Forbidden Fruit (Travis Kelce)

Back To Reality

Travis

The vacation had been everything I hoped for and more, but reality was crashing in hard. The media had caught wind of our location, and it was only a matter of time before they figured out where we were staying. We had to cut our trip short and head back to LA.

I watched Arianna as she moved around the villa, gathering her things. There was a sadness in her eyes that hadn't been there before. I hated seeing her like this, knowing that our time together had brought her such turmoil. I wanted to protect her from all of it, but I knew I couldn't shield her from everything.

"We should be ready to go in about an hour," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Okay," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

I went to pack my own bags, my phone buzzing constantly with messages. I glanced at the screen and saw dozens of texts from my teammates. Pat was especially pissed off. He had every right to be. I hadn't told him about Arianna, and now it was all over the news.

With a sigh, I scrolled through the messages. There were a lot of questions, a lot of anger, and a lot of confusion. I knew I needed to face them all, but right now, my priority was getting Arianna out of here safely.

As I packed, I felt Arianna's presence behind me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head against my back. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"I will be," I replied, turning to face her. "Are you?"

She gave me a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm trying."

We finished packing in silence, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. Once we were ready, we headed to the airport, the drive filled with tension and unspoken words.

On the jet, Arianna sat on my lap, her earbuds in as she listened to music. I could see the pain etched on her face, and it tore me apart. I wished there was something more I could do to make this easier for her.

I pulled out my phone and started responding to texts. Pat's anger was palpable, even through the screen.

Pat: What the hell, Travis? Why didn't you tell me about Arianna?

I took a deep breath and typed out my response.

Travis: I'm sorry, man. It wasn't something I planned. It just happened. I'll explain everything when I get back.

There were other messages, too—support from some teammates, confusion from others. I did my best to address each one, knowing that this was going to be a mess to clean up when I got back.

As I typed, I felt Arianna shift in my lap. She was responding to her own messages, but every now and then, she would look up at me, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.

"We're going to get through this," I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She nodded, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I hope so."

We continued to text in silence, the hum of the jet's engines providing a soothing backdrop. Eventually, the exhaustion of the past few days caught up with us, and we both drifted off to sleep, holding onto each other as if we were the only things keeping each other afloat.

When I woke up, the jet was starting its descent into LA. I looked down at Arianna, still asleep in my arms. She looked so peaceful, and I wished I could keep her in this bubble, away from all the chaos waiting for us.

"We're almost there," I whispered, gently waking her.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Already?"

"Yeah," I said, kissing her forehead. "We're going to be okay."

I could see the worry in Arianna's eyes as we neared the airport, and I knew she was bracing herself for the inevitable media frenzy.

As soon as we landed, the press was everywhere. Cameras flashed, reporters shouted questions, and it felt like we were under siege. I wrapped my arm protectively around Arianna, shielding her as we made our way through the chaos to the waiting SUV.

"Keep your head down," I murmured to her. "I've got you."

She nodded, her grip on my hand tightening. We pushed through the crowd, the driver holding the door open for us. Once we were inside, the SUV sped away, leaving the frenzy behind. I held Arianna close, trying to offer her some comfort.

"You okay?" I asked, looking into her eyes.

"I'm fine," she said softly, though I could see the stress etched on her face. "Thank you."

We drove through the city, heading towards her house in Beverly Hills. The drive was quiet, the cityscape passing by in a blur. When we pulled up to her house, I was taken aback by its grandeur. It was a beautiful, modern mansion, nestled in a quiet, upscale neighborhood.

Arianna punched in the code, and the gates opened, allowing us to drive up to the front entrance. The house was stunning.

"Welcome to my home," she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Wow," I replied, genuinely impressed. "This is incredible."

She led me inside, and I took in the décor. It was very much her—sophisticated, stylish, and with a touch of whimsy. There were pieces of art on the walls, and the furniture was both comfortable and chic.

"I'll give you a tour," she said, taking my hand.

She showed me around the house, starting with the living room. It was spacious and inviting, with plush sofas and a large fireplace. Next was the movie room, complete with a giant screen and cozy seating. We moved on to her music room, which was filled with her awards and plaques—a testament to her incredible career.

"This is where the magic happens," she said, showing me her recording studio. It was state-of-the-art, with all the equipment a top artist would need. I could see how much this space meant to her.

"Impressive," I said, looking around. "You've really built something amazing here."

"Thanks," she replied, blushing slightly. "It's my sanctuary."

We continued the tour, exploring other rooms that only a celebrity could afford—an indoor gym, a spa room, and even a small art studio. It was a beautiful home, filled with personal touches that made it uniquely hers.

After the tour, we headed to the kitchen. "How about we cook dinner together?" she suggested.

"Sounds perfect," I agreed.

We moved around the kitchen, preparing a simple but delicious meal. There was an ease between us, a natural rhythm that made everything feel right. We laughed, shared stories, and for a moment, it felt like we had escaped the world outside.

As we sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this time with her. Despite everything, we were building something real and meaningful.

After dinner, we cleaned up and headed to bed. The exhaustion of the day was catching up with us, and we both needed rest. As we lay down, I pulled Arianna close, holding her tightly.

"I'm glad we're here," I whispered, kissing her forehead.

"Me too," she replied, nestling against me.

We drifted off to sleep, the comfort of each other's presence providing a sense of peace. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together.