"We should renovate," I say, looking around the dining room. He studies me over his breakfast sandwich.
"What's wrong with the way it is now?" He, too, looks around the room with fresh eyes. I'm not sure if he'll really care or defer to me and trust that I know what I'm doing.
"I just want some color. It's so dull, all white like this. Or even just an accent wall or something."
"Accent wall?" he parrots, skeptical.
"Yeah, when you paint just one wall, or do a special pattern on it, something like that." He makes a noise of acknowledgment and continues surveying the room.
"Huh. So do you have anything particular in mind or just thinking out loud?"
I shrug, sheepish. "Probably one of those things I say and will never get around to–although we're actually pretty good at doing the things we talk about." I sip my hot cider before adding, "And maybe I want to get in a paint fight with you…" He looks back at me, surprised, and takes in my silly Cheshire Cat grin.