned this weekend getaway a few weeks prior and she was happy it was finally happening.Gigi hopped out of the lead car, stretching her arms above her head dramatically.“Isn’t this place amazing?” she asked, spinning in a circle.“It’s very... rustic,” Matty commented as he stepped out of the car behind her. He adjusted his leather jacket, glancing around skeptically. “Like something out of a horror movie.”“You say that about every place without Wi-Fi,” George said, dragging a cooler out of his car.“Can’t wait for the masked killer to show up,” Matty quipped, earning a laugh from Taylor as she joined him.“You’ll protect me, right?” she teased, nudging his shoulder.Matty grinned. “Obviously. I’m scrappy.” The cabin was a cozy, two-story retreat with a large stone fireplace and a wraparound porch overlooking a nearby lake. Everyone piled inside, dragging luggage and coolers filled with enough snacks and drinks to last them a month.“Alright,” Gigi announced, hands on her hips. “Room assignments.”Taylor and Matty exchanged a look. Gigi always managed to make this process unnecessarily dramatic.“Jack and Margaret, you get the downstairs room with the private bathroom, George and Charli, you’re in the first room upstairs.”Charli, George’s new girlfriend gave him a knowing look. “Don’t snore, or I’ll smother you with a pillow.”“Duly noted,” George replied.“And... Taylor and Matty, you’re in the other upstairs room,” Gigi finished, her tone casual but her smirk devious.“Seriously?” Matty asked, raising an eyebrow.“Is that a problem?” Gigi asked innocently.Taylor shrugged, feigning indifference. “It’s fine.”“Yeah, it’s fine.” Matty echoed, pretending to be nonchalant. -* Their room was small but charming, with a single queen-sized bed and a window overlooking the lake. Matty dropped his bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed, bouncing slightly.“Well, at least it’s not a camping trip,” he said, stretching out.Taylor rolled her eyes, setting her suitcase by the closet. “You’d last five minutes in a tent.”“Five minutes longer than you,” Matty shot back, grinning.She tossed a pillow at him. “Shut up.” -* That evening, the group gathered around a fire pit outside, roasting marshmallows and swapping stories. Gigi was curled up under a blanket with her new guy, a charming accountant named Noah, while George had Charli in stitches with his impressions of their mutual coworkers. Margaret and Jack were having a discussion about a weird topic, as the usually did.Taylor sat beside Matty, their shoulders brushing as they laughed along with the group. At one point, Gigi glanced at them and smirked.“You two look so cozy,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.Taylor rolled her eyes. “We’re just sitting.”“Sure,” Gigi teased.Matty leaned closer to Taylor, stage-whispering, “I think she’s drunk.”Taylor giggled, nodding. -* Later that night, as everyone retreated to their rooms, Taylor and Matty found themselves in a quiet moment of their own. Matty was sprawled on the bed, scrolling through his phone, while Taylor sat cross-legged, flipping through a book she’d brought.“You’re going to hog all the covers, aren’t you?” Matty asked.“I don’t hog; I cocoon,” Taylor replied without looking up.“Same thing,” Matty said, smirking.She stuck out her tongue at him, and he laughed, reaching over to flick her book closed.“Hey!” she protested, but her annoyance quickly melted into a laugh as Matty stretched out beside her, his arm brushing hers.For a moment, they were quiet, the weight of unspoken things hanging in the air. Matty broke the silence first.“You know, this place isn’t so bad,” he admitted, looking at her.Taylor smiled softly. “Told you.” -* The next morning, Taylor woke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of coffee wafting through the air. She stretched, turning to see Matty still fast asleep, his hair a wild mess against the pillow.She couldn’t help but smile.“Morning, bed hog,” she whispered, reaching out to shake him gently.Matty groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. “Five more minutes.”“Lazy,” she teased, laughing as she got up. -* The sun hung low over the lake, its golden light rippling across the water as the group gathered by the dock. Gigi clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable.“Alright, team! Time for canoeing!” she announced, pointing dramatically at the row of canoes tied to the dock.Matty raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed. “Since when is paddling around a lake considered fun?”“Since now,” Gigi shot back.“Stop complaining,” Taylor said, nudging Matty’s shoulder. “You’ll survive.”“Doubtful,” he muttered, but the corner of his mouth quirked up in a reluctant smile.Each pair picked their canoe partner with a mix of strategy and chaos. Jack and Margaret, ever the efficient duo, claimed the sturdiest canoe and were already paddling smoothly away from the dock. George and Charli were busy bickering over who would steer, and Gigi had dragged Noah into a bright red canoe with promises of “the best date activity ever.”That left Taylor and Matty standing awkwardly by the last canoe, an old green one with peeling paint.“Guess it’s you and me,” Taylor said, tossing a life vest at Matty.He caught it with a smirk. “Dream team.” -* Their launch was, in a word, disastrous.“Stop leaning!” Taylor yelled as Matty shifted his weight, causing the canoe to wobble precariously.“I’m not leaning! You’re leaning!” Matty shot back.“Just paddle!”“I am paddling!”It took a few minutes (and several near-capsizes), but they eventually found a rhythm. By the time they reached the middle of the lake, Taylor was laughing despite herself.“See? Not so bad,” she said, her cheeks flushed from exertion and sun.Matty rolled his eyes but grinned. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head.”Ahead of them, Gigi and Noah were attempting to race Jack and Margaret, their laughter echoing across the water. George and Charli were spinning in slow circles, their argument about steering escalating into a full-blown splash war.“Should we help them?” Taylor asked, gesturing toward George and Charli.“Absolutely not,” Matty replied, dipping his paddle into the water leisurely.Taylor chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re terrible.”“I prefer ‘selectively helpful,’” he said, giving her a cheeky grin.As they paddled farther from the chaos, the lake grew quieter, the distant hum of their friends fading into the background. Taylor leaned back slightly, letting her paddle rest across her knees.“This is nice,” she said softly, her eyes on the shimmering water.Matty glanced at her, his expression softening. “Yeah, it is.”For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of the water lapping against the canoe and the occasional call of a bird filled the silence.“You know,” Matty began, breaking the quiet, “if we ever had to survive in the wild, we’d be doomed.”Taylor laughed, tilting her head back. “Speak for yourself. I’d thrive.”“Oh, really?” he teased, raising an eyebrow.“Yes! I’d build us a shelter, start a fire, catch fish—”“Catch fish?” Matty interrupted, his tone skeptical.“Absolutely.”“Using what?”Taylor smirked. “My charm. Fish love me.”Matty laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “You’re ridiculous.”As they made their way back to the dock, the olden light of sunset casting a warm glow over the lake, Taylor felt a strange mix of contentment and something she couldn’t quite name.Matty, sitting at the back of the canoe, was silhouetted against the fading light, his curls catching the sun. He looked so at ease, so Matty, and her chest tightened unexpectedly.“Hey,” he said suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts.“What?” she asked, blinking.“You’re staring,” he said, his smirk playful.Taylor rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed. “I was not.”“Sure you weren’t,” he teased, his voice light but his eyes lingering on hers a moment longer than usual. -* When they reached the dock, Gigi was already there, helping Noah out of their canoe.“How was it?” she asked, her eyes darting between Taylor and Matty with barely disguised curiosity.“Smooth sailing,” Matty said, hopping out of the canoe and offering Taylor his hand.“Right,” Taylor said, taking his hand and stepping onto the dock. “After we stopped almost drowning.”“So dramatic.” Matty responded rolling his eyes but still smiling at her. -* The group gathered for dinner later that evening, teasing each other mercilessly about their canoeing skills (or lack thereof), with George claiming he’d been sabotaged by Charli and Gigi insisting she and Noah were the clear winners of the “race.”Taylor and Matty, sitting side by side at the long wooden table, exchanged amused glances as their friends bickered and laughed around them. Later that week, Taylor sat cross-legged on her couch, a notebook balanced on her lap. She chewed her bottom lip, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the page. Matty was sprawled out on the other side of the couch, his legs taking up most of the space as he scrolled aimlessly on his phone.“Hey,” she said suddenly, her voice breaking the comfortable silence.Matty looked up, his brow quirked. “Yeah?”“I, uh...” Taylor hesitated, closing the notebook halfway and hugging it to her chest. “I wrote something. A short story. I was wondering if you’d—never mind, it’s stupid.”Matty put his phone down and sat up, his full attention on her. “Hey, don’t do that. If you want me to read it, I will. If not, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”Taylor huffed a small laugh. “You? Keep your mouth shut? Impossible.”He smirked. “Touché. But seriously, Tay, let me see it.”She hesitated a moment longer before sighing and handing him the notebook. “Be nice.”Matty took it with exaggerated reverence, holding it as though it were a sacred artifact. “I promise to treat it with the respect it deserves.”Taylor rolled her eyes but smiled, tucking her legs under her as she watched him flip to the first page.For a while, the only sound was the occasional flip of a page. Taylor fidgeted with a loose thread on her sleeve, her nerves growing with each passing second. Matty’s face was unreadable as his eyes moved across the words, his brow furrowing in concentration.Finally, he looked up, his expression soft but serious. “This is... incredible.”Taylor blinked. “What?”“I mean it,” he said, holding up the notebook. “The way you describe things—like this part about the rain being a conversation between the sky and the earth? I loved it.”She blushed, ducking her head. “It’s just something that came to me.”“And your characters,” he continued, flipping back to a specific paragraph. “They’re so real. You’ve given them this depth that makes you want to root for them, even when they’re being a bit of a dick.”Taylor laughed nervously. “You think they’re too flawed?”“No,” Matty said firmly. “They’re human. And that’s what makes it so good. You’ve written something raw and honest.”His words hit her harder than she expected, and she felt a lump rising in her throat. “You’re just saying that.”Matty leaned forward, his voice quieter but no less earnest. “Taylor, you’re one of the most talented people I know. And I don’t say that lightly.”Taylor looked down, her heart pounding. “Thanks, Matty.”“Don’t thank me,” he said with a grin. “Just promise me something.”“What?”“Keep writing.”Taylor felt her confidence grow under his praise, but she also couldn’t resist teasing him. “You’re just buttering me up so I’ll write your tattoo bios for you.”Matty gasped, placing a hand over his chest. “How dare you! I’m insulted by your implication.”She laughed, tossing a pillow at him. “Admit it. You’re bad at describing your designs.”“I’m not bad,” he said, catching the pillow with a smirk. “I’m minimalist.”“Minimalist?”“Yeah, like, ‘This tattoo is a snake. Because snakes are cool.’ Boom. Done.”Taylor dissolved into giggles, “That’s terrible!”“Hey, don’t knock my process,” he said, throwing the pillow back at her.As their laughter subsided, Taylor felt a warmth settle over her. She looked at Matty, who was still holding her notebook, flipping idly through its pages.“You know,” she said softly, “I don’t think I would’ve shared this with anyone else.”Matty looked up, his expression gentler now. “Why not?”“Because...” She hesitated, then shrugged. “I don’t know, it makes me feel very vulnerable, I guess. But I trust you. I knew you’d get it.”His gaze softened, and he reached over to gently squeeze her hand. “I’m glad you did. It’s brilliant, just like you.”Taylor felt her heart stutter at the sincerity in his voice. She smiled, her cheeks warm. “Thanks, Matthew.”“Always,” he replied, leaning back against the couch. “Now, let’s brainstorm a title. How do you feel about something edgy?”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The final bell of the day rang, and Taylor let out a long breath, slumping back in her chair. Her desk was littered with papers to grade and a half-empty coffee mug she’d been nursing since her first class. The quiet of the empty classroom was a welcome reprieve after a day of teenage chaos.As she started gathering her things, the door creaked open, and James—a fellow English teacher and someone she’d worked alongside for years—poked his head in.“Hey, Taylor,” he said, stepping inside.“James,” she greeted, flashing him a tired but friendly smile. “What’s up?”He hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. James was the kind of guy who was always polite, maybe a little too reserved for the rowdy teacher’s lounge crowd, but he was nice.“I, uh, just wanted to say great job on the poetry unit,” he began, scratching the back of his neck. “The students can’t stop talking about it.”Taylor tilted her head, a little surprised. “Oh, thanks. That means a lot.”James nodded, an awkward pause settling between them before he cleared his throat. “So... I was wondering...”Here it comes, Taylor thought, expecting a question about curriculum or maybe borrowing some of her lesson plans.“Would you want to grab dinner with me sometime?”The words hung in the air, and Taylor froze, her bag halfway zipped. “Dinner?” she echoed, her tone betraying her surprise.James nodded quickly, his face a little red. “Yeah. I mean, if you’re not busy or anything. I just thought it might be nice to... you know, hang out outside of work.”Taylor blinked, her mind racing. She wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. James was a nice guy—kind, reliable, smart. But she’d never really thought of him in that way.Still, his hopeful expression tugged at her. And after all, it was just dinner, right?“Sure,” she found herself saying, her voice steady despite the uncertainty bubbling beneath the surface.James’s face lit up. “Really? Great! How about Friday night?”“Friday works,” she said with a small smile.“Cool,” James said, his grin widening. “I’ll text you the details.”With that, he gave her a quick wave and left the room, leaving Taylor standing there, her bag still unzipped.As the door clicked shut, she exhaled, sinking into her chair. Her initial instinct had been to say no, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the fact that James was genuinely nice, and she hadn’t been on a real date in longer than she cared to admit.But as she stared at the stack of papers on her desk, her thoughts inevitably drifted to Matty. She could already hear his teasing voice, calling her out for dating “a guy who probably owns way too many sweater vests.”She shook her head, trying to brush the thought away. This had nothing to do with Matty.Right?Grabbing her bag, Taylor headed out, telling herself she’d made the right call. It was just one dinner—no big deal. Still, the nagging feeling in her chest refused to let her believe it. Matty pushed open the door to his apartment, his boots dragging slightly against the floor as he kicked them off. The shop had been busy all day—walk-ins, appointments, last-minute sketches—but instead of feeling accomplished, he just felt restless.He tossed his bag onto the couch, flipping on a lamp that bathed the room in warm, dim light. The apartment was quiet, save for the hum of the fridge and the occasional sound of traffic from the street below. Normally, this was when he’d unwind with a beer or pick up his sketchpad, but tonight, none of it appealed to him.His thoughts wandered, as they often did, to Taylor.Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Matty flopped onto the couch, scrolling idly through their recent messages. Their conversations were always easy—half-jokes, random observations, the kind of casual, constant connection he had with no one else.He typed a quick message.Matty: What are you up to tonight? Feel like pizza and a bad movie?He tossed the phone onto the coffee table and stretched, waiting for her reply. It didn’t take long.Taylor: Can’t tonight.Matty frowned, sitting up. That wasn’t unusual, but it still tugged at him in a way he couldn’t quite explain.Matty: Busy with what?The response came, and when he read it, his stomach dropped.Taylor: I have a date.Matty stared at the screen, his heart giving an unpleasant twist. A date? Taylor didn’t go on dates—at least she hadn't in a very long while. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure what to say.Matty: Oh. Nice. Have fun.It was the only thing that seemed appropriate, even though it felt like swallowing glass.He set the phone down and leaned back, rubbing a hand over his face. Why did this bother him so much? Taylor was her own person; she could do whatever she wanted. But the idea of her with someone else—a stranger, some faceless guy who didn’t know her the way he did—left him feeling... off.But why?She was his best friend, nothing more. That’s what they’d always been, and he’d never let himself think otherwise. Sure, people joked about them being a couple, but that was just because they were close. It didn’t mean anything.So why did the thought of her on a date make his chest tighten like this?Matty stood abruptly, pacing the small living room. He grabbed a beer from the fridge, twisting off the cap and taking a long swig.“Pull it together,” he muttered to himself.He tried to brush it off, telling himself he was just being protective, like any friend would be. Taylor deserved to be happy, and if some guy was taking her out, then good for her.But no matter how many times he told himself that, the uneasy feeling didn’t go away. It clung to him, a quiet, nagging voice in the back of his mind that wouldn’t let him forget.Matty grabbed his sketchpad and sat down, determined to distract himself. But as his pencil moved across the page, his thoughts kept circling back to Taylor—and the idea that, tonight, she might be laughing at someone else’s jokes, smiling at someone else the way she always smiled at him.And that, for reasons he wasn’t ready to admit, made him feel something he couldn’t ignore. The restaurant James had chosen was cozy, the kind of place that served comfort food with a touch of flair. Taylor found herself relaxing as they chatted over dinner. James was easy to talk to—thoughtful, attentive, and refreshingly straightforward. They swapped stories about their students, commiserated over the challenges of teaching, and laughed about the time the fire alarm went off during a particularly chaotic pep rally.By the time dessert arrived, Taylor realized she was genuinely enjoying herself. It wasn’t earth-shattering or magical, but it was nice. Comfortable. James was a good guy.When he walked her to her apartment, he lingered at the bottom of the stairs, his hands shoved awkwardly in his coat pockets.“I had a great time tonight,” he said, his tone warm.“Me too,” Taylor replied, meaning it.James hesitated, then smiled. “Well, goodnight, Taylor.”“Goodnight,” she said softly, watching as he turned and walked away.As she stepped inside, closing the door behind her, Taylor leaned against it for a moment. The date had been lovely—better than she’d expected. And yet, a small part of her felt... off. She brushed the thought aside, chalking it up to nerves. The next morning, Taylor walked into the coffee shop, as she did every Saturday, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods greeting her like an old friend. She spotted Matty at their usual table near the window, his head bent over his phone, a cup of coffee already in front of him.“Morning,” she said, sliding into the seat across from him.Matty looked up, his expression unreadable. “Morning. You look... chipper.”Taylor laughed, pulling off her coat. “I slept well. What’s your excuse for looking like you didn’t?”He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. “Long night.”Their usual banter felt slightly off, but Taylor decided not to press. As she flagged down the barista to order her coffee, Matty leaned back in his chair, watching her.“So,” he said casually, though there was a slight edge to his tone, “how was the date?”Taylor glanced at him, startled by the question. “Oh. It was... nice.”“Nice?” Matty repeated, raising an eyebrow. “That’s it?”“Yeah,” Taylor said with a small shrug. “James’s a good guy. We had a good time.”Matty nodded, taking another sip of coffee. “Well, that’s good. I mean, that’s what you want, right? A ‘nice guy.’”Taylor tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“Nothing,” he said quickly, though the words sounded forced. “I’m just saying, if it went well, that’s... great.”She studied him for a moment, her coffee arriving and giving her an excuse to break the tension. As she stirred in some sugar, she couldn’t help but notice how fidgety Matty was. He wasn’t meeting her eyes as much as he usually did, and his teasing felt stiffer, less natural.“You’re being weird,” she said finally, her voice light but probing.“I’m not being weird,” Matty said, a little too quickly.“Yeah, you are,” she replied, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “What’s going on?”“Nothing,” he insisted, though he rubbed the back of his neck—something he only did when he was uncomfortable.They sat in silence for a moment, the bustling noise of the coffee shop filling the space between them.“Well,” Taylor said finally, deciding to let it go, “thanks for asking about the date. I didn’t think you’d care.”Matty’s eyes flicked to hers briefly before he looked away. “Why wouldn’t I care? You’re my best friend.”The words hung in the air, heavier than either of them expected.“Right,” Taylor said softly, taking a sip of her coffee.They both tried to steer the conversation back to their usual easy rhythm, but the lingering awkwardness refused to fade completely. Taylor couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Matty’s mood than he was letting on.And Matty? He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he’d already lost something he wasn’t sure he’d ever had. The backyard was filled with balloons, streamers, and the sound of kids laughing. Gigi had gone all out for Khai’s birthday, and Taylor couldn’t help but admire the cheerful chaos as she and James arrived.James carried the gift bag, glancing around the yard with a polite smile. “Wow, this is... lively.”Taylor chuckled, patting his arm. “Welcome to Gigi’s world. She doesn’t do anything halfway.”Gigi spotted them almost immediately, making her way over with her trademark grin. “Taylor! You made it!”After introductions and a quick round of mingling, Taylor scanned the yard and saw Matty standing with George, Jack and Margaret by the drinks table. She hesitated for a moment before leading James over.“Hey, guys,” she said, her voice light as she approached.Matty turned, his face breaking into a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Taylor.”James extended a hand, and Matty shook it firmly, perhaps a little too firmly. “Hi, I'm James,” he said with a good-natured smile.“Matty, and welcome to the madness,” Matty said, gesturing to the party. “Hope you like screaming kids and sugar highs.”James chuckled, trying to join the banter. “It’s all part of the fun, right?”Matty smiled, nodding, but Taylor caught the subtle tension in his posture. He was trying, but something about his energy felt off.The group chatted for a while, but Matty’s usual ease and wit seemed muted. Taylor found herself hyper-aware of the subtle shifts—how Matty would glance at James, then quickly look away, or how his jokes lacked their usual sharpness.At one point, George nudged Matty with his elbow. “You alright, mate?” he muttered under his breath.“Yeah, fine,” Matty replied, his tone clipped.Taylor pretended not to notice but felt the knot in her stomach tighten.After the party wound down, Taylor and James said their goodbyes and headed out. As they walked back to the subway, James was upbeat, talking about how nice everyone was and how much fun the party had been. Taylor smiled and nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Later that evening, back at her apartment, Taylor sat cross-legged on her couch, her phone in hand. She hesitated for a moment before typing a message to Matty.Taylor: Hey, you alive? Did the sugar rush get you?It took longer than usual for him to respond.Matty: Barely survived. You?Taylor smiled, relieved he’d replied, and tried to steer the conversation toward their usual playful banter.Taylor: I think I’m permanently deaf from the screaming. Did you see the kid who tried to steal all the cupcakes? Gigi had to pry them out of his hands.There was a pause before Matty replied.Matty: Yeah, wild.The message was short and lacked his usual humor.Taylor: Okay, what’s with you? You’re being weird again.Another pause.Matty: Just tired.Taylor stared at the screen, her heart sinking. She wanted to believe him, but something about his tone—or lack of it—didn’t feel right.Taylor: Sure you’re okay?Matty: Yeah, all good. Don’t worry about me.Taylor sighed, tossing her phone onto the couch beside her. She hated this. The awkwardness, the tension, the feeling that something important was slipping through her fingers.She didn’t want to lose Matty. But she also didn’t know how to fix whatever was happening between them. Matty slouched into the worn leather booth at their favorite pub, a pint of beer in his hand, trying to enjoy a nice afternoon beer. A few days had passed since the birthday party and he couldn't quite shake off his terrible mood. Across from him, George and Jack exchanged glances, already sensing that their friend had something weighing on his mind.“So,” George started, leaning back and taking a sip of his drink, “what’s with the storm cloud over your head?”Matty scowled at his pint, swirling it absently. “It’s nothing.”Jack raised an eyebrow. “That’s the least convincing ‘nothing’ I’ve ever heard. Spill it.”Matty sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his unruly hair. “It’s Taylor.”“What’s the issue?” George asked, his tone serious.Matty hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “I don’t know. She told me about the date with that James lad, and it’s fine—she’s allowed to date—but seeing her with him at the party just... it didn’t sit right.”“Because you’re jealous,” Jack said matter-of-factly.Matty shot him a glare. “I’m not jealous.”“Mate,” George said, leaning forward, “you’re sitting here, sulking into your pint about Taylor and her date. That’s jealousy.”Matty exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. “It’s not that simple. She’s my best friend. I shouldn’t feel this way.”Jack smirked. “Feel what way, exactly?”Matty hesitated, his voice dropping. “Like I don’t want her to be with anyone else. Like... like maybe I want her to look at me the way she might look at him.”George clapped him on the shoulder. “There it is. Took you long enough to admit it.”Matty groaned, burying his face in his hands. “This is a mess.”“It’s only a mess if you let it be,” Jack said. “Talk to her. Figure it out.”But Matty shook his head. “I can’t risk ruining what we have. She’s too important to me.” Later that night, after too much internal debate, Matty decided to visit Taylor. He needed to see her, to remind himself why their friendship mattered more than his tangled feelings.When she opened the door, dressed in her usual sweatpants and a loose hoodie, her face lit up. “Hey! What’s up?”“Thought I’d stop by,” Matty said, holding up a bag of her favorite snacks.Taylor grinned, stepping aside to let him in. “You’re a lifesaver. Come in, the cats are already judging me for binging bad reality TV.”They settled onto her couch, the easy rhythm of their friendship falling back into place—or so Taylor thought. For Matty, it wasn’t so simple.He watched as she laughed at the absurdity of the show, her head thrown back, her eyes crinkling in that way that always got to him. She was radiant, even in her most unguarded moments, and it hit him harder than ever that he couldn’t unsee her this way.At one point, Taylor turned to him, nudging his shoulder. “You’re awfully quiet. What’s on your mind?”Matty forced a smile. “Just tired, I guess.”She studied him for a moment, her gaze softening. “You sure?”“Yeah,” he said quickly, reaching for another handful of popcorn.They spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, but Matty couldn’t shake the weight in his chest. Every glance at Taylor felt different now—charged with something he couldn’t name but couldn’t ignore.As he left her apartment later that night, the air between them still light and friendly, Matty couldn’t help but wonder if pretending nothing had changed was the biggest mistake he was making.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Taylor wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing with James. She’d gone on three dates with him now, and each one had been undeniably pleasant. James was kind, funny, and attentive. They shared a love for books and a knack for turning mundane conversations into something enjoyable.But every time he leaned a little closer, or his hand brushed hers, something inside her hesitated.That something, Taylor knew, was Matty.She tried not to think about him during her dates, but it was impossible not to compare. Matty’s easy humor, his sharp wit, the way he knew her better than anyone else—it was a high bar. But it wasn’t just about comparisons. There was a tether between her and Matty that she couldn’t seem to shake.The frustrating part was that Matty didn’t seem to care. He acted completely unfazed by her outings with James. If anything, he’d been more distant lately, which only added to her confusion. One crisp Saturday morning, Taylor and Matty met at their usual café. The air was alive with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the chatter of weekend regulars. Taylor stirred her coffee idly, watching as Matty slid into the seat across from her, a mischievous grin on his face.“You’re late,” she teased.“Fashionably,” he replied, setting his phone on the table.They fell into their usual rhythm, talking about everything from Taylor’s students to Matty’s latest tattoo designs. For a moment, it felt like old times—easy, effortless, familiar.Then, Matty casually dropped the bomb.“So, I have a date tonight,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee.Taylor blinked, her hand freezing mid-stir. “Oh?”“Yeah,” he said, his tone light. “Her name’s Leah. I tattooed her a couple of weeks ago. We got to talking, and she asked if I’d want to grab a drink sometime.”“That’s... nice,” Taylor said, forcing a smile.Matty didn’t seem to notice her hesitation. “Yeah, she’s cool. She’s into music and art, so lots of possibilities for good conversation. Thought I’d give it a shot.”Taylor nodded, her chest tightening. She sipped her coffee to cover the lump forming in her throat.“That’s great,” she said, trying to sound supportive.“Thanks,” Matty replied, his eyes studying her for a moment. “You okay?”“Of course,” Taylor said quickly, plastering on a grin. “Why wouldn’t I be?”Matty shrugged. “I don’t know. Just checking.”The conversation shifted after that, but Taylor wasn’t paying much attention. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions she didn’t want to acknowledge.By the time their coffee cups were empty, Taylor felt like she was holding her composure together with duct tape and sheer willpower. That evening, Taylor sat on her couch with her cats, scrolling aimlessly through her phone. She kept picturing Matty with this Leah girl—laughing, flirting, connecting. The thought made her stomach twist.