Forbidden Fruit (Travis Kelce)

Conversations on the sidelines

Arianna

It was a typical busy morning in the Mahomes household. Brittany had a photo shoot, and Patrick was already at practice. That left me in charge of Sterling and Bronze. I didn't mind; their playful energy was a welcome distraction from my own thoughts.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Sterling called out, running around the living room. Bronze followed behind, his tiny feet pattering on the floor.

"Mommy's at work, sweetie, and Daddy's at practice," I reminded her gently. "How about we play a game?"

Sterling pouted, her big eyes looking up at me. "I wanna see Daddy."

I sighed, knowing this was going to be a challenge. "How about we get some ice cream? Would you like that?"

Sterling's eyes lit up for a moment, but then she shook her head. "I want Daddy."

Seeing her so determined tugged at my heart. I texted Patrick to see if it was okay to bring the kids to the stadium. Within moments, he replied.

**Patrick:** It's fine. Come on over. The guys would love to see you.

I smiled at his quick response. "Alright, kids, how about we go see Daddy?"

Sterling's face broke into a huge grin. "Yes! Let's go!"

We quickly got ready. I threw on an oversized hoodie, a pair of shorts, and some sneakers. I didn't feel like dressing up today, but I wanted to look somewhat presentable. I called my security detail to let them know about the change in plans, and we were off.

As we arrived at the stadium, Sterling was practically bouncing with excitement. Bronze clung to my hand, his eyes wide with curiosity. The security detail helped us navigate through the entrance, and soon we were on the sidelines of the practice field.

Patrick spotted us and waved, his smile as bright as ever. "Hey, look who's here!"

Sterling ran to him, and he scooped her up into his arms, spinning her around. Bronze toddled after them, and Patrick knelt down to give him a hug too.

"Hey, buddy!" Patrick said, ruffling Bronze's hair. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with warmth. "Thanks for bringing them."

"Of course," I replied, smiling. "Sterling was really missing you."

The other players started to notice us. As they walked over, I could feel their eyes on me, a mix of curiosity and something else that made me uncomfortable. They were all but undressing me with their eyes. I knew they'd seen the video; it was impossible to avoid that fact.

Except for Travis. He approached with a friendly smile, his eyes meeting mine without any hint of judgment or discomfort.

"Hey, Arianna," he said warmly. "Good to see you again."

"Hi, Travis," I replied, grateful for his presence. "Thanks."

Patrick looked around at his teammates, his expression turning serious. "Guys, this is my sister-in-law, Arianna. She's here with the kids, so be cool."

The subtle warning in his tone made me feel a little better. The players nodded, greeting me and the kids with friendly smiles, but I could still feel their eyes lingering a bit too long. All except for Travis, who seemed genuinely interested in making sure I felt comfortable.

Sterling tugged on Patrick's arm. "Daddy, can we watch you play?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Patrick said, lifting her up. "You can sit right here on the sidelines and watch. Is that okay, Arianna?"