addicted. (a tayvis short story)

e p i l o g u e .

THREE YEARS LATER

Travis looked down at the jewelry in the case as he waited for the woman who had greeted him to return with his purchase. "May I help you with something?" Another female voice asked him. He looked up at her and shook his head. "No, I'm taken care of already," he told her with a smile.

"He probably can't afford anything in here anyway." Travis heard a familiar voice and looked in the direction of the voice, seeing none other than Joe standing there. Travis smirked a little at him as he picked up the child he had set on the glass when he had begun to stare down at a few bracelets.

Joe observed the child. He noticed the little girl's curly blonde locks, her hazel-colored eyes that had a hint of blue, and her button-shaped nose. She didn't seem to be much over two years of age. He did the calculations in his head, figuring Taylor had moved on to Travis a month or so after they had their dispute. All throughout their relationship, he figured it would end up this way. He figured somehow Travis would show up in her life and snatch her from under his grasp. He just figured they would be married before he showed up. "How would you know what I could or couldn't afford?" Travis asked. Joe looked at him and rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure you're still wasting money on alcohol to help you get through the days."

"You don't know shit about me," Travis snapped quickly. The man made his blood boil. Every time he thought about him or saw a picture of his face, he was brought back to the night he wanted to murder him in cold blood. 

"I know you stole the woman I was supposed to marry from me."

"You didn't deserve to marry her; you couldn't even tell she was unhappy being with you."

"I was fully aware. Which is why it was so easy to leave her at home while I went out of town." Travis's face began to turn red with fury. He had to remember he had his daughter in his arms so that he wouldn't do something he would regret.

"Mr. Kelce..." he heard the saleswoman call for him. He let out a sigh of relief before turning and making his way over to her. He sat the toddler on the counter as the saleswoman handed him the little box that held the ring for him to inspect.

"It's beautiful. I think she's going to love it. Do you think Mommy will like it LiLi?" Travis asked the little girl. She was just like her mother. Loved shiny things. Loved jewelry. Loved anything girly and fancy. 

"Yesh!" Lia said happily. He closed the box when he felt someone over his shoulder, breathing down his neck.

"How many days without alcohol did you have to go to get that?" Joe asked. Travis huffed with a slight smile. He knew Joe was only trying to get a rise out of him again. He had almost gotten him once, but he wasn't going to get him now.

"I'd say it's been well over 2,000 days now," Travis stated simply, with a shrug. He looked at Joe's facial expression, and he looked stumped. He smiled at his accomplishment. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a birthday dinner to plan."

"Baby?" Travis heard Taylor's voice, and his smile widened. He threw the ring box into the bag and held it behind his back.

"Mommy!" The little girl basically screamed when she saw her mother approaching.

"Hi, Lia!" Taylor said excitedly as she picked up her two-year-old daughter. Lia took Taylor's face in her hands and kissed her. Something she had clearly seen her parents do multiple times before. "Did you have fun with Daddy today?"