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“Why don’t we do something first?”

“What?”

Aspen turned and took her by the shoulders, turning Kendra to face her.

“Close your eyes.”

“What?” Kendra chuckled.

“Close your eyes. Trust me.”

Kendra did trust her, but she didn’t like not knowing what was about to happen next. She swallowed as she stared into Aspen’s hazel eyes. Then, she closed her own and took a deep breath, trying to prepare for anything.

“Dark-green in the dining room, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Eggshell for the living room?”

“Yes.”

“Kitchen?”

“I’d have to change the backsplash, but I really like that pale-purple for the kitchen.”

“Your bedroom?”

“The soft green, with maybe the same dark-green from out here as an accent or for the molding, at least.”

“Your bathroom.”

“I–” Kendra opened her eyes. “I got a different blue for that.” She pointed down at the can she hadn’t realized that she’d picked for that bathroom.

“Do I need to go on, or did you just decide where all the paint goes?”

Kendra laughed a little, and her head, on instinct, went to Aspen’s chest. Aspen’s arms wrapped around her, and Kendra stood there, not wanting to move, as Aspen held her.

“It’s really not that hard. The decision is usually buried in there somewhere. You just have to pull it out. Like, if you weren’t sure what you wanted to have for dinner tonight, and you told me to pick between those steaks you still got to cook for us or ordering in Italian or something, the moment I said steaks, you’d either be happy about that, or you’d be sad or upset that I didn’t pick Italian. Then, you’d know what you wanted all along.”

Kendra looked up at her. They were so close to each other. Thinking back, this might be the closest she’d ever been to Aspen. Maybe that time when she brushed hair out of Aspen’s face and called her ‘babe’ while Aspen slept, but no, her lips weren’t as close to Aspen’s as they were now. She could lean in, kiss her sweetly, and let Aspen decide if she wanted to continue it. Aspen looked down at the paint cans, though, which pulled Kendra out of the moment.

“Do you want to start in the dining room or the living room?” Aspen asked.

“Wherever,” she said.

“No, you decide.” Aspen tickled her sides.

Kendra laughed and pulled away.

“Fine. Dining room.”

“Good. Is the tarp and stuff still in the garage?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll get it.”

When Aspen left, Kendra tried not to think about what had just happened because she’d been so close to making a quick decision, which she rarely did. She also thought Aspen was on the same page, but the woman had tickled Kendra instead, which, under different circumstances, would’ve been amazing, but when Kendra was about to finally show Aspen how she felt, it wasn’t great.