Chapter 2
“So,” said Taylor, slowing her gait so that she could fall into step with Matty, who was moseying along at his own leisurely pace, a lit cigarette dangling between two fingers as he took in the sights of Central Park and the crowds moving through it on a bustling Saturday morning.
She wished he would walk a little faster, she could feel the gaze of passerbyers giving her a second look as they moved past, asking themselves if that really was Taylor Swift wearing a navy peacoat and green knit hat. She was thankful for her security guard, Greg, watching them from a few yards back, trying to pretend like that wasn’t what he was doing. “Do you like cats?”
“I’m more of a dog person, really,” Matty said, exhaling a lung full of smoke, causing Taylor to wrinkle her nose. She might be a popstar now, but compared to the other men she had been linked to, he looked like a rockstar. Dark tousled curls with an undercut, wayfarer sunglasses and a leather jacket, black skinny jeans ripped at the knee, if she wrote a song describing his appearance she knew she would be criticized for it being too much of a cliche.
“Oh,” she said, “okay then,” not sure how to proceed with someone who didn’t like cats.
“Sorry,” he said with a shrug. “I know cats are like your whole thing.” He looked over the top of his sunglasses giving her a leer, “I just didn’t realize how far that extended.”
Taylor scowled, “we’re in public,” she hissed. “You can’t just say shit like that.”
Matty smirked. “Sorry babe,” he said, dropping the butt of his cigarette and crushing it under the heel of his Chelsea boot.
“You’re not forgiven,” she said cheerfully, grabbing his hand. There was a cluster of teenage girls up ahead, staring at them with wide eyes. Matty tried to jerk away, clearly surprised by the contact, but Taylor held tight, knowing the pictures would be all over Twitter and Instagram within the hour. Articles would be written- headlines proclaiming “Meet Taylor’s New Man”. She knew that was the point of this entire excursion, but it still made her feel dirty. She could feel the tension rolling off of Matty in thick waves as they garnered more and more attention.
“Can you at least try and relax?” she hissed, making sure to keep a smile plastered to her face. This wasn’t the first time she had pretended to be smitten with a man of her label’s choosing.
“Sorry,” said Matty, surprising Taylor with the way he actually sounded so. “Not used to this kind of attention,” he winced at the sound of a camera shutter, “it’s giving me war flashbacks to being cornered in Sainsbury's when I was a kid.”
Interesting, she thought, suddenly wondering more about his background. It couldn’t be anything bad if Tree had orchestrated their relationship, but she was still curious.
“Well, just pretend you’re having a nice time, please,” she said, increasing her speed to half drag him behind her.
“Not all of us are fucking giants,” he muttered, “your legs are longer than mine.”
“That sounds like a you problem,” Taylor said cheerfully as Matty did a little skip hop to catch up.
“Jesus woman,” he said, “you’re bloody strong,” as Taylor nearly jerked his arm out of the socket, trying still to encourage him to walk faster.
“And you walk slower than my grandmother,” Taylor snipped. “And I have heels on.”
“I’m just trying to take in the sights,” Matty said, “Not all of us grew up in the colonies.”
“Colonies?!” Taylor exclaimed but Matty ignored her.
“I’m also hungover as fuck right now, like highly considering going to go yosh behind a bush.” Matty continued.
“That’s just the kind of photos we need on the internet,” Taylor muttered, smiling over at Matty as she heard the click of another camera shutter.
“Yeah, well no one gave two shits about me until now,” Matty said, tightening his grip instinctually on her hand as another camera flashed. “I was just Denise Welch’s junkie son til you showed up.”
Taylor filed that information away for a Google search later. “I cared didn’t I? I went to two of your shows.”
“Which reminds me, how the hell did Taylor Fucking Swift even hear about us anyway?” Matty asked. “I know we have that one song on US radio now, but still.”
Taylor flushed, “Tumblr.”
Matty laughed out right, tossing his head back in exaggerated amusement as a new wave of camera shutters echoed around them.
“Taylor Fucking Swift is a tumblr girl, I love it.”
“Don’t act so surprised,” said Taylor cheeks still slightly pink. She had seen a gif set from their music video for Robbers, with the caption “Babe You Look So Cool.” A Google search had led to the actual music video, which had led to her buying their album on iTunes, which had led to her dragging Selena to the show in LA. Turns out it was easier to fly under the radar without a herd of six feet tall Victoria’s Secret Angels who want to be seen.
“I’m flattered, truly,” said Matty, smiling, even though Taylor could feel him flinch every time a camera went off. His lyrics were clever, something Taylor enjoyed and respected, though she didn’t think she would be telling him that anytime soon.
“There is a Starbucks just around the corner,” said Taylor, leading Matty down a path that took them to the edge of the park. “The paparazzi won’t be able to follow us in there, just the fans.”
