Catching Kelce

Cooking Class

Dua

When we stepped into the quaint kitchen of the cozy Italian villa, the aroma of rich tomato sauce and freshly baked bread enveloped us, instantly transporting us to a world of culinary delights. Our instructor, a lively old Italian woman with twinkling eyes and a mischievous smile, greeted us with a warm embrace and a rapid stream of Italian chatter that left Travis and me momentarily speechless.

I glanced at Travis, who looked slightly bewildered by the rapid-fire Italian being spoken around us. "Don't worry," I reassured him with a smile. "I speak Italian. I'll help translate for you."

Travis looked at me in awe, I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction. "Surprised?" I teased, nudging him playfully.

"More like impressed," he replied, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I had no idea you could speak Italian."

I shrugged modestly. "Just a little something I picked up along the way," I said, downplaying my language skills.

Travis leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can you teach me some?" he asked eagerly.

"Of course," I replied, delighted by his enthusiasm. "Let's start with the basics."

And so, amidst the aroma of simmering sauces and freshly rolled pasta dough, Travis and I embarked on an impromptu Italian lesson, exchanging phrases and practicing pronunciation with the instructor's guidance. It was a lighthearted moment of shared learning, punctuated by laughter and the occasional culinary mishap as Travis attempted to replicate the instructor's techniques.

We followed the chef's instructions; I couldn't help but giggle at Travis's enthusiasm. His determination to excel in the kitchen was endearing, even if it did lead to a few mishaps along the way. Watching him overcook his pasta brought a smile to my face, reminding me of how much fun we were having together.

As the aroma of simmering sauce and freshly rolled pasta filled the air, I turned to Nonna Maria with a warm smile. I asked in Italian if she could take a photo of us, gesturing to Travis and myself as we worked side by side at the countertop.

Nonna Maria's eyes twinkled with amusement as she nodded enthusiastically. With a deft motion, she captured the moment, the click of the camera echoing softly in the cozy kitchen.

Travis and I leaned in closer, our faces radiant with joy and laughter as Nonna Maria immortalized our culinary adventure. It was a snapshot of happiness, a memory to cherish long after the pasta had been eaten and the dishes washed away.

Despite the occasional hiccups, Travis and I worked together seamlessly, each of us lending a helping hand as we crafted our pasta creations.

Sitting down to enjoy our homemade pasta, this felt so natural with Travis as if I had known him my whole life.

Travis sighed "I hate that I won't be able to travel much until after the season is over." he admitted, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "But I'll do whatever it takes to make it work."

I reached out, squeezing his hand in reassurance. "I understand, Travis. Your career is important, and I'll always be here for you, it's going to be tough being apart for so long."

He nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "That's why I was thinking... would you be comfortable making music here in Kansas?" he asked tentatively. "I know it's not Malibu, but at least we'd be able to spend time together."

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I looked into his eyes, filled with warmth and affection. "I would love that," I replied, sincerity lacing my words. "And don't worry about my team invading your house. They'll behave, I promise."

"Can I ask you something?" He says. I'm always nervous when I'm asked that question.

"Yes, of course." I say. Not sure what to expect.

"What's it like when someone writes a song about you?" He ask.

Travis's question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I was taken aback by the unexpected turn in our conversation. I shifted slightly, feeling a rush of emotions.

"I'm sorry, is that not an ok question to ask." He says as he can probably sense my mood change.

"It's... it's definitely something I've had to get used to," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "When I first started out in the industry, I never imagined that people would be writing songs about me, let alone the good and bad ones."

Travis nodded, his expression understanding as he listened intently. "Yeah, I can imagine it must be a lot to take in," he said, his tone sympathetic. "Having your personal life and experiences put out there for the world to dissect and analyze—it's not something most people have to deal with."

I sighed softly, nodding in agreement. "Exactly," I said, a hint of resignation in my voice. "But I guess it comes with the territory, you know? Being in the spotlight means that every aspect of your life is open to scrutiny, whether you like it or not."

"The positive songs, like the ones I write about you, Travis. It can be incredibly uplifting and affirming. It's like having your love and admiration immortalized in music."

Travis's eyes widened in surprise at my revelation. "You've written songs about me?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

I smiled meeting his gaze meeting "Yeah, I have," I admitted, thinking about to me writing the boy is mine and most recently this song I have had stuck in my head, but I don't have a title for it yet. "But they're not quite ready yet. They're still works in progress, and I want them to be perfect before I share them with you."

"I can't wait to hear them when they're ready."  He said giving me a soft kiss on the lips.

Author's note
The calm before the storm. I went back and edited this because I think I had a few questions related to the chapter. They do not know about the leak yet.