best thing that's ever been mine - a Kaylor story

Chapter 37

When the cats start meowing the next morning, Karlie quietly gets out of bed and shoos them out of the bedroom to make sure Taylor doesn't wake up.

The night before ended up being really long for Taylor; even though both of them were exhausted from the day's happenings, Taylor was tossing and turning next to Karlie all night and only fell into a peaceful sleep in the early hours of the morning.

Deciding that Taylor needs to sleep for a while longer, Karlie quickly grabs some clothes and hurries after the cats. Stopping for a second to look over her shoulder, she smiles at her sleeping girlfriend before closing the bedroom door quietly behind her.

Olivia is waiting for her by the stairs and snakes herself around Karlie's legs, rubbing her fluffy fur against Karlie's naked skin. Karlie responds by picking the white cat up from the floor and scratches her behind the ears while she walks downstairs. "Such a pretty kitty," she coos at her, getting a soft meow in return.

Walking into the kitchen, she finds Meredith hungrily circling the empty food bowls. The cat proceeds to give her a look that can only translate to "feed me, now," and Karlie chuckles at her while she gets the food from the cupboard.

"I love you too, Mer," she laughs.

She sits down on one of the bar stools by the kitchen island and watches them eat for a little while. A cat's life seems so simple and easy. If only real life was like that.

Sighing, she gets up and checks the time; she has just enough time to make Taylor breakfast before going to the gym, and she sets to work immediately.

***

Karlie's just making the finishing touches to the beautiful breakfast tray, filled with French toast, fresh strawberries, banana and watermelon cut into little hearts, when Taylor's phone chimes from somewhere in the hallway. Putting down an unfinished watermelon heart, she rushes to find it before it stops ringing.

She finds it in between the cushions on the couch. Spotting Tree's name on the caller ID, she decides to pick it up instead of letting it go to voice mail.

"Hey Tree, this is Karlie," she says, the words coming out a little rushed.

"Oh hey Karlie," Tree replies, confusion coating her words. "Didn't I call Taylor?"

"You did," Karlie laughs, "I figured it was okay that I answered. She's still asleep."

"I don't blame her," Tree mutters, "I really wish I was still asleep too."

"Rough night?"

"You could say that. I was up doing damage control, urging a few media outlets to twist the angle to something a little nicer. I don't think there's much more we can do. We just have to wait for it to blow over."

"Hopefully it'll blow over quickly. As much as I would like to, I don't have the time to whisk her away to a remote and safe location right now," Karlie sighs.

"I know, but I think she'll be okay," Tree reassures her. "I should let you go, but tell her I called, alright? I'll check in on her later."

"I will."

Going back to the kitchen, Taylor's phone in her hand, she quickly discovers a cat sniffing Taylor's breakfast. Scooching Olivia away, she puts Taylor's phone down on the breakfast tray so she can turn her attention to the unfinished piece of watermelon. Instead of finishing it up, she shoves it into her mouth, enjoying the refreshing and sweet taste.

Picking up the tray, she walks over to the dumbwaiter right outside the kitchen and puts it in before she goes back to fetch a jug of freshly squeezed orange juice and a pot of tea. She runs back to the kitchen one final time to pick up a pot of coffee that she carries with her upstairs.