“Starbucks lovers, ha,” said Matty with a chuckle, “Sounds good though,” he paused. “But can you let go for a moment? I really need another cigarette.”
Rolling her eyes, Taylor let go of his hand, allowing him to pull a semi squashed packet of cigarettes out of his back pocket. He placed one between his teeth, returned the carton to his pocket, and produced a purple lighter from his jacket.
“Do you want one?” Matty asked after taking a drag, it was like something uncurled in his body, allowing him to relax as he took in that first breath, nicotine hitting his blood stream.
“I don’t think those are the kind of pictures Tree had in mind for today,” Taylor said, thinking of the uproar her fan base would have if she was caught smoking, as she retook Matty’s hand. “Finish that quick though, Starbucks is a few blocks ahead.”
“Is this going to be our entire relationship?” Matty asked, fluttering his lashes behind his sunglasses. “You telling me what to do?”
“Depends,” said Taylor, the corner of her red lips turning up into a smirk. “Are you into that?”
Matty barked out a laugh, clearly not expecting that answer.
“I can be,” he said coyly, leaning in to whisper to her, his breath hot and smokey against her ear. “George says I’m a fucking brat though.” The sound of a camera shuttered echoed around then.
This time it was Taylor’s turn to laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Just wait love,” said Matty grinning, “I’ll surprise you yet.”
Taylor rolled her eyes, and they paused, watching traffic whiz past before crossing the street. They crossed the street quickly, the Starbucks just up ahead.
They paused on the corner, Taylor checking her phone as Matty finished his cigarette. There was a text message from Tree with a link to Twitter that said “Good work.” Despite the feeling of dread in her stomach, Taylor clicked on it.
They were fan photos, thankfully, slightly blurry from being zoomed in, but it was unmistakably her and Matty, walking hand through Central Park, both grinning and looking smitten with one another. Maybe Matty was a better actor than she gave him credit for, she thought, enlarging the photo. For all of his complaining, he actually looked like he was having the time of his life.
A second text came in from Tree a moment later.
“Bring him back to the apartment so we can get some photos of him entering- we’ll make sure he gets papped again leaving late tonight.”
Taylor took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure how Matty was going to feel about that. But she was powerless but to agree. “Ok.”
“Alright,” said Matty, clapping his hands together, his cigarette discarded. “Coffee time?”
“Aren’t all you Brits supposed to be tea drinkers?” Taylor asked cheekily, causing Matty to roll his eyes.
“I already told you I was hungover as fuck, I need coffee, and lots of it.” He said dramatically, pausing to hold the door open for her, much to her surprise as they stepped into the shop.
“What do you want?” He asked, he had pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head and was already pulling out his wallet.
“I got it,” said Taylor, stepping ahead of him.
“I asked you out, remember?” He said cheekily, having clocked the wide eyed fans sitting at a table by the door. “Means I get the honor of buying you a cup of coffee.”
Taylor fought back a smile, playing along, though something in her chest twinged, none of her real boyfriends had ever insisted on paying before. And she didn’t think Karlie had paid for anything, ever, during the entire course of their relationship.
“Fine then,” she said before turning to address the barista. “Can I get a grande nonfat caramel latte please?” She ordered from the starstruck barista. “Am um, the name is Taylor.” She said, not wanting someone to turn around and write an article about her assuming everyone knew who she was.
“And I’ll get a venti peppermint mocha, just normal please, thanks love,” said Matty before pausing, “Oh, and a brownie. For Matty please,” he said, handing over a crisp twenty dollar bill.
“American money is so weird,” he muttered half to himself, and half to Taylor as he returned his change to the wallet, the pair having stepped to the side to wait for their drinks.
“I can’t believe you ordered a peppermint mocha,” said Taylor with a smile, she would have assumed he drank his coffee black, and would have made some kind of quip about it matching his soul.
“It’s festive! And chocolatey,” Matty argued, “peppermint mochas and those Starbucks brownies have made up like half my diet since pumpkin spice season ended.” He paused, speaking passionately with his hands, “pumpkin spice lattes were the best part of touring in the US this fall, we don’t do the whole pumpkin thing in the UK.”
“I don’t know what’s more shocking,” said Taylor deadpan, “the fact that you just got that excited about a PSL or the fact that you eat like that and are still that fucking skinny.”
“It’s the heroin babe,” he said, stepping up to the counter just as their names were called, “it keeps me slim.”
Taylor just rolled her eyes and accepted her drink. “Do you want to sit inside, outside, or walk around some more?”
“Up to you love,” said Matty, taking a sip of his mocha and making a little happy sound as he did so.
“Do you want to walk back towards my apartment?” She asked, they had stepped back into ear range of the fans by the door. She couldn’t help but add, while he was powerless to react. “Spend some time with Olivia and Meredith?”
Matty started to make a face at the mention of the cats but quickly schooled his features. “I can’t think of anything I would like more.”