Catching Kelce

New Heights

November 2023
Kansas City

Travis

I dialed Dua's number, the familiar anticipation coursing through me as I waited for her to pick up. When her voice greeted me on the other end of the line, a wave of relief washed over me.

"Hey, Dua," I began, trying to keep my tone light despite the weight of the conversation I knew we needed to have. "How's everything going?"

As she filled me in on her hectic schedule and the whirlwind of activity surrounding her latest projects, I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern. Dua was juggling so much right now, and I knew the relentless media attention was taking its toll on her.

"I wish you could come to the game next week," I ventured tentatively, knowing the answer before the words even left my lips.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Dua responded, her voice tinged with regret. "I'm really sorry, Travis. I just can't make it work with everything going on right now."

I sighed inwardly, knowing there was little I could do to change her mind. "It's okay, I understand," I reassured her, hoping to convey the depth of my sincerity. "Just know that I'm not bothered by all the media stuff. It's just noise – it doesn't change how I feel about you."

There was a softness in Dua's response that warmed my heart, even as I sensed the lingering doubt in her words. "Thank you, Travis," she murmured, her voice laced with gratitude. "I appreciate that more than you know."

As we said our goodbyes and hung up the phone, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much left unsaid between us. But for now, all I could do was wait – and hope – for the day when Dua would feel secure enough to let me in completely, media frenzy be damned.

As I hung up the phone, a heavy sigh escaped me. Despite my attempts to reassure Dua, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that lingered in the back of my mind.

The truth was, I hated seeing her so stressed and overwhelmed by the relentless scrutiny of the media. It pained me to know that she was shouldering this burden alone, even as I longed to be by her side, offering whatever support she needed.

But as much as I wanted to sweep in and fix everything, I knew that some battles had to be fought on her own terms. Dua was fiercely independent, and I respected her too much to try and dictate how she should handle this situation.

Still, as I reflected on our conversation, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than met the eye. Beneath the surface, I sensed a lingering hesitation – a barrier that prevented us from truly connecting, even in moments like these.

Next Day

Today was the day of the New Heights podcast recording, my mind was consumed with thoughts of the previous day's phone call with Dua. Her words lingered in my mind, a constant reminder of the challenges she faced and the toll it was taking on her. I couldn't shake the weight of the decision I had made. Calling Jason beforehand was a necessary step, ensuring we were both on the same page about what I intended to discuss.

"Hey, Jason," I greeted him, my voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

"Hey, Trav, what's up?" Jason's voice came through the line, laced with curiosity.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," I began, my words careful. "I've been thinking a lot about the rumors that have been circulating lately."

"What do you want to do about it?" Jason asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I want to address it on the podcast today," I stated firmly. "I can't let these rumors continue. It's not fair to Dua, and it's not fair to me."

There was a pause as Jason processed my words before he responded, his tone supportive. "I think that's a good idea, Trav."

"Thanks, Jason," I replied gratefully."

With that settled, I took a deep breath, readying myself for the conversation that lay ahead. It was time to set the record straight and reclaim control over my own narrative, once and for all.

I settled into my chair to get ready for another episode of the New Height's podcast, I could feel the weight of the rumors pressing down on me. This wasn't going to be an ordinary recording session – I knew I had to address the swirling speculation about my personal life head-on.

"Hey, everyone, welcome back to New Heights, today, Travis has something he wants to address, so let's dive right in." Jason said.

"Hey everyone, it's Travis here," I began, my voice steady but my heart racing with nervous energy. "Today, I want to talk about something that's been on my mind lately."

Taking a deep breath, I decided to let my heart talk, choosing my words carefully as I sought to convey the truth without betraying Dua's privacy. "I know there's been a lot of talk about my relationship with Dua, and normally I wouldn't feel the need to comment on it. But lately, some things have been said that I just can't ignore."

I could feel Jason's supportive presence even though he's not in the same room as me but he looks empathetic through the computer screen as I struggled to articulate the complexity of my emotions. "Dua and I have something real – something genuine. I guess what I'm trying to say is, some people will do anything for attention. But Dua and I know the truth, and that's all that matters."

As I wrapped up my impromptu speech, a sense of relief washed over me, mingled with a newfound determination. I had shared my truth, and now it was up to the world to make of it what they would. But no matter what happened next, I knew one thing for certain – Dua and I were in this together.