𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 1

Chapter 1:

Valentine's Day & The Proposal

Reese Carter had never been this nervous in her life. Not when she played her first show in front of a crowd. Not even when she met Taylor Swift for the first time and realized, holy shit, she was falling in love with a global superstar. But tonight? Tonight was different.

Because tonight, she was going to ask Taylor Swift to marry her.

The house in Nashville was quiet except for the faint hum of music playing from the speakers. It was their song—one Taylor had written about Reese years ago, back when they were still figuring out what they were to each other. Reese had spent the entire day setting up the perfect Valentine's Day surprise. Candles flickered on every surface, casting a golden glow over the room. Rose petals trailed from the front door to the living room, where a small table was set up with wine, dessert, and a single velvet box hidden beneath Reese's napkin.

She had also spent hours writing a letter. Not just one, but a series of letters—some recounting their best memories, some promising forever, some just because she knew Taylor would treasure them. They were tied together with a red ribbon, sitting next to Taylor's plate.

Now, all she had to do was wait.

Taylor had been exhausted all day. She'd spent the last week in the studio, barely sleeping, pouring everything she had into new music. Reese had practically shoved her out the door earlier, telling her to go have a spa day, get her nails done, relax. Taylor hadn't questioned it—she trusted Reese completely.

But when she stepped into the house that night, she froze.

The sight in front of her made her heart stop. Candles, roses, soft music—it was like something out of a movie. A Reese Carter original, written just for her.

"Reese?" Taylor called out, kicking off her heels and following the trail of petals.

"In here, babe," Reese's voice came from the living room, warm and steady, like it always was.

When Taylor rounded the corner and saw her, she let out a soft laugh. Reese was standing by the table, wearing a suit—something she rarely did, but when she did, Taylor always lost her mind over it. Her hair was slightly messy, like she had been running her hands through it all day, and her blue eyes were filled with something intense, something almost nervous.

Taylor took a step closer, tilting her head. "What's all this?"

Reese smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Taylor's heart melted right there on the spot. "You're ridiculous."

"I know."

They sat down together, Reese pouring Taylor a glass of wine, watching as she picked up the stack of letters and untied the ribbon. Taylor glanced up at her, curious.

"What are these?"

Reese swallowed. "Just... some things I wanted to say."

Taylor started reading, and within seconds, tears welled in her eyes. Each letter was a piece of their love story—little moments Reese had never forgotten. Their first date, when they'd stayed up talking until sunrise. The time Taylor had cried in Reese's arms after a brutal night in the studio, overwhelmed by pressure. The way Reese had looked at her like she was the only person in the world, even when they were surrounded by thousands of screaming fans.

Taylor sniffled, brushing a tear from her cheek. "You are so—"

But before she could finish, Reese was suddenly moving. She stood, pulling something from her pocket, and then—

Taylor's breath hitched.

Reese was getting down on one knee.

Her vision blurred with tears as she stared at Reese, who looked more nervous than Taylor had ever seen her.

"Taylor Alison Swift," Reese started, her voice shaking just a little. "Five years ago, you walked into my life and turned everything upside down. I was just some songwriter, completely convinced that love was a fucking disaster, and then you happened."

Taylor let out a watery laugh. "You're gonna make me cry."

"That's the goal," Reese admitted with a grin. But then she sobered, looking up at Taylor like she was the only thing in the world. "You've changed me in ways I never saw coming. You've made me softer. You've made me stronger. You are, without a doubt, the best thing that's ever been mine. And I want forever with you."

Taylor gasped as Reese opened the small velvet box, revealing the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

"I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to write songs with you, fight over what movie to watch, grow old with you. I want everything with you." Reese's voice cracked slightly, her eyes shining. "So, Taylor... will you marry me?"

For a second, Taylor couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak.

Then, she was nodding furiously, tears running down her cheeks. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes."

Reese let out a breath of relief, slipping the ring onto Taylor's finger before standing up. The second she was upright, Taylor launched herself into Reese's arms, nearly knocking her over. They were both crying, laughing, kissing between whispered "I love yous."

It took approximately four minutes for their closest friends to find out.

Selena Gomez, Taylor's best friend, screamed so loudly over FaceTime that Reese had to hold the phone away from her ear.

"OH MY GOD, IT FINALLY HAPPENED," Selena yelled. "I have literally been waiting for this day since the two of you started making heart eyes at each other."

Gracie Abrams, Reese's best friend, was a little more composed but equally thrilled. "I'm so happy for you guys. I mean, we all knew it was coming, but still. I'm crying."

And then there was Sabrina Carpenter, who, instead of saying congratulations, immediately demanded, "Tell me you recorded it. I need to see the proposal."

Taylor, still curled up in Reese's lap, laughed. "Of course we didn't record it."

Sabrina groaned. "You two are so selfish."

They spent the rest of the night talking to their friends, listening to Selena and Sabrina argue over wedding plans, Gracie offering to write a song for the ceremony, and Taylor just staring at her ring like it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

When they finally hung up and the house was quiet again, Taylor turned to Reese, her fingers tracing the band on her finger.

"I can't believe this is real," she murmured.

Reese kissed her temple. "Believe it, baby. You're stuck with me forever now."

Taylor smiled. "Good. That's exactly what I want."

And as they curled up together, hearts full and hands intertwined, Reese knew—this was only the beginning.