"Have you thought about where you want to go to dinner tomorrow night?"
I'd already given Tree the heads up. Luckily, she's a pro at changing on a dime. Two weeks ago it was "it's not serious," and now I've given her the go ahead to make a kind of insider statement because once we're spotted, it's all over.
I twirl a strand of linguini around my fork, both elbows resting on the breakfast bar, while he stands right beside me, shoveling down a bowl of Golden Grahams. Clearly, our meal tonight is an after thought. Travis is also probably one of the few people that gets that sometimes you can't be bothered to sit down and it's more relaxing to eat slouched over like an actual cave person. My friends have given me grief for it before, more than once, and when I saw Trav do the same exact thing, grab a bowl of cereal and stand around the table instead of pulling up a chair, I finally felt understood.
"That look on your face is trouble," he shakes his head. "I gotta know. How hard is this launch of ours gonna be?"
There's no hidden inkling of worry in his words, nothing to suggest he's even remotely phased. Honestly, he sounds more amused than anything and I lean in, pausing dramatically for effect.
"Nobu."
This isn't information I've shared with Tree yet, who will more than likely have a slight coronary.
"You couldn't pick someplace with a dark corner, Taylor? Little less...I don't know, public?" I can imagine her saying.
"Nobu," Travis repeats, nodding. "Okay. I love it. One of my favorites."
"I know." I offer him a bite of my pasta which he readily takes. "Mine, too."
"Are you sure? I did say anywhere and I'd eat in a restaurant on Mars if you wanted to."
His concern is evident and I cover his hand with mine.
"Hey, go big or go home, baby. Right? People are always gonna talk, Trav. That's what they're good at. You give me the confidence to go out and be with my boyfriend in the most public way possible and be okay and really fucking believe it, too."
More than that, the last thing I'm going to do is hide how goddamned elated I feel. It isn't who I am anymore and if the world sees, so be it.
"It's set, then." He drops a kiss on the top of my head, just because, pours me another glass of wine, clicking his beer against it in a celebratory cheers.
"So, next thing is," I toy with my fork, "Ice texted the other day and she's gonna be on SNL...how would you feel about dropping by? Pete Davidson's set to host, too," I drop casually. "I know you're a big fan."
Besides supporting my friend, I secretly can't wait to see him fanboy over Pete. Like, just picturing how adorable it'll be is really almost too much.
Travis lights up (and I squeal, very, very quietly). "Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously. You already feel at home there and so do I...it'll be fun."
"Absolutely. And the after party...well, you know. It's always a good time," he enthuses.
"I can't wait...if you wanna bring anybody, too, feel free."
"You want me to bring people on our date?" He teases. "Where have you been all my life?"
"Here, you just weren't looking," I retort, hip checking him. He laughs and my God, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds. I'll do just about anything to watch him throw his head back and let out this huge guffaw, totally unashamed about it, too.
Doesn't last long, though, because he spins me into his personal space, so close, I can feel his body heat. He kisses me, hands on my waist, so big they almost cover my entire torso (and I'd be a liar if I said it didn't turn me on) and when we move away only to avoid collapsing from oxygen deprevation, he takes my chin in his hand.