“Why am I like this?” she muttered, burying her face in her hands.She knew why. She’d known for a while now, even if she hadn’t admitted it to herself.Taylor sighed as her cats watched her, their tails flicking as if they could sense her agitation. She’d been debating making a call all evening, but the pressure in her chest had grown too heavy to carry alone.She knew she needed to talk to someone about it, so she brought the phone to her ear.“Taylor!” Her mom’s warm voice greeted her. “Hi honey, how are you?”“Hi, Mom,” Taylor said, her voice wavering. She sank further into the couch, Benji hopping into her lap immediately as if sensing her stress. “I... I needed to talk to you.”Andrea's tone shifted instantly. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”Taylor took a deep breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. “It’s Matty. I don’t know what’s going on with me. You know he's my best friend, Mom. For ten years, we’ve been this solid thing, and now he’s going out with someone, and I feel—God, I feel jealous. Like, crazy jealous, and I hate it. I don’t understand why now, after all this time, I’m feeling like this. And it's so stupid cause you know I've also been going on some dates with James.”Andrea listened quietly, letting her daughter pour her heart out. “And it’s not just that,” Taylor continued, her voice cracking. “I’m scared. What if I ruin everything? What if I tell him how I feel—or worse, what if he figures it out—and it wrecks everything we’ve built? I don’t want to lose him. I can’t lose him.”Her mom’s sigh was soft and understanding. “Oh, honey. You’ve been carrying this around all by yourself, haven’t you?”Taylor nodded, even though her mom couldn’t see her. “I didn’t want to bother anyone with it. I mean Gigi kind of has figured it out but I've been brushing it off. And honestly, I didn’t even want to admit it to myself. But now it’s just...all I can think about.”There was a pause before her mom spoke again, her tone gentle. “Sweetheart, feelings like this don’t just appear out of nowhere. They’ve probably been there all along, even if you didn’t recognize them. Sometimes it takes a change—like Matty going out with someone else—for those feelings to surface.”“But why now?” Taylor asked, her voice small. “Why after ten years?”“Because sometimes, it’s easier to stay comfortable in what you have than to risk it for something more,” her mom said. “But that doesn’t mean what you’re feeling isn’t real.”Taylor blinked back tears, her mom’s words hitting too close to home.“And as for losing him,” her mom continued, “do you really think Matty would ever let that happen? From everything I've seen of him, and of your friendship during all this time, he’s as much a part of your life as you are of his.”“But what if I’m wrong?” Taylor whispered.Her mom’s voice softened further. “You might be. But love, real love, is worth the risk. And if Matty’s as good a friend as you believe, then even if it doesn’t work out the way you hope, you’ll find a way back to each other.”Taylor let out a shaky breath, Andrea’s words sinking in. “I don't know if I'm ready to take the step and tell him about how I'm feeling. Also, I'm dating someone else.”“I know, sweetheart,” her mom said. “But you’re strong, and you’re brave. You’ll figure this out.”Taylor nodded again, a small smile breaking through the storm of her emotions. “Thanks, Mom. I needed this.”“Anytime,” Andrea said warmly. “And Taylor?”“Yeah?”“Trust your heart. It usually knows what it’s doing, even when your head’s a mess.”Taylor laughed. “I’ll try.”They said their goodbyes, and as Taylor ended the call, she felt a little lighter. Her mom hadn’t given her all the answers, but she’d given her the courage to start figuring them out. Matty tugged at the collar of his shirt, glancing around the cozy corner table of the dimly lit bar. Leah was seated across from him, her dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. She was effortlessly beautiful, with a warm smile that lit up her face.“So,” Leah said, swirling the wine in her glass, “what’s the strangest tattoo request you’ve ever gotten?”Matty chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Oh so many, but just last week a guy asked for a portrait of his pet goldfish... on his chest. Full color, too. Had to convince him to go smaller. Imagine walking around with a fish staring out from your shirt.”Leah laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s amazing. Did he at least tip well?”“Oh, yeah. Said I gave the fish more personality than it had in real life.”The conversation flowed easily enough, and Leah was funny and charming. But Matty felt that annoying sense of detachment creeping in, like he was watching himself on a date instead of actually being on one.Over the next couple of weeks, they went on a few more dates—dinners, a movie, even a casual walk through Central Park. Leah was attentive and kind, and Matty kept telling himself that he should be thrilled.But the problem was, every little thing she did seemed to remind him of Taylor.When Leah laughed at one of his jokes, he thought about how Taylor’s laugh had this contagious quality that made everyone join in, even if they didn’t know what was funny.When Leah reached for his hand during their walk, he thought about how Taylor always looped her arm through his when they walked together, leaning into him like it was the most natural thing in the world.When Leah texted him a goodnight message, he thought about Taylor’s texts—random memes, bad jokes, and those rare, heartfelt messages that made his chest ache in the best way.On their fourth date, sitting in a trendy sushi restaurant, Matty realized he was in trouble.Leah was talking about her job as a graphic designer, her hands animated as she described a particularly difficult client. Matty tried to focus, but his mind kept wandering back to the way Taylor always chewed on her pen when she was trying to explain something.“You okay?” Leah asked, tilting her head.Matty blinked, realizing he’d spaced out. “Yeah, sorry. Long day at work.”She smiled, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I get it. Do you want to talk about it?”“No, it’s fine,” Matty said quickly.And that was the problem, wasn’t it? It wasn’t fine. He couldn’t stop comparing her to Taylor, couldn’t stop wishing he were sitting across from his best friend instead of Leah.That night, after walking Leah to her building and giving her a polite goodbye kiss, Matty went home feeling hollow.He sat on his couch, staring at the ceiling, Leah’s smiling face fresh in his mind. She deserved better than being someone’s second choice, someone’s distraction from feelings they were too afraid to admit.And he deserved better than pretending he didn’t know exactly who he wanted.And it wasn’t Leah. When Taylor suggested a double date, Matty hesitated. “Are you sure that’s not... weird?” he asked when she brought it up over coffee.Taylor shrugged, forcing a smile. “It’s normal, isn’t it? Our partners should meet our best friend. It’ll be fun.”Matty nodded slowly, though he wasn’t convinced. The restaurant Taylor picked was cozy, with dim lighting and intimate booths. She and James arrived first, and she couldn’t help but fidget as they waited.“You nervous?” James asked, reaching for her hand.“No,” Taylor lied, giving him a tight smile. “Just hoping it goes well.”When Matty and Leah walked in, Taylor’s stomach twisted. Leah was beautiful, with a bright smile and effortless confidence. Matty’s hand rested lightly on the small of her back as he guided her to the table.Taylor forced herself to smile. “Hey! You made it.”Matty’s eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, something passed between them. “Of course,” he said, sliding into the seat across from her.The conversation flowed easily at first. Leah was warm and engaging, asking James questions about his work and making Taylor laugh with stories about her friends. Matty, too, seemed at ease, though Taylor noticed the way his eyes lingered on her when he thought no one was looking.James was his usual kind and attentive self, but Taylor couldn’t shake the feeling of detachment. She laughed at his jokes and responded to his questions, but it all felt like she was going through the motions.Then came dessert.“Alright,” Leah said, setting down her fork and leaning back with a satisfied sigh. “I have to ask—how long have you two known each other?” She gestured between Taylor and Matty.“Almost ten years,” Taylor said quickly, glancing at Matty.“Best friends since the day we met,” Matty added, smirking.Leah tilted her head, smiling. “You can tell. You guys even finish each other sentences.”Taylor’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed nervously. “We’ve just known each other forever, that’s all.”Matty shifted in his seat, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. “Yeah. Forever.” After dinner, James walked Taylor to her apartment, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. She could tell he was quiet, like he was mulling something over.“Did you have a good time?” she asked as they stopped outside her building.“Yeah,” James said, smiling softly. “It was nice to meet Matty and Leah. They’re... interesting.”Taylor chuckled. “That’s one way to put it.”James hesitated, then said, “Can I ask you something?”“Of course.”He looked at her, his expression thoughtful. “Do you realize how much you light up when you’re with him?”Taylor blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “What?”“Matty,” James said gently. “You’re different around him. Happier. Brighter. It’s... hard to miss.”Taylor opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.James smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. “You don’t have to say anything. Just... think about it, okay?”He kissed her cheek softly before turning to leave, leaving Taylor standing on the steps of her building, her thoughts swirling. Taylor stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Matty’s name in her message app. The last text he’d sent her was a quick reply to something she’d shared about her students, but it had been two days ago. Normally, their conversations were a constant thread running through her day.But now? It felt like pulling teeth to keep the banter alive.She sighed, tossing the phone onto the couch beside her. Olivia jumped at the sudden interruption, then walked to Taylor curling into her lap, and she absentmindedly scratched behind her ears. The quiet of her apartment felt heavier than usual.Matty hadn’t asked her to hang out since the "double date". She hadn’t either.The thought twisted in her chest. It wasn’t like them.At the same time, across town, Matty sat in his cluttered studio, sketching on a tablet. Or at least, trying to. His lines were jagged, his focus scattered.He tossed the stylus down with a groan and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.Matty rubbed his face, frustration bubbling in his chest. He wasn’t sure when it started, this distance between them. All he knew was that it hurt. Taylor finally picked up her phone and opened Matty’s chat again.Taylor: Haven’t heard from you much this week. You okay?She stared at the message for a long moment before hitting send.Matty’s reply came quicker than she expected.Matty: Same. Everything good?Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. What was she supposed to say? That she missed him? That she didn’t understand why things suddenly felt off?Instead, she typed: Yeah, just busy, I guess.The lie felt bitter.Matty frowned at the screen. Yeah, just busy, I guess. That wasn’t Taylor. She always had time to send him her random thoughts, her stories about work, or pictures of her cats doing something ridiculous.He wanted to call her out, but he stopped himself. What if she needed space?The idea made his chest ache. That night, Taylor tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing. Why did this feel so awful? Was it because of James? Because of Leah? Or was it something else entirely? The next evening, Taylor stood outside Matty’s apartment, her heart hammering in her chest. She hadn’t even texted him to say she was coming. She couldn’t. Her thoughts had been too tangled, her emotions too raw.When Matty opened the door, his expression shifted from surprise to concern. “Tay? What’s wrong?”She was already crying, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. “I can’t do this, Matty,” she choked out.He stepped aside instantly, letting her in. “Hey, hey, come here.” His voice was soft, soothing, and he guided her to the couch.Taylor sat down, burying her face in her hands. “I miss you so much,” she whispered, her voice breaking.Matty knelt in front of her, his hands hovering like he wasn’t sure where to place them. Finally, he settled on gently pulling her hands away from her face. “I’m right here,” he said, his brown eyes searching hers.She shook her head. “No, you’re not. I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s killing me.”Matty sat back on his heels, his jaw tightening. “I feel it too,” he admitted. “I hate it.”“Then why?” she asked, her voice rising in desperation. “Why are we doing this to each other?”He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his messy curls. “I don’t know. Maybe because things are different now. You’re seeing James. I’m seeing Leah. And...”“And what?” she pressed, her tears slowing but her chest still tight.“And...I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel or do” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. Taylor stared at him, her heart pounding. "I don’t want to lose you. You’re the most important person in my life, Matty.”He sat down on the floor and leaned back against the couch. “Funny, that’s exactly how I feel about you too.”They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their words settling between them.“I’ve been trying to figure this out,” Taylor said finally. “Why I feel this way. Why it hurts so much to see you with Leah.”Matty glanced at her, his eyes wide. “You feel that way?”She nodded, biting her lip. “And I hate it because I have no right. I’m with James, and he’s great, but...” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away."Yeah..." Matty whispered, not knowing what to say.“So what do we do?” Taylor asked, her voice trembling.“I don’t know,” Matty admitted, his shoulders slumping. “But I can’t lose you, Taylor.”She reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing his. “Same.”It wasn’t a resolution, not yet. But it was a start—a fragile, terrifying step toward figuring out what they meant to each other.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Taylor sat across from James, they were having coffee, she tried to avoid his haze while fiddling with the corner of her napkin. She’d been dreading this conversation, but James had beaten her to it.“I think we both know this isn’t working,” he said gently, his kind eyes meeting hers.Taylor looked up, startled. “James—”He held up a hand, smiling softly. “It’s okay, Taylor. I like you—a lot. You’re funny, smart, kind... but I can tell your heart’s not in this.”She hesitated, guilt creeping in. “I didn’t mean to—”“I know,” James interrupted, his tone reassuring. “You’ve been honest and thoughtful the whole time. But I want to be with someone who’s all in, you know?”Taylor exhaled shakily, the weight she hadn’t even fully acknowledged lifting off her shoulders. “I’m so sorry, James. You’re amazing, I really mean it.”James reached across the table, giving her hand a squeeze. “Don’t apologize. You deserve to feel everything for the right person. And I think we both know who that is.”Her stomach flipped, but she said nothing. James released her hand and sat back, a wry smile on his face. “For what it’s worth, he’s a lucky guy. Don’t keep him waiting too long, okay?” Later that evening, Taylor sat on Gigi’s couch, a glass of wine in hand and her thoughts swirling. She’d recounted the evening with James, how kind and understanding he’d been, and the massive sense of relief she felt.