A request, combined with some minor Golden Globes content.
"A hickey, Taylor? Really?"
"It was a total accident. Trav was kissing my neck and---"
"I know how hickeys happen," Tree sighs, rubbing her temples. "The two of you are like horny teenagers, I swear to God."
Taylor laughs, unbothered. "And the issue is, what, exactly?"
She loved the woman, she really did and she was an absolute shark in the best possible way, but she really needed to lighten up.
"I'm happy you're so in love, honey, you already know. He's great."
"Why do I feel a "but" coming on?"
"No, no," Tree throws her hands up, "nothing like that. I just wanted to point out it's just my job to protect your image. We both know you're a grown woman and obviously, you're intimate with your boyfriend who you're in a committed relationship with. We know that."
"It's the kids. I've gotta think of the children," she pauses dramatically, hand to her heart. "I know...I know, I'm sorry."
She could really work harder to make herself sound at least slightly remorseful. Tree does not seem amused.
"Taylor, c'mon..."
"I actually think it's kind of funny, but I get your point," she bites into an apple. "Look, I came straight here, no one saw my neck except you and Travis, who, by the way," Taylor's eyes narrow, "you should really be yelling at because I certainly didn't give this to myself."
"I'll be talking to him later," Tree promises darkly. "For now, we've got to get it covered up. You have a dress fitting at 2."
She'd landed in LA hours before, reluctant to leave Travis after spending such a long amount of time there, but he had practice and she had some business to conduct before The Golden Globes, including best friends to gossip with, which was arguably the best part of being on the west coast.
Still, it was becoming more and more difficult to leave him which didn't scare her maybe as much as it should have. They were rock solid and she knew that any absence only made them appreciate each other more. It was the respect and pride they shared, too, which helped with not getting too hung up on being apart.
As comforting as the thought is, it didn't make her miss him any less when they weren't together.
"You know I wish I could be there with you," he told her in bed the evening before she left. "If I could ---"
"It's the fact you want to be there. I don't know if you understand how huge that is."
He turned over on his side, hand coming to rest on her cheek. "It's a big night. Kind of kills me I can't go. I know they'll be other award shows, but, still..."
Taylor shook her head. "I'm not going to win. It's not the ceremony that's the big deal, Trav. It's how you're always showing up for me. Even when you can't be there physically, it's the texts and the calls and the sending flowers. It's the acknowledgement. I've never had that. Not once, not fully."
"You should have... I'm not gonna get into it. You know how I feel. Anyone who didn't realize what they had when they had you was an idiot. I stand by that."
She kissed him, her hands on both sides of his face. "I love that you love me so much you're pissed about it on my account. And I love that you love me enough to let me put my cold feet on you."
He laughed, his eyes twinkling. "Let's not go that far."
"You sure about that?" She teased, a barely veiled threat. "What if I just---"
