Livre: One Shots

[45] the color that we painted

It's not like they can't afford painters. But Karlie insists that they do it themselves, and Taylor is almost never able to say no to her. Especially not now, after she's agreed to live with her, after they put her apartment on the market and bought a place, together. This is everything she's ever wanted since she was young -- a home -- and if the woman who's given her all of this wants them to paint their bedroom together, then she will damn well do it.

She will go to Lowe's with her, because it's less homophobic, and if she and Karlie do one thing right it will be that they always tried their best to support businesses that actually support the basic rights of all people. So yes, She'll go to Lowe's flanked with security, and join the teeming masses wandering through the glorified warehouse. She will even put up with the teeming masses sneaking photos of them as they shop. She will even look at a thousand paint chips with Karlie, until they happen to find what they want and bring it home. She will even learn how to use painter's tape and what primer is for if that's what it takes to make their place- their new apartment a home.

When they reach the paint display, she's a little overwhelmed by the options. Redecoration in her world had always involved decorators providing look books with curated colors and fabrics, fully realized options to choose from. This is -- this is honestly a bit overwhelming. She hasn't done something like this (from scratch) in a while.

And since anything will feel like home as long as Karlie's there, she decides to defer to Karlie. She knows she loves bright colors, I mean the woman is literal sunshine and she watches her with a wide grin as she gravitates towards the purples. "For the bedroom?" she asks.

She shrugs, dragging her fingers along the color sample cards, moving towards the calmer blues. "No oranges," she decides pointedly.

Taylor reaches for the softer purples and tugs a couple cards free, scanning the color names. "What about something like this?" she asks, tapping a soft, pale shade.

Karlie turns wide, surprised eyes to her. "You want a purple bedroom?"

Taylor just runs a hand down her girlfriend's spine softly, just because she can touch her this way whenever she wants now that they're free from contacts and bearding. And she almost always wants to. "Lavender," she answers, angling the paint chip in the harsh fluorescent light. "Isn't it supposed to help you sleep?"

She opens her mouth, then presses it closed in that way she has when she's trying very hard not to laugh at her.

"What?" she asks, brow furrowed. "I read that somewhere. Don't laugh at me Karlie, I did my research before you dragged me into this warehouse."

"No, the--" She tips forward as she starts laughing, leaning into Taylor so her forehead comes to rest against her collarbone. Wrapping her arms around Taylor's waist, she giggles helplessly against her. And it's so charming that she finds herself laughing alongside her, not even knowing what she said that's so funny.

So they stand there, blocking part of the paint chip display, and laugh in each other's arms. How is this her life? She kisses her hair tenderly, her arms tightening around her.

When she calms, Karlie pulls back, a wide smile on her face. "I love you," she says, reaching up to push back Taylor's hair. "I love you so, so much.

"Now I know you were laughing at me," she gripes, completely without heat. "What's so funny?"

"The scent of lavender, Taylor," she tells her, still grinning. "You know, like the actual flower? That's what helps you sleep. It's like aromatherapy."

"Oh." She supposes that makes more sense. How would a color do anything once your eyes were closed? "Oh. Okay."

"Taylor?"

She grins down at her. "Yes, Karlie?"

She runs one teal nail down the center of her arm. "How would you feel about completely redoing our bedroom like a new duvet or bed set--"

"I'm pretty sure I am okay with anything you suggest," she interrupts. "We're creating a space together. So you, or we, can do whatever we want."

Karlie rolls her eyes at her. "Okay, on a scale of bright fuchsia flower print duvets to modern architectural lines in greys or browns duvets, if we get a simple striped duvet set--"

"We can get stripes," Taylor agrees. "That sounds nice. We can look online together after this all."

"Nice," she repeats, exasperated. "Okay. So if there's a non-girly duvet on the bed, how would you feel about slightly more girly lavender walls?"

Taylor huffs a laugh. "Well, I did suggest lavender."

"That's the spirit!" Karlie chirps, pulling the paint chips from her hand. "How do you feel about radiant lavender? Or clematis?"

"Excuse me?" Taylor says, eyebrows lifting.

"Clematis," she repeats slowly. "Don't make it dirty," she warns. Then she frowns down at the paint chip in her hand "But I think it's too saturated. I mean, we'll need something closer to true lavender to help us sleep." Her smirk is too cute not to be kissed in Taylor's opinion.

"You are not going to let this go, are you?" she asks.

"Nope!" she answers cheerfully. "But I love the idea that even the paint on our walls will make me smile, because the fun we had picking it out. And Taylor?"

She leans closer, she can never get close enough. "Yes, Karlie?"

"Seeing your thoughtfulness on our walls? That will help me sleep better than any lavender colored paint ever will."

Fin.

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