“And Matty?” Gigi asked, raising an eyebrow as she sipped her wine.Taylor groaned, sinking deeper into the cushions. “What about him?”Gigi gave her a pointed look. “Don’t play dumb. You’re still dancing around each other, aren’t you?”“We’re... figuring things out,” Taylor said hesitantly.“No, you’re not,” Gigi shot back, setting her glass down with a thud. “You’re both too scared to do anything about it. And frankly, it’s exhausting to watch.”Taylor’s cheeks flushed. “It’s not that simple, Gigi. If we mess this up—”“You’ll lose him?” Gigi interrupted, her tone sharp but not unkind. “Taylor, you’re already losing him. Slowly but surely, the distance is growing because you’re both too afraid to face what’s really there.”Taylor stared at her.Gigi sighed, leaning forward. “You need to tell him how you feel. You were not happy with James because he’s not Matty. And Matty isn’t happy with…whatever her name is because she’s not you. This isn’t rocket science.”“It’s terrifying,” Taylor admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if he doesn’t feel the same?”Gigi softened, reaching out to take Taylor’s hand. “He does. I see the way he looks at you, Taylor. Everyone does. But if you don’t take this leap, you’ll never know. And that’s worse than rejection, trust me.”Taylor stared into her wine glass, her thoughts swirling. She knew Gigi was right, but the fear still clung to her.Could she really take that risk? A few days later Taylor was halfway through grading a stack of essays when her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, her dad’s name lighting up.“Hey, Dad,” she answered, tucking the phone between her shoulder and ear.“Taylor.” His voice was tight, and she instantly knew something was wrong. “It’s your mom. She’s... she’s in the hospital.”Her heart stopped. “What? What happened?”“She fainted this morning. The doctors think it’s her heart. She’s stable, but they’re keeping her for observation and tests.”Taylor’s hands trembled as she gripped the phone. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”Scott’s voice softened. “You don’t have to rush, sweetheart. She’s okay for now.”But Taylor had already made up her mind. “I'll call you when I get there okay?”As she hung up, a wave of fear crashed over her. Her mom had always been the strong one, the glue that held their family together. The idea of her being sick—of her heart giving out—scared the shit out of her.Taylor’s fingers hovered over her phone. There was only one person she wanted to call, the only one who could calm her racing thoughts. She hit Matty’s name before she could second-guess herself.“Hi, Tay” His familiar voice was like a balm, grounding her.“Matty,” she said, her voice breaking. “It’s my mom. She’s in the hospital.”“What happened? Is she okay?” His voice immediately sharpened with concern.“I don’t know,” she admitted, tears spilling over. “I need to go to home to see her.”“I’ll drive you,” he said without hesitation.“What?”“I’ll drive you,” he repeated firmly. “You shouldn’t go through this alone. Let me be there for you.”Taylor exhaled shakily, relief washing over her. “Matty, you don’t have to—”“Taylor,” he interrupted, his voice soft but insistent. “I want to. Just say yes.”She swallowed the lump in her throat and whispered, “Okay.” A couple of hours later, Matty pulled up outside Taylor’s apartment, his car, one he rarely used as he hated driving around NYC, packed with snacks and coffee.“Ready?” he asked as she slid into the passenger seat.She nodded, clutching a small overnight bag. “Thank you.”He gave her a lopsided smile, his eyes full of warmth. The drive was quiet at first, Taylor staring out the window while Matty kept the radio low. But as the miles passed, he started to talk—about silly things, random anecdotes from work, and funny stories about their friends.Slowly, Taylor began to relax, the knot in her chest loosening with each laugh he coaxed out of her.“You’re good at this, you know,” she said, glancing at him.“At what?”“Keeping me from falling apart.”Matty’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, but he kept his tone light. “That’s my job, isn’t it?”Taylor smiled faintly, her heart aching in a way she couldn’t quite define.When they finally reached the hospital, Taylor turned to him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”His eyes met hers, something unspoken passing between them. “Come on, let's go see your mom.”For a moment, she wanted to reach out, to hold his hand, to say all the things she was too scared to admit. But instead, she nodded. The hospital smelled of antiseptic, the fluorescent lights making everything feel a little too stark. Taylor stepped into the lobby with Matty by her side, her hands clutching the strap of her bag like a lifeline.Her dad was the first to spot her, rising from a stiff plastic chair. “Taylor.”“Your mom is doing better,” Scott assured her. “She’s been asking for you.”Taylor’s brother, Austin, stood nearby, offering a lopsided grin that didn’t quite hide his worry. “Hey, sis.”“Hey.” She hugged him too, her heart squeezing at the tension in his shoulders.Scott glanced at Matty, his expression warming. “Matty, good to see you.”“Likewise, Mr. Swift.” Matty gave him a firm handshake, then nodded at Austin. “Hey, mate.”“Hey, man,” Austin replied, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks for bringing her.”“It's no problem,” Matty said, his voice light but sincere.Scott smiled but didn’t comment. “Taylor, why don’t you go see your mom? We’ll be here.”Taylor nodded, her throat tight. “Okay.” She glanced at Matty. “I’ll be back soon.”He gave her a reassuring smile. “Take your time.” Taylor stepped into the hospital room, her breath catching at the sight of her mom lying in the bed. Andrea looked pale but peaceful, her eyes lighting up when she saw her daughter.“Taylor,” Andrea said, her voice weak but warm.“Mom.” Taylor rushed to her side, taking her hand. “You scared me.”Andrea squeezed her hand gently. “I’m okay, sweetheart. Just a little bump in the road.”But the sight of her mom hooked up to monitors and IVs was too much. Taylor broke down, tears spilling over as she buried her face in her mom’s hand.Andrea stroked her hair softly. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry I worried you. But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”Taylor nodded, wiping her tears but staying close. “I love you, Mom.”“I love you too, honey.” Meanwhile back in the waiting room, Matty sat with Scott and Austin, trying to diffuse the heavy atmosphere.“So,” Matty said, leaning back in his chair, “what’s the hospital food like? Michelin-star worthy?”Austin snorted. “You’re joking, right? It’s a miracle anyone eats that stuff.”Scott chuckled. “Got some coffee earlier. Pretty sure it was just brown water.”“Ah,” Matty said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The secret to their success: no flavor, no complaints.”Austin shook his head, laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”Matty smirked. “It’s a gift.”Scott looked at him, his expression softening. “Thank you for being here, Matty. It means a lot to Taylor. And to us.”Matty shrugged, but there was genuine warmth in his voice. “She’s family. Where else would I be?”Scott’s eyes lingered on him for a moment, a knowing look crossing his face, but he didn’t press. Instead, he patted Matty on the shoulder. “You’re a good man.”“Don’t spread that around,” Matty joked, though his voice held a hint of emotionWhen Taylor emerged from her mom’s room, her eyes red but her steps steadier, she found Matty already looking her way.“She’s okay,” Taylor said, her voice trembling with relief.“Good,” Matty replied, standing and offering her his hand. Taylor took it without hesitation, the simple gesture grounding her. For a moment, the room felt a little less heavy, and she knew she wasn’t alone. The hospital room was quiet except for the soft hum of the monitors and the occasional shuffle of a nurse passing in the hallway. Taylor sat in a chair beside Andrea’s bed, her hand resting gently over her mother’s.“You don’t have to stay, honey,” Andrea said, her voice sounding a little stronger than earlier.“I want to,” Taylor replied firmly. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”Andrea smiled, her eyes crinkling with affection. “I didn’t think I could.”The night passed slowly but peacefully, and by morning, Andrea was sitting up in bed, looking brighter. Taylor rubbed her tired eyes and stretched, the stiffness of the hospital chair making her groan.“Why don’t you go grab some coffee?” Andrea suggested.Taylor hesitated. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”“I’ll be fine,” Andrea assured her. “Go on. Stretch your legs.”With a reluctant nod, Taylor grabbed her bag and headed out, promising to return quickly.Minutes later, Matty appeared in the doorway, a paper bag in one hand and a slightly sheepish grin on his face. “Morning, Andrea. Brought you some muffins.”Andrea smiled. “Matty, I don't think I'm supposed to have muffins right now.”“Didn’t want you surviving on hospital food,” he teased, setting the bag on the small table beside her.He pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at her with genuine warmth. “How are you feeling?”“Better,” Andrea replied, her tone gentle. “And grateful. Especially for you.”Matty raised an eyebrow. “For me?”Andrea’s gaze softened. “Matty, I know how much you mean to Taylor. And I know how much she means to you.”He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came.“You’ve always been there for her,” Andrea continued. “Not just as her friend, but as someone who loves her deeply. I see it in the way you look at her, the way you talk about her. You’ve taken care of my daughter in ways I can never thank you enough for.”Matty swallowed hard, his throat tight. “Andrea, I…”She smiled knowingly. “You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I see it, and I’m grateful.”Matty blinked rapidly, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. “She’s… she’s my best friend. I just want her to be okay.”Andrea reached out and patted his hand. “And that’s why you’re the one she needs most.”The sound of the door opening startled them both. Taylor walked in, holding a steaming cup of coffee.“What are you two whispering about?” she asked with a teasing smile, glancing between them.Matty quickly stood, brushing invisible dust off his jeans. “Muffins,” he said lightly, avoiding her eyes.Andrea smiled at her daughter, her expression serene. “Nothing important, sweetheart.”As Taylor settled back into her seat, she glanced at Matty again, her curiosity piqued but before she could dwell on it Matty started telling stories to Andrea to make her laugh. Taylor just sat there, drinking her coffee and thankful for being with her favorite people, even if it was in a hospital room. The Swift household was quiet that evening, a peaceful stillness settling over it. Taylor led Matty upstairs, her childhood bedroom exactly as she’d left it—a time capsule of teenage dreams and memories.Matty walked in, glancing around with an amused grin. “Ah, the shrine to teenage Taylor,” he teased, running his fingers over the edge of a bookshelf filled with novels, photo frames, and trinkets. He'd been there before but he loved to tease her about every little thing he could find, every single time.“Don’t start,” Taylor warned, flopping onto her old bed with a groan. “I’m too tired for your commentary.”But she smiled as she said it, watching him as he wandered around her room.Matty picked up a framed photo of Taylor at her high school graduation, her grin wide and bright. “Look at this. Little miss valedictorian,” he said, holding it up.“Put that down,” she said, throwing a pillow at him.He dodged it easily, laughing. “You were such a nerd.”“I still am,” Taylor shot back.Matty placed the photo down and moved to her bookshelf. He pulled out an old spiral notebook, the edges worn and the cover covered in stickers. “What’s this?”“Oh, God, no,” Taylor said, sitting up. “Put that back!”He flipped it open, reading aloud dramatically. “‘To the moon and to saturn, a love untold—’”“Matty!” she shrieked, leaping off the bed to grab it from him.He held it over his head, laughing as she tried to snatch it. “Is this a poetry book? Teenage Taylor was a romantic, wasn’t she?”“Give it back!” she demanded, her cheeks flushed.“Fine, fine,” he relented, handing it over. “But you know, I’d pay good money to read the rest of that.”“You’re insufferable,” she muttered, shoving the notebook back onto the shelf.Matty smirked and sat down beside her on the bed. “You love it.”Taylor rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. She lay back down, stretching out on the mattress, and after a moment, Matty joined her. The bed creaked slightly under their weight, the same way it always had when she was younger.She turned her head, resting it on his shoulder. “Thanks for being here,” she said softly.They stayed like that for a while, the weight of their unspoken feelings filling the quiet room.“I’m not seeing James anymore,” Taylor said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.Matty’s breath caught, but he kept his tone even. “Oh? Really?”She nodded, not looking at him. “It wasn’t fair to him. I wasn’t… all in.”He hesitated before speaking, his own voice low. “I’m not seeing Leah anymore either.”Taylor finally turned her head to look at him, her heart pounding. “Why not?”Matty met her gaze, his dark eyes searching hers. “Same reason, I guess. It didn’t feel right.”The air in the room shifted, the space between them charged with something they couldn’t name but both could feel. Neither of them moved, their breaths mingling in the quiet.Their breaths synchronized as Taylor lay against Matty, her head still on his shoulder. Their faces were close—too close—and Matty’s dark eyes flicked to her lips for the briefest moment.Before anything could happen, a knock on the door shattered the tension.“Taylor? Matty?” Scott’s voice came through. “I was about to make sandwiches. You two want some?”Taylor jerked back, sitting upright as though caught in the middle of something scandalous. “Uh, yeah! Sure, Dad, we’ll be down in a second.”Matty coughed, running a hand through his curls. “Guess we’re eating.”She glanced at him, her cheeks flushed. “Yeah. Guess we are.”They went downstairs, where Scott had laid out a spread of bread, deli meats, and toppings. Matty helped himself to a pile of ham and cheese, cracking jokes that had Scott chuckling while Taylor tried to keep her composure.Dinner was casual but comforting, a grounding force that neither of them realized they needed after the emotional weight of the day.Back upstairs, Taylor flopped onto her bed again, assuming Matty would head to Austin’s room for the night. Instead, he kicked off his shoes and joined her.“What are you doing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.“Hanging out,” he replied, stretching out beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.“Don’t you have a perfectly good guest bed?”“Probably, but this one’s better.”They fell into their usual rhythm, teasing each other about everything from Taylor’s questionable childhood fashion choices to Matty’s atrocious attempts at an American accent. It was easy, familiar, and exactly what they both needed to shake off the earlier tension.But then Matty’s eyes flicked to the bookshelf. “What about that notebook?”Taylor groaned. “Matty, no.”“Come on,” he coaxed, sitting up. “You owe me after I've spent the past two days being your emotional support partner.”“You are my emotional support chauffeur,” she corrected.“Either way, I earned it. Read me something.”She gave him a long-suffering look, but when he crossed his arms and pouted dramatically, she sighed and grabbed the notebook.“Fine. But if you laugh, I’m throwing you out.”“Deal.”Taylor flipped through the pages until she found the poem he’d teased her about earlier. "This is so stupid, mind you I was like 12 when I wrote this.""I don't care. Give it to me, Shakespeare."She cleared her throat, her cheeks pink as she began to read.
