It's All Part of the Story

May 2019

"Baby" Karlie whispers, reluctant to break the comfortable silence that had settled over both of them. She can tell by Taylor's breathing that she has almost fallen asleep, the weight of the arm that she has thrown around Karlie's waist growing heavier by the minute. Seconds pass and Karlie thinks that maybe she's misjudged the situation and Taylor is in fact already asleep when she feels more than hears the response that's mumbled into the skin of her neck, a sleepy kiss placed there as an afterthought. Taylor nuzzles closer, the arm that she has wrapped around Karlie's waist tightening imperceptibly before she settles back comfortably against Karlie.

"Will you do something for me?" Karlie asks, her fingers running absentmindedly down the soft skin of Taylor's arm, tracing the delicate bones of her wrist before finding Taylor's hand and intertwining their fingers. Something in Karlie's voice pulls Taylor back from where she had been teetering on the brink of sleep. Taylor's eyes flutter open and she focuses on the woman that is lying beside her, bottom lip trapped between her teeth as she nervously plays with the fingers of Taylor's left hand, her thumb brushing over the engagement ring sitting atop Taylor's fourth finger. It's something that she always does when she's nervous.

It kills Taylor that she can't wear her ring all the time, that she has to remember to take it off everytime she leaves the house or switch it to another finger. She knows that it bothers Karlie too and so when they're alone, just the two of them at home, they both always make the effort to wear their rings. Taylor will catch Karlie's gaze lingering on her fourth finger, an almost imperceptible smile on her lips or she will run her thumb back and forth over her ring almost as if she is re-assuring herself that this is all real, that they are engaged and will be getting married soon, even if the rest of the world doesn't quite know that.

"What is it Karlie?" Taylor asks pulling her head back from where it had been tucked in the space where Karlie's neck meets her shoulder. Karlie turns and rolls Taylor onto her back and hovers over her for a moment before leaning down and gently pressing their lips together. When they break apart Karlie can't help but just look at Taylor, who looks beautiful lying soft and sleep-warm underneath her.

"I need you to promise me something," Karlie whispers against Taylor's lips. "I need you to promise me that you won't go on Instagram this weekend."

Taylor sighs before wrapping her arms around Karlie's shoulders and tilting her head up to rest against Karlie's. They had talked about this months ago and they had both decided that Karlie would go to the the Met Gala with him and Taylor would skip. It would raise too many questions if Taylor were to attend alone and Karlie was still under contract and in her line of work, skipping one of the most important events of the year wasn't exactly an option. It doesn't ever get easier though, watching the person that you love pretend to be in love with someone else and unfortunately that's something that they both have plenty of practice with.

"I promise," Taylor says tucking a strand of short blonde hair back behind Karlie's ear and she doesn't miss the small sad smile that flits across Karlie's lips.

"I love you," Taylor sighs, twisting her head again to brush her lips against Karlie's temple.

"I love you too," Karlie says, tilting her head and Taylor takes the hint, raises her head up and kisses Karlie slowly but deeply.

"I know you don't want to talk about it," Taylor starts when they part. "But are you going to be okay spending all weekend with him?"

"I'll be fine," Karlie says and Taylor doesn't look like she quite believes her but she doesn't push the issue. Karlie ducks her head down to Taylor's shoulder and settles more comfortably against her, her lips brushing against the skin of her neck as she speaks, "But thank you for worrying."