Fearless

Chapter 13- Long Were The Nights

((POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING)) I'm sorry, don't hate me 💕))

January 5th

Taylor

Karlie and I have been together a month now and we've been spending a lot of time together. Taking Violet and Riley to see Santa went amazing and Jourdan was so sweet, it was so lovely to meet her. Since then Karlie has also helped me decorate for Christmas and she even spent Violet's first Christmas and Christmas Eve with us. We've been seeing each other every couple of days at least and she's pretty much a permanent fixture in my life at this point, but I'm nervous because I have to go back on tour again in about three weeks and we're not going to see each other anywhere near as often.

"What are you doing, silly girl?" I laugh as I turn to see Violet with mushed banana smeared all over her face. "You're so silly," I kiss her face once I've wiped it and she babbles as she hits her hands off of the highchair tray. I go back to cleaning the breakfast dishes from this morning with a small smile on my face. Kar has been away the last couple of days doing a shoot in Vegas and she gets back this afternoon, so I'm excited to see her.

The doorbell rings and alerts me to someone at the door and I frown because I'm not expecting anyone, but if security didn't call then I know it's someone I know. "Come here, baby," I smile as I pick Violet up and settle her on my hip as we walk through the apartment to open the door. "Paula?" I'm shocked to see the publicist on the other side of the door, a frown on her face. "Taylor, we need to talk." I nod and let her inside, the woman remaining stoic as she goes to my living room.

"What's going on?" I put Violet in her jumperoo to keep her occupied and sit down across from Paula, the woman pulling out her laptop. This really isn't good. She stays silent as she pulls up a news article, setting the laptop down in front of me and waiting for me to say something. It's an article with pictures attached of Karlie and I together on New Years. "What about it?" I ask, playing my best poker face because I know what she's asking. "Who is she Taylor? You've been together an awful lot lately."

I roll my eyes and close her laptop as I push it back across the table to her, "she's a friend, Paula, or am I not allowed any of them now either?" She scans my face for any sign of a lie, and I'm trying my best not to panic. "If there is anything going on between you and Karlie Kloss, then I need you to tell me right now, Taylor." Her warning confirms my deepest fears and I just shake my head, "there's nothing. I'm still very single."

I hate lying about Karlie, I want to be with her without fear, but I know Paula would find a way to remove her from my life if she ever found out about us, at least until I have the courage to stand against them. "Then you won't mind if I set you up with John Mayer. His popularity will do great things for your career and he reached out to find out if you will perform with him tonight." I'm stunned into silence.

"I don't want to do another PR relationship." I answer after a minute and she raises an eyebrow, clearly thinking she's about to catch me out. "I'm a mom now, I don't want to be running around with random guys just because you're all ashamed of who I really am. I want to set a better example than that for Violet." I look over to my daughter who's giggling and babbling to herself as she plays. "I don't care if you're a mom or not, we have to do what is best for your career, Taylor. Wouldn't she be prouder of you for doing whatever it takes to get what you want? Unless your career and all your fans mean nothing to you now."

I sigh, I know she's manipulating me, but I really have no argument. I can't say no without exposing my relationship with Karlie. "Fine, I'll do it," I sigh as I run my hands through my curls, I've spent time with John in the past and I know he has a bad reputation, so I have no idea how this is going to end. "I'll set it up. He's performing in New York tonight, so we'll fly you out there and you can arrive together, but you're going to have to stay for after parties and be seen with him, so you need to arrange childcare for Violet." I sigh as I nod, noting all of her orders as she gets up. "I'll be back at two with a car to pick you up." She gathers her stuff and she's already making arrangements on her phone as she leaves.