“To the moon and to Saturn, a love untold
A heart of warmth, a hand to hold.
Eyes that see beyond my walls,
A voice that steadies, a name that calls.
Through crowded rooms, they find my gaze,
A spark that sets my soul ablaze.
In laughter shared, in silence too,
A love that feels both fierce and true.
Not perfect, no, but worth the fight,
A beacon burning through the night.
To the moon and back, forever near,
The one who makes the shadows clear.”
When she finished, the room was silent. Taylor dared a glance at Matty, who was looking at her with an expression she couldn’t quite place.“Well?” she prompted. “Is it terrible?”“Terrible?” he said, his voice soft. “Taylor, that was so sweet. You’ve always been so good.”She smiled, a little bashful. “It’s just teenage nonsense.”“It’s not,” he insisted, his gaze steady. Her heart fluttered, but before she could say anything, he asked, “Have you ever found the one you were writing about?”Taylor hesitated, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the notebook. Finally, she met his gaze, her eyes soft and full of meaning. “I think I have,” she said quietly.Matty stared at her, his breath catching in his throat. And though neither of them said another word, the weight of what she’d just confessed settled between them, undeniable and irreversible. The atmosphere in the Swift household was light, filled with relief and gratitude as Andrea was finally discharged and brought back home. She looked far better than she had just a few days ago, her color returning, her smile brighter. Taylor hovered over her like a mother hen, fluffing pillows and making sure everything in her parents’ bedroom was perfect.“Taylor, I’m fine,” Andrea laughed softly, resting a hand on her daughter’s arm. Matty stood in the doorway. “You’ve raised a control freak, Andrea,” he teased.“I think you might be right,” Andrea responded, earning a look from Taylor. Once Andrea was settled, the family moved to the kitchen. Taylor and Matty volunteered to cook dinner, a spread of pasta, salad, and garlic bread.“Watch the garlic, Healy,” Taylor warned as he sprinkled another handful into the pan.“You don’t season your food enough,” he shot back. “You’re lucky I don’t dump the entire jar in.”“Lucky? I’d be cursed with dragon breath for a week!”As the meal came together, the five of them sat down, laughter and light conversation filling the room. For the first time in days, Taylor felt a sense of peace. The next morning, it was time for Taylor and Matty to head back to New York. Andrea insisted on walking them to the door, hugging Taylor tightly and then pulling Matty into a warm embrace.“Thank you,” Andrea said softly to him. “For everything.”“Anytime,” Matty replied, his voice thick with emotion.Austin loaded their bags into the car as Scott waved them off from the porch. Taylor climbed into the passenger seat, waving until her family was out of sight.The drive started off lighthearted, their favorite playlist filling the car as Matty drummed the steering wheel in rhythm to the beat. But as the miles ticked by, Taylor grew quieter, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery.“Alright, what’s going on?” Matty finally asked, glancing at her.Taylor sniffled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Nothing,” she said, her voice wobbling. “I’m just… emotional, I guess. I’m grateful. That my mom's okay. And for you, for everything. You didn’t have to come, but you did.”Matty’s heart clenched, and without hesitation, he reached across the console, his hand warm and steady as it wrapped around hers. “Taylor, I’ll always be there for you. You know that, right?”She nodded, squeezing his hand tightly. “I know."They drove in silence for a while, the weight of their unspoken words settling between them. Then, in a quiet gesture, Taylor lifted his hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles.Matty glanced at her, his smile tender. He returned the gesture, his lips touching her knuckles, then he placed his hand on her thigh, his touch warm and grounding.Taylor laid her hand over his, holding it there as they continued down the highway. It wasn’t much—just a simple connection—but it spoke volumes.For the rest of the trip, they didn’t say much, letting the music fill the silence. But the small, constant touch between them was enough.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The city lights shimmered as Matty pulled the car into the lot outside Taylor’s apartment building. After the emotional drive back, the familiarity of home was grounding, but Taylor still seemed hesitant as she unlocked the front door.Matty held her bag, glancing at her lingering by the door. Taylor fidgeted with the strap of her purse. “Do you want to… I mean, would you want to spend the night? Just hang out, you know?”He blinked, a small, surprised smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, of course.”Her shoulders visibly relaxed as she nodded, stepping aside to let him in. “Okay, cool. I’ll order takeout.” They sprawled out on Taylor’s couch, the glow of the TV lighting the room. Plates of half-eaten food sat on the coffee table, long forgotten as the movie played.At some point, Taylor shifted closer, pulling her knees up and leaning into Matty’s side. Without hesitation, he opened his arm, letting her settle in with her back against his chest.“You comfortable?” he asked softly, his voice low against her ear.“Mm-hmm,” she murmured, the sound more like a contented hum.Matty rested his chin lightly on the top of her head, letting the quiet intimacy settle over them. He could feel her relax against him, her breathing slowing as the minutes passed.By the time the credits rolled, Taylor had fallen asleep, her head tucked beneath his chin. Matty stayed still, not wanting to disturb her, but his eyes kept wandering to her face, so peaceful and beautiful in sleep.He sighed softly, pressing his lips together as he tried to reign in the emotions bubbling inside him. Then, with careful movements, he slid out from beneath her and scooped her into his arms. She stirred but didn’t wake as he carried her to her bedroom.Gently, he laid her down and pulled the covers over her. He was about to turn and head for the couch when her voice, soft and sleepy, stopped him.“Stay,” she whispered, her eyes barely open.“Taylor…”“Please,” she said, shifting to one side of the bed.His heart thudded in his chest, but he nodded, kicking off his shoes and slipping under the covers beside her. She curled into him instinctively, her head on his chest and her hand resting lightly on his stomach.Matty wrapped an arm around her, holding her close as the world outside quieted. As he closed his eyes, he felt a sense of peace he hadn’t known he was missing.For the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should. Taylor stirred, her senses slowly waking her before her mind caught up. The soft morning light filtered through her curtains, and she felt warmth all around her. For a blissful moment, she didn’t question it. She just sank deeper into the feeling, letting it wrap around her like a cocoon.Then her eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw were the arms holding her.Tattooed arms.Her breath hitched as realization dawned. Matty.She shifted slightly, glancing up to confirm what she already knew. There he was, still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. His curls were an untamed mess, resting against the pillow. Taylor’s eyes roamed over him, her heart doing an unsteady, wild dance in her chest.His nose, the faintest smattering of freckles on his skin. His lips—soft, slightly parted.
Oh no.
It hit her like a train, an unstoppable force barreling through her chest. She loved him. She loved him.Not just as her best friend. Not as the person she could share anything with or call in the middle of the night. This wasn’t a crush or fleeting infatuation. It was deeper than anything she’d ever felt, and the sheer weight of it terrified her.Her breath quickened, but she tried to calm herself. She didn’t want to wake him, not when he looked so serene. But as much as she wanted to bask in this moment, it felt like her heart was breaking and swelling all at once.What was she supposed to do with this?Before she could spiral further, Matty stirred beside her, his arm tightening slightly as he woke. His eyes blinked open, and when they landed on her, a soft, sleepy smile spread across his face.“Morning, Tay,” he mumbled, his voice rough from sleep.Her heart nearly stopped. “Morning,” she whispered, praying her voice sounded steady.He stretched lazily, his arm brushing hers as he propped himself up slightly. “Didn’t snore too loud, did I?” he teased, his grin widening.“No, you were fine,” she managed, trying to smile but feeling the sting of unshed tears.“Good, because if I had, I expect a written complaint,” he quipped, making a dramatic gesture as though signing an invisible form.Taylor laughed, but it came out watery. She quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the blanket. She didn’t want him to see the cracks forming in her.He didn’t seem to notice, chuckling as he ran a hand through his unruly curls. “So, what’s for breakfast?”Taylor looked back at him, her gaze soft despite the turmoil inside. “Pancakes,” she said quietly.“Perfect.” He grinned, patting her shoulder lightly before getting out of bed. “You make the coffee; I’ll whip up the batter.”As he disappeared into the kitchen, Taylor stayed where she was, her hand pressed to her chest. Her heart still pounded, the words echoing in her mind.She loved him. Taylor and Matty were late, as usual. Jack’s apartment buzzed with life, laughter, and celebration. Friends and family milled about, toasting to Jack and Margaret’s engagement. The couple stood at the center of it all, radiating joy. George and Gigi were sitting on the couch, chatting.“They’re not even dating yet, and they’re already that couple,” Gigi said, popping a grape into her mouth, George stretched his legs out, taking a sip from his champagne glass. “What do you mean, ‘that couple’?”"The kind that shows up late to everything because they were too busy bickering over something dumb, like what color shoelaces are superior.”“Black,” Jack chimed in, as he approached them, without looking up from his phone.Gigi rolled her eyes. "Back to the point—those two are agonizingly slow.”“I still say Christmas,” George announced.Jack glanced up. “Christmas? You’re betting on Christmas for what?”“When Matty and Taylor finally get together,” George said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I give it till Christmas. They’ll be drunk on eggnog and mistletoe vibes.”Jack snorted. “You’re dreaming, man. They’re both too stubborn. I’m saying summer, after one of your infamous parties. Heatwave, a bit of alcohol. Perfect setup.”Gigi groaned dramatically, tossing a pillow at Jack. “Why are all your scenarios so seasonal? It’s not a Hallmark movie!”“Well, what’s your bet, then?” Jack challenged.Gigi leaned back, tapping her chin with theatrical flair. “I’m giving it two months. Tops. Taylor’s been way too smiley around him lately, and Matty can’t even look at her without going all gooey-eyed. It’s happening soon, trust me.”George raised an eyebrow. “And if it doesn’t?”“Then I will personally lock them in a closet until one of them admits their feelings,” Gigi declared.Moments later, Taylor and Matty walked in, Matty carrying a bottle of wine and Taylor with a cake she’d undoubtedly made that afternoon.“Sorry we’re late,” Taylor said, setting the cake on the counter. “Matty couldn’t decide if his jacket made him look cool or dumb.”“I am cool,” Matty shot back, hanging his jacket on the back of a chair.“Cool people don’t have to say they’re cool,” Taylor quipped, her grin widening.Gigi elbowed George and whispered, “See? That’s foreplay.”George choked on his drink, earning a sharp look from Taylor. “You okay over there?”“Fine, fine,” George coughed, waving her off. Later that night, Taylor stood near the snack table with Gigi, sipping champagne. Matty was on the other side of the room, laughing with George, and as Taylor’s gaze drifted to him, Gigi nudged her sharply.“Okay, seriously, Taylor,” Gigi began with a smirk, lowering her voice, “are you just going to keep staring at him like that for the rest of your life?”Taylor’s cheeks flushed instantly. “I’m not staring at him,” she protested weakly, but her tone betrayed her.“Oh, you so are.” Gigi leaned closer, grinning wickedly. “You’ve got full-on heart eyes. It’s embarrassing, really.”Taylor groaned, hiding her face behind her champagne glass. “Stop it. I already admitted it, okay? I’ve… I’ve come to terms with it.”“Oh, you’ve come to terms with it, have you?” Gigi teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What’s that even mean? Does that involve actually doing something about it?”“Gigi!” Taylor hissed, but her friend didn’t relent.“Listen,” Gigi said, softening slightly, “it’s obvious to literally everyone that you’re head over heels for that man. And the way you’re looking at him right now? Pretty sure he can feel it from across the room.”Taylor risked another glance at Matty. He was laughing at something George had said, his curls bouncing as he gestured animatedly. Her chest tightened, and she quickly looked away, muttering, “This is torture.”“Then do something about it,” Gigi whispered fiercely, giving her arm a supportive squeeze before walking away to mingle.Meanwhile, across the room, George was leaning against the back of the couch, eyeing Taylor with interest.“Why’s Taylor looking at you like that?” George asked, nudging Matty with his elbow.Matty turned to glance at her, catching the soft, lingering way her eyes stayed on him before she hurriedly looked away. He felt something stir in his chest—a mixture of warmth and curiosity.“She’s been…” Matty trailed off, searching for the right words. “She’s been acting different lately. A good kind of different.”George raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”“I don’t know,” Matty admitted, running a hand through his hair. George smirked, crossing his arms. “You guys are really annoying, you know? Please just get together already."Matty scoffed. He stared at the ground for a moment before looking back at Taylor. She was laughing at something Gigi had said, her face lit up. He didn’t respond, but George’s words stayed with him, echoing in his mind as the night went on. It started innocently enough.Taylor sat at her favorite corner of the café, her notebook open to a fresh page, pen poised above it. She had told herself she’d write a short story today—something fictional, something fun. But as the minutes passed and her pen hovered idly, her thoughts wandered somewhere else. Or rather, to someone else.Without realizing it, her pen moved, the words spilling out effortlessly.
