Match Maker | T. Swift x OC

Chapter Twenty One

"Come on, Tay! Sing along!" Mallory was encouraged, undeterred by Taylor's bashful demeanour. Mallory's eyes sparkled with mischievous delight as she continued her impromptu concert, occasionally glancing over at Taylor with an affectionate grin.

As the last note faded, Mallory plopped down on the sofa next to Taylor, still humming the melody of the song. Taylor peered up from the cushions, her blush slowly subsiding as she mustered a half-hearted smile. "You're ridiculous, you know that?" she teased.

Before Mallory could respond, the doorbell rang, causing both of them to look towards the entrance. Taylor's eyes widened, and she chuckled softly, muttering, "Saved by the bell." She rose from the sofa and made her way to the front door, her heart racing with anticipation.

Upon opening the door, Taylor was met with an unexpected sight. Standing on the doorstep was August, and her ex-girlfriend (current girlfriend?) Gracie. Gracie seemed to be on edge, nervously fiddling with a beautifully wrapped gift in her hands. Taylor's expression remained neutral, though her eyebrows arched in surprise.

"Hi, Taylor," August greeted, a warm smile on her face. "Is Mallory around?"

Taylor stepped aside to let them in, her eyes shifting to Gracie briefly. "Yeah, she's in the living room. Come on in."

August and Gracie entered the living room, where Mallory was now sitting casually on the sofa, her fingers tapping a rhythm on the armrest. Mallory's gaze flickered between the newcomers, her eyebrows knitting together in curiosity.

"Hey, Lory," August said, giving Mallory a quick hug, flicking the back of her neck. "Gracie brought a little something for you guys."

Mallory accepted the gift with a frown, unwrapping it to reveal a carefully chosen cat mug set. "Wow, this is pretty cool actually," She said. "What's the occasion?"

August looked at the brunette next to her, who sighed, realising there was no way out of the conversation.

Gracie hesitated at the sight of her girlfriend's sister, her expression a mix of apprehension and remorse. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage before finally speaking to Mallory. "Hey, Mallory," she began softly, "can we talk?"

Mallory's gaze shifted to Gracie, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I suppose," she replied coolly, her guard clearly up.

The older of the two led the latter to a different room and sat down. Gracie took a seat beside Mallory, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the seat. "I want to apologize," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I know I messed up big time, and I'm really sorry for the pain I caused August."

Mallory's jaw tightened, her voice laced with thinly veiled frustration. "Yeah, you did mess up. Big time. August went through hell because of you."

Gracie winced at the truth in Mallory's words. "I know, Mallory. I can't even begin to express how sorry I am for that. I treated her so poorly, and I deeply regret it."

Mallory's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, her expression distant. "You took her for granted because you had her and what? You thought you could keep her forever, Gracie. She deserves so much better than you. Than anyone she has ever dated."

Tears welled up in Gracie's eyes as she nodded solemnly. "I know. And I've been trying to make amends. I've changed, Mallory. I've learned from my mistakes, and I'm not that person anymore."

Mallory's eyes finally turned to meet Gracie's, her scepticism evident. "You expect me to believe that? After everything you put her through? For months?"

Gracie's voice trembled as she spoke, her regret palpable. "I don't expect you to forgive me easily, Mallory. But I needed to apologize, to let you know how truly sorry I am."

Mallory's jaw clenched as she considered Gracie's words. The tension in the air was thick, a silent battle between hurt and the possibility of healing.

"I don't like you very much, Gracie," Mallory finally admitted, her tone unwavering. "But August does, and I respect that."

Gracie nodded, her eyes downcast. "I understand. I just hope that one day, maybe, I can earn back your trust."

Mallory stood up, her expression still guarded. "You're no Matteo, but I can learn to forgive you. You convinced her to go to therapy in months, which is something I've been trying to convince her to do for years. Thank you."

With that, Mallory turned and walked back into the lounge, leaving Gracie alone in the back room. Gracie watched her go, a mixture of sadness and determination in her eyes.

A few minutes later, Gracie walked back in to see August laying on the floor with Meredith and Peter. She smiled softly as Taylor approached her with a drink and gave it to her.

"Thank you," The brunette said, taking a sip. "He's cute. I didn't know you and Mallory had..."

"Yes, you did," Taylor cut her off. "It's all over the news. You'd see it even if your eyes were closed."

Gracie frowned and looked down. "I, uh-"

"Do you want one? Like, ever?"

"I don't know," Gracie said softly. "They can be cute, but it's a lot."

The blonde hummed in agreement. "I really liked Rockland, by the way. In fact, the whole EP was great. You're really good at what you do, Gracie."

"Thank you," Gracie blushed. "I really like Midnights."

"Hmm," Taylor hummed in thought. "I need another singer to open for m-"

Gracie choked on her drink, tears brimming in her eyes as she rubbed her chest, trying to ignore the prying eyes from August as she turned to Taylor, who had her eyes focused intently on Peter. "Are you serious?"

"Mhm," The blonde blinked and Gracie grinned. "But it stays strictly professional. Neither of us talks about August or anything personal."

"With all due respect, we both know that won't happen," Gracie chuckled. "Thank you, Taylor. Thank you so much."

Taylor shrugged. "I'll have my team talk to your team so we can sort out dates and et cetera."

"Great. Great, cool."