Lover

Chapter 15. Come See About Me

Y/N'S POV

I know I probably shouldn't have left Taylor alone in bed this morning, but what can I say, I let my emotions get the best of me because I'm still pissed. I know I said that it was 'fine', but in what world is it okay to bail on plans with your girlfriend to hang out with your friend until 2 in the morning?! 

It seemed like she was uninterested to begin with, so I'm trying to understand why she thought it was okay to agree to a date, only to cancel later on. Above all, I think what aggravates me the most is that she stayed out so late and didn't say anything to me. I know I was asleep, but my body pretty much adapted to the custom notification sounds I set for Taylor. A simple text saying, 'Hey, I'm gonna be home late' would've been fine. Instead, the only time I heard from her all night was when I was rejected by her in front of Dakota.

On a lighter note, Key comes back today, thank fucking god. I miss venting to my best friend and her giving me good advice while keeping a level head. As much as I love Dakota, I always have to watch what I say to her, especially when it's about Taylor, because of our...history.

However, on a more grim note, I have a meeting with Amber's team that I've been putting off for as long as possible. The trial kicks off in a few weeks, but my testimony isn't until months from now. Her lawyers want to 'prep' me for what's to come, but at this point, I'm just gonna disassociate. Being tied to this trial is putting a huge target on Taylor and me to the media, and I'm seriously dreading that happening. On top of that, Calum and Dakota will find out that I was in a... not so-healthy relationship, and I'm seriously not ready for that to happen.

But speaking of Taylor, I'm sure she'll be too hung over to join me today, so there's that. I think she probably forgot that I had a meeting with the lawyers before the end of this year because I'm sure she wouldn't go out drinking the way she did last night. If anything, she'd be calming me down and telling me that everything is gonna be okay and that we'll get through it together. Instead, she's giving me the space that I subconsciously asked for, and I'm not sure why. I'm not entirely sure what's gotten into her, but maybe she's just letting loose before we buckle down on prepping for her tour.

At the moment, I'm brewing my coffee for this morning, trying my best to make a shaken espresso. Dakota taught me it a long time ago, and it's one of the only drinks I remember how to make because I used to drink it a lot due to my love for espresso. I know I'm technically not supposed to drink coffee because of my surgery, but I'm also not supposed to drink alcohol, so there's that.

I hear slow footsteps approaching the kitchen, making me look up. Taylor walks in with her hair a mess, her face puffy, and still tired.

"Good morning..." She croaks out with her raspy morning voice before sitting down on the barstool in front of me.

"Morning," I say, keeping our conversation short as I pour the coffee into my travel mug, avoiding her eyes.

"You're up early...what time is it?" She asks with a yawn, noticing the sun is still coming up, lighting up the early morning sky.

"7"

"You look nice... Where are you headed? And why so early" She asks with a soft chuckle, her voice still scratchy, noticing the work attire that I'm wearing.

"To the meeting," I respond concisely, no doubt that I'm still more than a little pissed at her actions from yesterday.

She looks at me with a puzzled expression, clearly having forgotten about meeting with Amber's defense team.

"The meeting with the lawyers... Amber's lawyers. They wanted to meet with me before the new year, remember? This shouldn't be breaking news to you, Taylor. It's been on the calendar for weeks." I answer with a little more hostility in my tone than I intended. It could be because I'm still upset with my girlfriend, but I think it's from the idea of having to work with Amber's legal team.