His laugh is like sunlight—warm, bright, and impossible to ignore. It feels like stepping outside on the first day of spring, when everything is waking up and full of promise.
His eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles, little maps to the way he sees the world: mischievous, kind, endlessly curious. I could get lost in them if I’m not careful.
And then there’s his voice. Rough like sandpaper when he’s teasing me, soft like velvet when he’s serious. How is it possible for one person to sound like both a storm and a lullaby?
Taylor paused, her pen hovering over the page. Her chest felt tight as she re-read the lines. What am I doing?She glanced around the café, paranoid that someone might be peering over her shoulder. But no one was paying her any attention. Still, she had the urge to close the notebook, like a child hiding a diary entry.But she couldn’t stop.
He makes me feel seen. Like he notices all the little things I try to hide from everyone else, and instead of turning away, he leans in closer. He notices when I’m nervous, when I’m overthinking, when I need him to just sit with me in silence. He notices.
And then there’s the way he makes me laugh—really laugh. Not the polite chuckles I give to strangers, but the kind of laughter that makes my stomach hurt and my cheeks sore. The kind I can’t fake if I try. The kind only he can pull out of me.
Sometimes I wonder if he knows. If he sees the way I look at him when he’s not paying attention. If he feels the same pull I do when we’re together, like the air shifts and it’s just us. I wonder if he feels it too, or if it’s just me.
Taylor blinked down at the pages now filled with her messy handwriting. She flipped back, and back again, realizing she’d filled nearly five pages, all about him. About Matty.Her heart pounded as the weight of her own words settled over her.“God, what am I doing?” she whispered to herself, her cheeks burning.She quickly closed the notebook and slid it into her bag, like hiding it would make the words disappear. But they lingered in her mind, repeating over and over.She tried to focus on her coffee, on the sounds of the café, on anything but him. But it was no use.Later that evening, at home, she pulled the notebook out again. The pages stared back at her, a reflection of something she hadn’t fully admitted to herself before.She traced the lines with her fingers, feeling every word. They weren’t just observations or passing thoughts. They were feelings—real, deep, terrifying feelings.For a fleeting moment, she thought about showing him. About handing him the notebook and letting him read everything she couldn’t bring herself to say. But the thought alone made her stomach churn. What if he laughed? “No way,” she muttered, slamming the notebook shut again. “He can never see this.”But as she placed it on her nightstand, she caught herself smiling. She had always struggled to write about love. It had never felt real enough, honest enough. But with him, the words came so easily.It scared her how much he inspired her.And yet, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Matty had always sketched absentmindedly—on napkins, on the edges of receipts, on whatever scrap of paper was within reach. It was second nature to him, like breathing. But recently, his sketches had taken on a very specific subject.Taylor.It wasn’t intentional at first. He had been sitting in their usual café one afternoon, waiting for her to arrive, when his hand started moving across the page of his notebook. By the time she walked in, her hair wild from the wind and her cheeks pink from the cold, he had already drawn the curve of her smile.“Whatcha working on?” she had asked, leaning over his shoulder.Matty had snapped the notebook shut so fast she’d jumped.“Nothing,” he had mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just doodling.”She had raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious, but she let it go.Since then, “just doodling” had turned into something much bigger.Matty found himself sketching her constantly. Her laugh, the tilt of her head when she was focused, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear. Sometimes, he didn’t even realize he was doing it until he looked down and saw her face staring back at him.At first, it felt harmless. She was his best friend, after all. He spent so much time with her that her expressions were burned into his mind. But the more he sketched, the more he realized he wasn’t just drawing her features.He was drawing the way she made him feel.One evening, after a particularly long day at the shop, Matty sat at his drafting table with a cold beer and an open sketchbook. He flipped through the pages, landing on the one he’d started the day before: Taylor, sitting cross-legged on her couch, laughing at something he’d said.Her laugh had been so loud and unrestrained that it made him laugh too, even though he wasn’t sure what had been so funny. He’d been struck in that moment by how much she lit up a room, how much she lit up him.As he shaded the curve of her cheek, his chest tightened. Matty leaned back in his chair, staring at the page. The realization both thrilled and terrified him. A few days later, Taylor was at his apartment. She was sprawled out on his couch, flipping through a magazine while he worked on something at his desk.“Whatcha drawing now?” she asked, not looking up.“Just stuff,” he said, keeping his voice casual.“Uh-huh,” she replied, clearly unconvinced. She got up and walked over to him, peering over his shoulder.Matty tensed, quickly flipping the sketchbook shut.“Oh, come on!” she whined, poking him in the side. “You never let me see your stuff anymore.”“It’s not ready,” he said, avoiding her gaze.She frowned but didn’t push it. “Fine. But I’m holding you to it. Someday, I want a Matty Healy original for my wall.”He smirked, trying to play it cool. “Maybe someday.”Later that night, after Taylor had gone home, Matty pulled out his sketchbook again.He flipped to a page he hadn’t shown anyone—one he hadn’t even meant to draw. It was her, sitting on her favorite café stool, staring out the window with a faraway look in her eyes. He had captured the exact moment the sunlight hit her hair, turning it into a halo.He traced the lines with his fingers, wondering what she’d think if she saw it. Would she laugh? Be embarrassed? Or would she realize the truth hidden in every line?That he saw her.Matty sighed, closing the book and setting it aside.“Someday,” he muttered to himself. Taylor and Matty were sprawled on the living room floor of her apartment, the scrabble board between them a chaotic mess of letters. Taylor's brow furrowed as she carefully studied her tiles, her lip caught between her teeth in concentration. Matty leaned back on his hands, sipping his wine and smirking.“You’re overthinking it,” he teased. “Just put down something ridiculous. ‘Qi’ always works.”Taylor rolled her eyes but didn’t respond, and Matty’s smirk faded slightly. She’d been… off tonight. Still laughing at his jokes and engaging in their usual banter, but there was an edge to her, a nervousness she was failing to hide.“Alright,” she finally said, placing her tiles down. “Your turn.”Matty studied her for a moment before looking at the board. “Wait. ‘Serendipity’? Are you serious? How do you even have the letters for that?”Taylor shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Magic.”He laughed, shaking his head as he took his turn. The game carried on, but the atmosphere grew heavier as the evening wore on. By the time the board was mostly filled and their wine glasses empty, Matty leaned back against the couch and stretched.“It’s late,” he said casually. “Mind if I crash here tonight?”Taylor hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the stem of her wine glass. “Yeah, sure,” she said, her voice a little too high-pitched.Matty’s eyes narrowed slightly. Something was definitely wrong.She stood abruptly, grabbing their glasses. “I’ll just clean these up,” she muttered, heading toward the kitchen.Matty watched her retreating form for a moment before getting up and following her. He found her at the sink, rinsing the glasses with more force than necessary.“Alright, spill,” he said, leaning against the counter.Taylor didn’t look at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Come on, Tay,” he pressed, his voice softer now. “You’ve been weird all night. Did I do something?”That made her stop. She turned to face him, her hands gripping the edge of the counter. “No, you didn’t do anything. It’s just…”She trailed off, shaking her head like she was trying to physically shake away the thoughts plaguing her. Matty stepped closer, concern etched on his face.“Taylor,” he said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. “Talk to me.”And then, like a dam breaking, the words came tumbling out.“I’m in love with you.”The room fell silent, the sound of the running tap the only noise between them. Taylor’s heart hammered in her chest as she finally looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes.“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her voice trembling. “I know this might ruin everything, but I can’t keep pretending like it’s not true. I’m in love with you, Matty. And it’s been driving me crazy because I’m so scared of losing you.”She clamped her mouth shut, her chest heaving as she waited for him to respond. But Matty just stood there, staring at her, his face unreadable.“Say something,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.And Matty, for once in his life, was at a loss for words.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Matty stood frozen, the world narrowing to just Taylor’s tearful face and the weight of her words hanging in the air.“I’m in love with you.”It echoed in his mind, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. She loved him. Taylor, his best friend, the person who knew him better than anyone, loved him.“Say something,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.But before he could form a response, Taylor panicked and started rambling, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.“I’m sorry,” she said, pacing back and forth in the small kitchen, her hands gesturing wildly. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I know this is going to ruin everything. I can’t lose you, Matty. I can’t. And I get it if you don’t feel the same way. I’m probably not even enough for you—”“Taylor,” Matty interrupted, his voice firm but kind.“—and I know this is selfish, but I couldn’t keep it in anymore, and now I’ve just made everything—”“Taylor,” he said louder, stepping closer to her.She didn’t stop. “—so complicated, and you’re probably freaking out right now, and—”“Taylor Alison Swift, for the love of God, stop talking!”She froze, her wide, tearful eyes meeting his, her chest heaving.Matty exhaled a shaky breath, his hands running through his hair as he steadied himself. He took another step closer until he was standing directly in front of her.“First of all,” he began, his voice softer now, “you are more than enough. You’ve always been enough. Hell, you’re more than I’ve ever deserved.”Taylor blinked at him, her lips parting as he continued.“And second, I’ve been in love with you for longer than I care to admit. I was just scared as you to ruin everything. And please, please don’t say you’re not enough ever again. You’re....brilliant and kind and funny, with this ridiculous obsession with Scrabble and cats. You write poetry that makes me want to cry. You make the best cup of tea even though you insist on calling it ‘British juice.’”Taylor let out a watery laugh at that, her tears falling freely now.“You snort when you laugh too hard, you argue with the TV like it can hear you, and you sing like no one’s listening even when everyone is. I love that you make fun of my accent and I love that you make me want to be better just by being around you.”Taylor was laughing and crying all at once, her hands covering her mouth as she looked at him in awe.“And,” Matty added, his voice trembling now, “I love you. All of you. Every quirk, every flaw, every impossible, wonderful piece of you. So don’t you dare think for a second that you’re not enough. If anything, I’m the one who’s inadequate.”“Matty…” Taylor whispered, her voice cracking.They were both smiling through their tears, the weight of their feelings finally out in the open, leaving them lighter and freer than they’d felt in years.“Can I ask you something?” Taylor said, her voice barely audible.“Anything,” Matty replied, his heart pounding.“Will you kiss me?”Matty didn’t hesitate. He leaned in, his hands cupping her face, and pressed his lips to hers. It was soft and tentative at first, as if they were both afraid to shatter the moment, but then Taylor wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and everything else fell away.It wasn’t just a kiss. It was years of friendship, love, longing, and unspoken words finally finding their voice.They broke apart from their kiss, both breathless and grinning like idiots. Taylor’s fingers were curled in Matty’s shirt, tugging him closer as if she couldn’t quite believe this was real.“Wow,” she murmured, her lips still tingling. “That’s... not how I imagined our first kiss would go.”Matty cocked an eyebrow, his smirk teasing but affectionate. “Oh? And how did you imagine it?”“I don’t know,” she said, her cheeks flushing as she tried to play it off. “Less tongue, maybe?”Matty laughed, the sound low and warm, and leaned in again, his nose brushing hers. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”But there was no chance to retort because his lips were on hers again, and suddenly the room felt smaller, hotter, the air between them crackling with something that had been simmering for years. His hands were on her waist, pulling her close, and hers were in his hair, making a mess of his curls.Before either of them fully registered it, they were stumbling toward her bedroom, bumping into furniture and laughing between kisses.“Careful,” Taylor gasped as Matty nearly tripped over the edge of the rug.