Chapter Text
”Are you good?” Karlie’s voice is soft and laced with concern as she squeezes Taylor’s hand in reassurance.
The singer’s intake of breath at the question is sharper than she probably meant for it to be, but when she turns to look at her girlfriend there’s a genuine smile on her face.
“Uh-huh, I’m great,” she says squeezing Karlie’s hand back. “Excited, 100% in the spirit!” Karlie can’t help but smile back at that, “good, me too!” She says and pretends not to notice Taylor’s bouncing leg, or how she keeps glancing out the window to see how much traffic is still blocking their path.
Karlie is tempted to tell her they can still turn around, but instead she says, “I don’t think there will be much of a crowd today, it’s freezing.” Taylor smiles again and Karlie thinks she sees a hint of relief in those blue eyes,
“Perfect,” Taylor says, “we’ll get a great view.”
The model nods and grins, “I still can’t believe you haven’t seen the lights before.”
“Well,” Taylor replies, “this is my first Christmas here.” Before Karlie can say how happy she is to be the one who gets to show Taylor this staple of New York City Christmas the black SUV has come to a stop. The model feels her heart break just a tiny bit seeing Taylor swallow in anticipation of the crowds. She almost regrets asking Taylor to come with her, at least until the blonde turns to her and places a kiss on her lips.
The contact between them is so brief that the kiss feels almost stolen, but then Taylor smiles that genuine smile of excitement that reminds Karlie of a kid on Christmas morning, or of watching fireworks on the 4th of July. The smile that makes her feel just like that drop in your stomach the seconds before a roller coaster roars down its steepest drop, makes her think of falling in love quickly and suddenly and completely.
“Let’s go see some Christmas lights! Taylor says, letting go of Karlie’s hand and pulling the hood on her bulky jacket up.
They are a few minutes early and Karlie’s prediction turns out to be right; relatively few New Yorkers have dared brave the cold. Taylor’s security keep close anyway, but by the time the music starts Karlie has all but completely forgotten they are present at all. As far as she’s concerned t’s just her and Taylor and the Christmas lights.
Of course the show is spectacular, because it always is, but truth be told Karlie isn’t paying much attention as she ordinarily would, instead she’s looking at Taylor who is standing next to her completely transfixed as the lights dance across the building’s façade.
When a gloved hand finds hers in the middle of the crowd Karlie is so surprised that her first instinct is to pull hers back, but it passes and she holds on and gets to watch the rest of the show holding her girlfriend’s hand. No one even glance twice at the famous women in their midst. Taylor was right, a hood really does work wonders and besides, every single person around them are completely focused on the lights, the beautiful, magical lights that never fail to fill all of Fifth Avenue with an unmistakable Christmas spirit.
Three minutes come and go and in the car on the way back Taylor turns, her five dollar hot chocolate (brought to her by a member of the security team willing to brave the line) in hand, eyes sparkling and she kisses Karlie again, it lingers this time and it tastes like chocolate and adrenaline and Christmas.
“Thank you,” Taylor breathes when she pulls back.
“For…?” Karlie asks, a little breathlessly and brushes some hair from Taylor’s cheek, wanting the excuse to keep her close.
“Showing me Christmas in New York.” Taylor explains and when the streetlights rushing past the car hits her eyes through the window Karlie notes in awe that the Saks show has nothing on that sight.
Taylor rests her head on Karlie’s shoulder, intertwining their fingers and yawns, no doubt happy to have gone out in public without causing complete uproar for once, sneaky when she wants to be as always.
“You’re welcome,” Karlie says, pressing a light kiss to Taylor’s beanie-clad head not caring to point out that it’s still only November.