Daylight

Chapter I - It's gonna be forever or it's gonna go down in flames

August 25, 2018.

She has almost forgotten how hot and humid Nashville could be in summer. Almost. She could feel how beads of sweat were rolling down her spine as she rushes through the wide hallways of Nissan Stadium, navigating through the frenzy that was her pre-show organisation. There is almost certainly a blister developing on her left heel and she could almost envisage how bad it would get during the next couple of hours. Toshi jumps out of the way when she turns a corner too sharply and she mumbles a quick apology whilst making her way to her dressing room. Finally, some peace and quiet; finally, some calm before the storm. She pushes the door open to be met by a lanky blonde man standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by her tour stuff.

"Hi babe!" He grins, "Got bored at the house, decided to drop by."

Of course you did. With everything that had been going on, she would have almost forgotten about Joe. Joe, who kindly planned his entire career around hers. Joe, who would accompany her to whatever she felt like attending. Joe, who made her nachos at three in the morning and breakfast food in the afternoon. Joe, who cleaned up after Olivia and Meredith when they'd had a swipe at each other or hid hairballs around any of the houses. Joe, who helped her pick outfits if she wasn't sure. By all means, the actual calm in her storms.

"Well, I'm glad you here." She sighs, walking over and pecking him on the lips, "Pretty sure I'm about to get a blister."

"My love for you has limits and popping blisters is where I draw the line, darling."

"What about in sickness and in health, Joe?"

"We're not married." Joe replies factually, "Have you got a paring knife around here?"

A paring – She looks on in awe as he grabs an apple from one of the fruit baskets and spins around, seemingly looking for a knife. With a soft aha! he picks up a small knife that had been left with the napkins and cups on one of the side tables and sits down on the edge of the sofa.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Have you ever seen those videos of those people that can peel an apple in just one go?" He says slowly, "Trying to get the hang of that – oh."

She's lucky. Joe is kind and funny and understanding and by all standards, she is lucky.

"Karlie's coming tonight."

Taylor feels weird saying it. It's been about a month since she's brought the model up and even then, it was in passing, almost accidental. She remembers it clear as day. Joe had tried to make fish and chips, which had taken a surprisingly long amount of time to actually get on the table. So long that Taylor had made her way through most of a bottle of Chardonnay, although she suspected it may have had something to do with the fact her former best friend got engaged and then decided to make Taylor part of her –

"The bachelorette party, right?" Joe finishes her thought, slicing a bit of apple off and offering it to her, "You good?"

"Hmmm." It's a Granny Smith because it almost tastes as sour as her mood. Almost.

"I'm sure you'll have fun. You've not seen her in ages."

Sometimes she wonders whether Joe is blissfully unaware of it all or whether he just chooses to ignore the Karlie-sized elephant in the room. The apple's sliced up entirely at this point and Joe sighs, looking around the room.

"What's with all of those?" He nods in the direction of a second table filled with snacks and drinks, "I can't remember the last time I've seen you have," He pauses as he walks over and picks one of the packs up, "sweet paprika rice cakes, or" He grabs a bottle, "ginger kale juice?"