“Not my fault your flat’s a death trap,” he shot back, his grin devilish. But the playful moment dissolved as they reached her room, and she tugged him down onto the soft duvet.Her fingers found the hem of his t-shirt, and she hesitated for a split second, her eyes darting up to meet his.“Are we really doing this?” she asked, her voice softer now, laced with wonder.Matty cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “We are if you want to.”She nodded, her heart thundering in her chest. “I want to.”That was all the encouragement he needed. In one smooth motion, he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, revealing the canvas of tattoos that Taylor had admired a hundred times before—but never like this. Her gaze roamed over his chest, taking in every design, every swirl of ink.“You’re staring,” Matty teased, though the pink creeping up his neck suggested he didn’t mind.“Sorry,” she said, not sorry at all. “It’s just...” She reached out, tracing a finger over the tattoo on the center of his chest. “I’ve always wondered what this one feels like.”“Well, now you know,” he said, his voice roughening as her touch lingered.And then, she reached for the hem of her shirt.He didn’t know where to look at first. Her face, her hands, the slow, deliberate movement—it was all too much and not enough at the same time. His breath hitched as she pulled the fabric over her head.She was...Perfect.It wasn’t just the way her body curved, though those curves were captivating in a way that made his hands ache to touch her. It was everything else: the faint freckles scattered across her shoulders like constellations, the little scar near her hip he hadn’t known was there, the way her skin seemed to glow in the dim light.She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, her arms moving to cover herself instinctively.“Don’t,” Matty said, his voice hoarse.Her gaze flicked up to meet his, and he could see the nerves in her eyes.“You’re beautiful,” he blurted out, his words tumbling out faster than he could stop them. “I mean, like, breathtaking. Seriously.”Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, but her arms relaxed, and she let herself be seen.Matty sat up slightly, his fingers trailing along her arm, slow and reverent, like he was afraid she might disappear if he moved too quickly. He didn’t know how to tell her what he was feeling, how to put into words the awe that was coursing through him.“Can I…?” he asked, gesturing toward her.She nodded, her lips curving into a small, nervous smile.His hands moved carefully, tracing the lines of her collarbone, the slope of her shoulder, the delicate rise of her ribs. Every inch of her was a revelation, a masterpiece he didn’t think he deserved to touch but couldn’t resist.“You’ve got freckles here,” he murmured, brushing his thumb over her shoulder.She laughed softly, the sound shaky but warm. “Yeah, I’m aware.”“I like them,” he said simply, leaning in to press his lips against one. “I don’t know how I’ve never seen them before.”Taylor shivered, and Matty couldn’t help but smile.He leaned back just enough to take her in fully, his gaze drinking her in like she was the only thing in the world worth seeing. “You’re…this is so much better than I ever imagined.”Her laugh was more relaxed this time, her fingers trailing through his hair. “You imagined this, huh?”He grinned sheepishly. “Maybe a little.”He kissed another freckle, then another. He seemed intent on worshiping every inch of her, his lips trailing down her arms, her collarbone, the slope of her neck, leaving her breathless. She wanted to let him kiss every inch of her but at the same time she was aching to explore his body.She pushed him back lightly, putting a hand against his chest. Then her hand traveled further, over his shoulder, up and down his arm following the lines of his tattoos like a map leading her somewhere unknown. She traced the freckles scattered across his collarbone, the faint scars she hadn’t noticed before.“You have freckles too,” she murmured, her voice soft, almost reverent.“Yeah, but yours are better,” he teased, his lips curving into a small, lopsided smile.She shook her head, leaning in to kiss one of the freckles on his chest. “I don’t know about that.”Her lips lingered on his skin, her breath catching as she felt his heartbeat beneath her. He was so warm and it made her feel both grounded and untethered at the same time.When her hand moved lower, just brushing the edge of his waistband, she hesitated. Her cheeks burned as she glanced up at him.“Taylor,” Matty said softly, his voice pulling her out of her thoughts. His hand cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing over her cheek.“Let me,” she whispered, her voice trembling but sure.She let her hand drift lower, her fingers brushing over him tentatively. Matty let out a sharp exhale, his body reacting instantly to her touch.Her nerves spiked again, but when she looked up at him, his expression wasn’t impatient or expectant—it was pure bliss.“You’re…driving me crazy,” he said, his voice raw, his hand trailing down her back, pulling her closer.Taylor felt a surge of emotion she couldn’t quite name, and as her hands explored him further, she couldn’t help but marvel at the contrasts: the strength in his arms, the softness on his face, the way his body seemed to respond to her every touch.By the time they were down to their underwear, they were both laughing again, the awkwardness of fumbling with straps and buttons breaking the tension.“Why are bras so bloody complicated?” Matty muttered, his fingers struggling with the clasp.Taylor reached back to help him. When it finally came undone, she shot him a triumphant look. “See? Easy.”He just rolled his eyes and kissed her again, shutting her up in the best way possible.Their laughter faded as they came together fully, skin against skin, the weight of the moment hitting them both. The jokes and teasing gave way to something deeper, more reverent. Matty’s hands were everywhere—her waist, her hips, her thighs—learning the shape of her as if committing it to memory.Taylor marveled at how natural this felt, how perfectly they fit together. “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” she whispered, her hands sliding up his back as he pushed into her over and over.“Because we’re idiots,” he replied, his lips brushing her ear. “But at least we figured it out.”And as they moved together, their bodies finding a rhythm that felt like coming home, Taylor couldn’t help but think he was absolutely right. Later, the room was quiet, the only sounds their breaths and the faint hum of the city outside Taylor’s window. They lay in her bed, the sheets a tangled mess around them, their bodies pressed close, skin against skin. Taylor’s fingers moved with purpose, tracing the curve of Matty’s cheekbone, the slope of his nose, and the bow of his lips. It felt surreal, touching him like this, with nothing between them—no barriers, no doubts, no unspoken words.Matty caught her hand, his lips brushing over her knuckles as he held her gaze. His eyes were so warm, so full of everything she felt but couldn’t yet articulate.“Hi,” he said softly, his voice tinged with that familiar teasing lilt but underpinned with tenderness.Taylor smiled, her thumb brushing over his cheek. “Hi.”For a moment, they just looked at each other, neither willing to break the spell. But then Taylor’s expression shifted, a flicker of worry crossing her face.“What’s wrong?” Matty asked, immediately noticing.She hesitated, her fingers stilling on his skin. “I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.“Of what?” he asked, his brows knitting together.“Of this,” she said, gesturing between them. “Of things changing. What if we lose what we had? What if—”“Taylor,” Matty interrupted gently, cupping her face with both hands. “Look at me.”She did, her wide, blue eyes meeting his.“Nothing’s going to change,” he said firmly, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. “Well, okay, maybe some things will. Like how I’m never going to stop kissing you now that I know I can.”That earned him a soft laugh, and he grinned.“But we’ll always be us,” he continued. “We’re still best friends. We’re still going to grow old together and laugh at the same dumb jokes and argue over Scrabble rules. You’re still going to make fun of my accent, and I’m still going to tell you that you’re doing it wrong.”“British juice,” she murmured, her lips twitching.“Exactly,” he said, his smile widening. “And we’re going to be happy, Tay. So happy. I promise you that.”Taylor felt her chest tighten, a lump forming in her throat as his words sank in. It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he said it, with such certainty and love that she couldn’t help but believe him.She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “You really mean that?”“Every word,” he said, his own voice thick with emotion.Taylor leaned in, pressing her forehead against his, her hands slipping into his curls. “I want that” she whispered. “So much.”Matty kissed her again, slow and deep, as if sealing his promise. And as they lay there, wrapped up in each other, Taylor felt something shift inside her.For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t scared. She was ready. George’s apartment was buzzing with energy, though noticeably tamer than usual. The infamous party king had, to everyone’s shock, dialed it down—probably thanks to Charli.Matty and Taylor stepped into the room hand in hand, and while Taylor felt a slight nervous flutter in her stomach, it was quickly replaced by warmth when she caught sight of their friends.“Look who finally decided to stop torturing us,” Gigi exclaimed, practically bouncing over. Her grin was so wide it made Taylor laugh.“Yeah, yeah,” Matty said, rolling his eyes playfully as Gigi pulled Taylor into a hug.“I mean, I knew it was going to happen, but I didn’t think I’d live to see the day,” Gigi teased, pulling back to give them both an exaggerated once-over.“Thanks for the faith,” Taylor said dryly, though she couldn’t stop smiling.“‘Fucking finally,’” Jack’s voice chimed in from behind them, drawing everyone’s attention. He clapped Matty on the shoulder with a grin.Matty smirked. “You act like it’s been obvious or something.”“Please,” George said, sidling up with Charli in tow. “It’s been painfully obvious.”Charli nodded in agreement, a sly smile on her lips. “The way she looks at you, the way you look at her—honestly, I thought you were already a thing the first time I met you.”Taylor blushed, but Matty only squeezed her hand tighter. “What can I say? We’re slow learners.”For the rest of the night, the teasing continued relentlessly. Gigi kept nudging Taylor every time she caught her and Matty exchanging a glance, and Jack took every opportunity to dramatically swoon whenever Matty said anything remotely sweet.But none of it mattered. If anything, it only made the night better. Matty and Taylor couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t stop touching—whether it was a brush of hands, a stolen kiss, or the way Taylor leaned into him as they talked with their friends.At one point, Gigi leaned over and whispered, “I’ve never seen you this happy.”Taylor looked over at Matty, who was deep in conversation with George, his hand resting comfortably on her knee. “I’ve never been this happy,” she whispered back, her chest swelling with warmth.By the end of the night, as they said their goodbyes and headed home, Taylor couldn’t help but reflect on how much had changed. It felt like their world had shifted, but instead of falling apart, everything had clicked into place.As they walked down the quiet street, hand in hand, Matty glanced over at her. “You’re quiet,” he said.Taylor smiled up at him. “Just thinking.”“About?”“How lucky I am,” she said softly, leaning into him.Matty stopped walking, turning to face her fully. “If anyone’s lucky, it’s me,” he said, his voice serious.Taylor rolled her eyes playfully but couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re not bad, Healy.”“And you’re perfect, Swift,” he replied, pulling her in for a kiss under the glow of the streetlights.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. Matty sat cross-legged on the couch, a steaming mug of tea in his hand, while Taylor was curled up in the armchair across from him, a leather-bound notebook resting on her knees. Her pen tapped against the pages rhythmically as she stared out the window, lost in thought.Matty watched her with a soft smile. “You’re in the zone again, aren’t you?” he teased.Taylor glanced up, smiling. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just thinking about how bad your tea smells.”“Hey, this is proper tea. You wouldn’t know good tea if it hit you in the face.”She laughed but then her gaze dropped to her notebook, and the laughter softened into something more serious. Matty noticed the shift immediately.“What’s on your mind, love?” he asked, setting his mug down on the coffee table and leaning forward.Taylor hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of the notebook. “I, uh, I wrote something. About us.”Matty’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Yeah?”“Yeah,” she said softly, her cheeks turning pink. “It’s just... I’ve been thinking about how far we’ve come. How everything’s changed, but also stayed the same in the best way. And I wanted to put it into words.”Matty’s heart swelled. “I’d love to hear it.”Taylor swallowed hard but nodded. She opened the notebook to the freshly inked page. She took a deep breath and began.
I didn’t know what forever looked like
Until it came wrapped in laughter,
In inside jokes and stolen glances,
In the warmth of your arm around my shoulder.
You, the storm and the calm,
The chaos I’d always run from—
Until I realized it felt like home.
You, who sees every part of me
And loves me more because of it.
We were never meant to be simple.
We are late-night talks and quiet mornings,
The mess of it all somehow perfect.
We are every shade of love,
From fiery reds to the softest blues.
I’d say I love you to the moon and back,
But even the moon feels too close,
Too small to hold how I feel for you.
So instead, I’ll say this:
You are my always, my once in a lifetime,
And in every world, in every life,
I’d choose you,
Again and again.
