Fearless

Chapter 23 - Standing Alone In A Crowded Room

June 9th

Taylor's POV

"Are you going to be a good girl for uncle Tay?" I coo gently in Violet's ear as the little blonde fights sleep. Taylor very kindly offered to babysit Violet tonight since I have this awards show to go to. "She's going to be an angel, she always is," he chuckles as he runs his hand over the baby's back and I smile, she is always amazing when other people have her.

"Now, you go, before you miss your girl," he holds his arms out to take Vi from me and I reluctantly let go of her. Karlie is also going to the awards show tonight too but we aren't going together, to spare ourselves anymore rumours we decided that Kar would go with one of the other models in her company and Tree would be my date for the night. Neither of us are particularly thrilled about it, but we have to do it to protect our relationship, at least for the time being.

"I'll be home as soon as I can," I grab my purse as I throw my phone and anything else I need into it, we're getting ready in a hotel room so that we can still see each other before we have to part ways but then I'm coming home to Violet after the show. "We'll be fine and we'll see you in a few hours, won't we?" Taylor walks me to the door and I say my final goodbyes to my little girl before heading down to the car waiting to take me to Karlie.

I'm texting the brunette as I reach the hotel, and my security guard comes around the car to open the door and walk me inside. We walk through the lobby, and just as the elevator doors open, they reveal Karlie inside on her way to meet me. "Hey babe," I hum quietly as I step in beside her, waiting for the doors to close before slipping my fingers through hers.

As soon as we're out of the elevator and in the hotel room, I pull Karlie into a deep kiss, having missed her even in the twenty four hours I haven't seen her. "It's nice to see you too," she chuckles as she pushes my hair back out of my face and I lean my forehead against hers. "I hate this," I sigh, I hate not getting to be with her and I especially hate having to pretend that I'm not head over heels in love with her.

"It's just one night and then we go back to being us with our precious girl," she presses a kiss to my lips and I give her a small smile in response, "our girl?" Karlie has never called Violet ours before, "yea, if that's okay with you?" She sounds nervous and I simply nod as I lay my head on her chest, "sounds perfect."

We stand like this for a couple more moments before the stylist and the make up artist start calling us from the living area. Even if we can't be together tonight, she's still my girl and we still love each other and we will be together tomorrow. We'll make it through tonight and we'll be just fine.

- Karlie -

"You look stunning," I raise my eyebrow at Taylor as I walk up behind her, smirking at the sight of the woman I love in a sexy maroon dress. "You're my biggest supporter," the blonde laughs gently as I slip my arms around her waist, "and I always will be." Taylor turns in my arms to face me for the first time and she just laughs, "if we didn't have somewhere to be tonight then I'd totally try and get that dress off of your body right now."

Her voice is low and seductive and I can't help losing myself in her blue eyes, "that can be arranged," I pull her into a deep kiss, knowing I'll get shot by her make up artist if I ruin her make up. "Come over after the show ends," Taylor's words are muffled against my lips, "I need to sleep in your arms tonight, straight after I've taken this dress off of you." I nod, holding her as close to me as possible, "I'll leave as soon as I can."

If I had the choice, I'd be going with Taylor on my arm instead of anyone else, but we have to protect our relationship, at least for now. "Enough of that, we gotta make a move," Tree appears in the doorway and Taylor pulls away from me with a sigh, "I guess we have to leave this place eventually."