It's you and me that's my whole world

the meetup

**requested chapter**

August 2018 was a month filled with anticipation and excitement. I had heard so much about Joe Alwyn, Mom's new love interest, and now it was finally time to meet him in person. The doorbell rang, and my heart raced as I made my way to the door.

As I swung the door open, I found myself face to face with Joe. He looked good, no doubt about that. But what really struck me was how nervous he seemed – like he was meeting Taylor Swift's father, not her daughter.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice a tad shaky.

"Hey there," I replied, unable to hide my grin. It was clear he was feeling the pressure.

We exchanged a few pleasantries, and the conversation was... well, a bit awkward. I could tell Joe was trying his best, but his nervousness was palpable. And then an idea popped into my mischievous mind – why not have a little fun with this situation?

Just as I was about to drop another teasing comment, I noticed Taylor standing at the doorway, a faint smile playing on her lips. She was clearly enjoying the show.

"So, Joe," I began, pretending to be overly serious, "you do know my mom is pretty protective, right?"

He nodded quickly, his eyes wide. "Oh, absolutely. I'm aware."

I leaned in, making my tone as serious as possible. "And you do know that I'm her most precious possession, right?"

His eyes darted around as if searching for the right words. "I, uh, definitely understand the importance of family."

I shot a glance at Taylor, who was now openly smirking. She raised an eyebrow, silently egging me on. I couldn't resist.

I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. "Good, good. Just making sure we're on the same page."

As we chatted further, I continued to drop comments that made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. Taylor couldn't hide her amusement, and I could see her trying to stifle her laughter.

Finally, I decided it was time to give Joe a break. "You know, Joe, I've been watching you for a while now."

He looked at me, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes. "Watching me?"

I nodded, a playful grin on my lips. "Yeah, watching. And I've come to a conclusion."

Taylor couldn't contain herself anymore and let out a soft chuckle.

He leaned in, looking both curious and a little scared. "And what's that?"

I paused for a moment, glancing at Taylor again before turning back to Joe. "I like you, Joe."

His brows furrowed, his expression utterly perplexed. "You... you do?"

Taylor's laughter grew louder, and she gave me an amused look. Joe looked utterly taken aback.

I burst into laughter, unable to keep up the charade any longer. "Oh my gosh, Joe, relax! I'm just messing with you."

Taylor joined in the laughter, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Y/N, you're terrible."

I grinned at her, mischief still present. "Hey, it's all in good fun."

Joe let out a breath he probably didn't realize he was holding. "Wow, you really had me going there."

I laughed at his relieved expression. "Don't worry, Joe. I like you – you seem like a good guy. And as long as you keep my mom happy, use protection, and ask me first if you decide to marry her, we're all good."

A sudden hush fell over the room. My tone had turned serious, almost solemn. I met Joe's gaze dead-on, not a trace of mischief left in my eyes. Taylor's laughter had died down too, replaced by a curious expression.

Joe looked at me, his eyes widening with realization. "Wait, what?"

I maintained the serious expression for a moment longer, letting the tension hang in the air. And then, unable to keep it up any longer, I burst into laughter. "Gotcha!"

Relief flooded Joe's features, and he chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, Y/N."

Taylor, still laughing, gave me a playful swat on the arm. "You really had us going there."

I grinned at both of them. "Just trying to keep things interesting."

As we continued to chat and laugh, it was clear that Joe had quickly become a part of our quirky family dynamic. The nervous beginnings of that August day had given way to genuine connections and shared moments that would shape our journey together.

As Joe was about to leave, I couldn't resist one last comment. "Hey, Joe?"

He turned to me, a curious smile on his lips. "Yeah?"

I looked him dead in the eye, my tone as serious as I could muster. "And just so you know, I was dead serious about that 'using protection' part and asking me first if you decide to marry her."

Joe's eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter. "Noted, Y/N. I promise."

I winked at him, mischief creeping back into my smile. "Alright then. Take care of my mom."

He nodded, still chuckling. "You got it."

And as Joe walked away, I couldn't help but feel that this new chapter in our lives was off to an interesting and entertaining start.