When Taylor finished, the room was quiet. Matty blinked a few times, his throat tight. “You... you wrote that about me?”She nodded, biting her lip nervously. “Yeah. I guess it’s my way of saying... I’m all in. With you.”Matty didn’t hesitate. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her with a tenderness that stole her breath.When they pulled apart, his forehead rested against hers. “You’ve always been my once in a lifetime, Taylor. Even when I was too daft to see it.”She laughed, her heart lighter than it had ever felt. “I guess that makes us even.”“Even?” He grinned. “Oh, no, love. After that poem, I’m pretty sure I owe you a lifetime of ‘I love yous.’”Taylor smiled, her hand finding his. “Good thing we’ve got forever.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Taylor woke up to the faint smell of something burning. Blinking against the morning light streaming through her bedroom window, she turned to find Matty’s side of the bed empty.Frowning, she threw on a sweatshirt and padded out to the kitchen, where chaos awaited her.Matty stood at the stove, shirtless and barefoot, wielding a spatula like it was a weapon. Flour dusted his hair, and a trail of batter streaked across his arm. The pan in front of him held a sad, charred excuse for a pancake.“Are you trying to burn my apartment down?” Taylor asked, leaning against the doorframe.Matty spun around, startled but quickly recovered, flashing her a sheepish grin. “Good morning, love. I was trying to make you breakfast.”She arched an eyebrow. “Looks like breakfast is trying to make you.”He sighed dramatically, gesturing to the pile of pancake-shaped disasters on the counter. “I’ve got a bit of a learning curve, alright? But it’s the thought that counts.”Taylor couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, move over. Let me show you how it’s done.”“No way,” he said, blocking her path with his flour-covered arm. “This is a romantic gesture. You just sit there and look pretty.”She crossed her arms. “Matty, you’ve set off my smoke detector twice this month.”“Whatever,” he said, shooing her toward the table.Reluctantly, she sat down, watching him with a mix of amusement and affection. He poured more batter into the pan, this time producing something vaguely circular.“Not bad,” she admitted.He smirked. “Told you I’d get it.”As the pancake cooked, Matty suddenly spun around, pointing the spatula at her. “Alright, Taylor Swift, riddle me this: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?”She tilted her head, pretending to think. “Easy. Sushi.”“Wrong answer,” he said with mock seriousness. “The correct answer is obviously pancakes made by your handsome boyfriend.”Taylor rolled her eyes. “You’re only saying that because you’re on a pancake kick right now. Last week, it was bagels.”“And yet here you are,” he teased, flipping the pancake onto a plate and placing it in front of her. “Eating my culinary masterpiece.”She took a bite, her expression neutral. “It’s... not terrible.”Matty gasped, clutching his chest. “Not terrible? That’s the highest praise I’ve ever gotten in the kitchen!”She laughed at his silliness, the kind of laugh that made her cheeks ache and her heart feel too big for her chest.Matty sat across from her and Taylor reached across the table, her hand covering his. “Thank you,” she said softly.“For almost poisoning you?” he joked, though his eyes were warm.“For everything,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Matty smiled, leaning across the table to kiss her. “Always, love.” The first thing Taylor noticed when Matty started moving his things into her apartment was how much stuff he had."Why do you own this many t-shirts?" she asked, holding up one of the countless identical items she'd just unpacked.Matty, busy trying to shove his record collection into a shelf already crammed with her books, looked over and shrugged. "I like to collect them. You’re not exactly one to talk, Miss ‘I Need Every Weird Vintage Trinket I Can Get My Hands On.’"Taylor gasped in mock offense. "First of all, you said you loved my trinkets. Second of all, shut up.”She threw the t-shirt at him. He dodged it, grinning, and went back to organizing his records.They had spent the entire day carrying boxes up the three flights of stairs to her apartment, arguing over which of their belongings deserved precious shelf space. Taylor insisted on keeping her poetry anthologies front and center, while Matty lobbied for prime placement of his collection of obscure punk albums.“Compromise,” Taylor said, holding up a decorative basket. “Books on one side, records on the other.”Matty eyed the basket like it had personally offended him. “Compromise feels a lot like me losing.”“It’s called teamwork,” she said sweetly, giving him her best innocent smile.“Fine,” he muttered, shoving some records into the basket.Taylor laughed, grabbing a stray box labeled “miscellaneous” and ripping it open. Inside, she found a small, slightly battered stuffed dog.Her heart softened. “Matty, what’s this?”He looked up, then immediately turned pink. “Oh, uh... that’s Rufus.”“Rufus?” she repeated, holding it up.“I’ve had him since I was five,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s... seen some things.”Taylor’s grin widened. “This is adorable. Why didn’t you tell me about Rufus before?”“Because you would do exactly what you’re doing now—looking at me like I’m a lost puppy you want to adopt.”“I already adopted you,” she teased, hugging Rufus to her chest. “Rufus is staying. He can guard the bookshelf.”“Don’t tell the guys about this,” Matty said, shaking his head. “I’ll never hear the end of it.”“I make no promises,” she said, sticking out her tongue.The sun was setting by the time they finished unpacking, the apartment finally starting to feel like theirs. Matty stood in the middle of the living room, hands on his hips, surveying the chaos of boxes and bubble wrap.“Well,” he said, “we survived step one.”“Step two is pizza,” Taylor said, collapsing onto the couch.“Step three is figuring out who gets which side of the bed,” he added, flopping down beside her.She raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, were you under the impression that we’d be switching sides?”“Just thought I’d throw it out there,” he said, smirking.“Matty, I’ve slept on the left side of the bed for years. You can’t just waltz in here and—”He cut her off with a kiss, leaving her momentarily stunned.“That won’t work, I’ll keep my side” she said, pulling back, her voice softer. “But Rufus can sleep with us.”“Deal,” he said, grinning as he pulled her closer. Later that night, after the pizza was eaten and the chaos had settled, they lay in bed together, Taylor’s head resting on Matty’s chest.“You know,” she said, her voice drowsy, “I’ve never been this happy.”“Me neither,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair. And as they drifted off to sleep, tangled together in their messy, imperfect, wonderful new home, it felt like the start of the best chapter yet. Taylor stood by the window of their apartment, the late afternoon light casting a golden glow across the room. The vinyl collection, now housed in the lopsided shelf, stood proudly against the wall. The once-chaotic space was now an eclectic blend of their lives—her books, his sketches, shared photos, and mementos from the past decade.“Hey, you,” Matty’s voice broke her reverie.She turned to see him leaning against the doorway, holding two mugs of tea. His curls were wild, his tattooed arms on full display as he offered her one.“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, handing her the mug.She smiled, taking it. “Just thinking about how far we’ve come.”“Oh, yeah?” He flopped onto the couch, patting the cushion beside him. “Let’s hear it.”Taylor joined him, tucking her feet under her. “Do you remember when you first moved to the city?”Matty laughed. “How could I forget? I was broke, clueless, and convinced that all New Yorkers secretly hated me.”She grinned. “And now you’re just broke and clueless.”He nudged her playfully. “Harsh. But fair.”Taylor leaned her head against his shoulder. “I don’t think I ever told you how much you changed my life.”Matty frowned, his teasing tone softening. “What do you mean?”“You came into my world like a whirlwind,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “With your stupid jokes and ridiculous accent—”“Rude,” he interjected, but his smile was tender.“—and you made everything brighter. Even when I didn’t know it, I needed you.”Matty put his mug down and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. “You’ve been my anchor, Taylor. Through everything. I wouldn’t have survived this city without you.”They sat in comfortable silence for a while.“I want to show you something,” Matty said suddenly, getting up and going to their bedroom.Taylor raised an eyebrow as he came back with a sketchbook in his hands.“What’s this?” she asked, taking it from him.“Open it.”She opened it carefully, her eyes widening at the first page.It was a sketch of her, laughing at something she couldn’t remember now, but he’d captured her joy perfectly.“Matty…” she whispered, flipping to the next page. And the next.Every page was her. Her smile, her hands, her hair. Moments he had tucked away in his memory and brought to life on paper.By the time she reached the last drawing, a detailed portrait of her looking out the window, tears were streaming down her face.Matty fidgeted nervously, sitting next to her. “I told you it was a lot,” he said, his voice softer now.Taylor looked at him, her eyes shining. “This is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.”He shifted, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “You don’t think it’s... weird?”She shook her head, laughing through her tears. “Matty, you’ve captured me in ways I didn’t even know were possible. I don’t even recognize myself like this, but you do. How could I not love it?”She set the sketchbook aside and crawled over to him, cupping his face in her hands. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For seeing me like this. For loving me like this.”Matty leaned into her touch, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll always see you like this.”She kissed him then, slow and deep, pouring every ounce of her love into him. The world around them faded as they sank into the couch, tangled together in a mess of limbs and laughter and whispered promises.Their love wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs—raw and real.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
2015
“Why are you so bloody competitive?” Matty laughed, dodging the pillow Taylor hurled at him.They were at George’s party, sitting on the floor of the living room with a scattered deck of cards between them. The rest of the group had moved on to other conversations, but Taylor and Matty were locked in a heated game of Speed, neither willing to concede.“Because I can’t stand losing,” Taylor replied with mock indignation, slapping her card down with a flourish.Matty smirked, narrowing his eyes. “You’re terrifying. Remind me never to challenge you again.”She grinned, victorious. “You’ll forget by tomorrow, Healy.”She was right. He would forget. And he would challenge her again and again, always drawn to her fire.
2019
“Alright, one more drink, and then we’re cutting you off,” Matty said, pointing at Taylor, who was giggling uncontrollably.They were out with friends, celebrating Jack’s birthday. The neon lights of the bar painted her face in vibrant colors as she leaned into him, laughing at a joke he hadn’t even made.“You’re my favorite person, you know that?” Taylor slurred, poking his chest.Matty felt his heart skip a beat. “Yeah?” he said, his voice softer.“Yeah,” she whispered, her hand lingering on his arm.For a moment, the world stilled. Their eyes met, and Matty could feel the pull between them, stronger than ever.But then Jack stumbled into their booth, interrupting the moment. And just like that, the spell was broken.
2024
“Matty, if you don’t stop hoarding these ridiculous T-shirts, I’m throwing them out,” Taylor called from the closet.“Don’t you dare!” Matty replied, running into the room with mock horror. “These are vintage.”“They’re ratty,” Taylor corrected, holding up one with a hole in the armpit.He shrugged, grinning. “Fine, I’ll compromise. You can throw out two.”Taylor rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. Moving in together had been chaotic, but it was them.Later that night, as they lay on the couch, Taylor whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.”Matty kissed her forehead. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
2026
Matty paced the hospital hallway, his hands shaking as he stared at the door. He had stepped out while they checked on his girls for the third time in a couple of hours and he was using that time to call and respond texts from various friends and family members.Then, the nurse stepped out. “You can come in now.”Matty walked in, his heart pounding still. Taylor was exhausted but glowing, cradling their tiny daughter in her arms.“So glad you’re back, we missed you,” Taylor whispered.Matty sank into the chair beside her, his eyes glued to their daughter. She was tiny, perfect, and utterly theirs.“She’s so beautiful, I can’t stop looking and I’m scared she might think it’s creepy.” Matty choked out, his voice breaking.Taylor smiled, leaning her head against his. “We made her.”Matty reached out, gently touching a tiny hand. “I’ve never loved anything more,” he said, his voice filled with awe. “Tell me again! Tell me again, please, please!”Taylor glanced up from her book, smiling at Hazel. Hazel was sprawled on the living room rug, her wild curls half-covered by a blanket she’d dragged from her room. Matty was stretched out on the couch, pretending not to listen as he scrolled through his phone.“You already know this story,” Taylor said, setting the book down.“But I like it!” Hazel insisted, rolling onto her stomach. “It’s fun, and Daddy always makes faces when you tell it.”“That’s because your mum loves to exaggerate,” Matty chimed in, looking over the edge of his phone with a smirk.Taylor raised an eyebrow. “I do not exaggerate. You just don’t like admitting you were awkward.”“I was charming,” Matty corrected, sitting up. “You were awkward.”Hazel giggled, her bright eyes darting between them. “Tell me! Both of you!”Taylor smiled, leaning forward. “Alright. It all started at Uncle George’s party—”“—a party I didn’t even want to go to,” Matty interrupted.”“You were sulking when I first saw you,” Taylor said, ignoring Matty’s protest. “You looked like you’d rather be anywhere else.”“That’s because George wouldn’t stop introducing me to people I didn’t want to meet,” Matty defended himself. “But then you approached me, with so much confidence, it was amazing, love.”“I just wasn’t intimidated by your tortured artist act,” Taylor teased.“Anyway,” Matty continued, leaning forward to tickle Hazel’s side, “your mum decided to sass me the moment we met.”“I wasn’t sassing you,” Taylor argued, laughing.Hazel clapped her hands, giggling uncontrollably. “What happened next?”“Well,” Taylor said, crossing her arms, “your dad and I got to talking all night and I decided he wasn’t so annoying after all, and then, when I was leaving, he ran out after me and asked for my number.”“I couldn’t resist,” Matty said, shrugging. “I knew I’d never meet anyone else who could keep up with my banter.”“And I gave it to him,” Taylor said, smiling at Hazel, “because even though he was insufferable, he made me laugh.”“Now you’re stuck with me,” Matty said, winking at Hazel.Hazel tilted her head. “But did you know you were gonna get married?”Taylor and Matty exchanged a look, their smiles softening.“No,” Taylor said, reaching over to take Matty’s hand. “But I knew I wanted to see him again.”“And again,” Matty added, squeezing her hand. “And again. Until one day, I couldn’t imagine not seeing her.”“And you became the bestest friends ever and then you were in love.” Hazel’s face lit up with a big grin. “That’s a good story.”Matty chuckled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “It’s the best story.”“And now we have you,” Taylor said, brushing Hazel’s curls back as she climbed into her lap and filled her face with kisses.“You guys are mushy,” she half-complained, though she didn’t let go.“Get used to it, kid,” Matty said, pulling her into his lap. “You’re part of this mushy family now.”Hazel giggled as Taylor rested her head on Matty’s shoulder, her heart full of love for the life they’d built together.