Forbidden Fruit (Travis Kelce)

Morning Chaos

Arianna

I woke up in my hotel room in Germany, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Last night's show had been incredible, and the energy from the crowd still buzzed through me. I stretched, savoring the memory of the performance before reaching for my phone. It was packed with messages from friends, and I smiled, thinking they were congratulating me on the concert.

But as I scrolled through the texts, my smile faded. The messages weren't just about the show. They were about a fight.

Text from Miley:
"OMG Ari, what happened last night??"

Text from Olivia:
"Are you okay? I saw the video..."

My heart pounded as I quickly opened a message from Miley that explained everything.

Miley:
"Travis got into a fight with Zach LaVine at a club in Chicago. Here's the video."

I watched the video, my stomach twisting into knots. There was Travis, fists flying, and Zach trying to hit him back. I'd never seen Travis that angry before. Zach must have said something outrageous—knowing him, it was probably something incredibly hurtful and provocative.

I knew Travis was probably still asleep, but I sent him a text anyway.

Text to Travis:
"Hey babe, call me as soon as you wake up. I saw the video. I'm worried about you."

I tried to go about my day, but my mind kept drifting back to the fight. I couldn't shake the image of Travis so furious. I headed to breakfast with my mom, hoping her presence would calm me down.

"Morning, sweetheart," she greeted, giving me a warm hug. "You look worried. Everything okay?"

I sighed, pushing my hair back. "Not really. Travis got into a fight last night with Zach LaVine. There's a video, and it's all over the internet."

Her eyes widened in concern. "Oh no. What happened?"

"I don't know the full story yet. I texted him to call me when he wakes up. I just... I've never seen him that mad. Zach must have said something really awful to set him off."

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Travis is usually so level-headed. Whatever it was, I'm sure he had a good reason."

"I hope so," I said, taking a deep breath. "With his birthday coming up, I was thinking... Would it be crazy to fly back to America for just a day or two, surprise him, and then fly back here?"

My mom smiled softly. "Nothing is crazy when you love someone. If it feels right to you, then do it."

Her words were reassuring, and I decided I would make the trip after my show in the Netherlands. It would be a perfect birthday surprise for Travis.

The day dragged on, my worry about Travis lingering in the back of my mind. Eventually, my phone buzzed, and I saw his name on the screen. I answered immediately.

"Hey, babe," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What happened last night?"

Travis sighed heavily on the other end. "Zach said some really messed up things about you. About us. He was trying to provoke me, and I just... lost it. I'm sorry, Ari."

My heart ached hearing the strain in his voice. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just embarrassed about the whole thing. I shouldn't have let him get to me."

"Travis, anyone would have reacted the same way if they heard someone they love being talked about like that. I just wish I was there with you."

"I wish you were here too," he said softly. "I'm just glad you're okay with everything."

"I am. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise, Ari. I love you."

"I love you too, Travis. We'll get through this together."

After we hung up, I felt a bit more at ease, though the worry still lingered. I knew we had a lot to navigate, but with his birthday surprise planned, I hoped it would remind him how much he meant to me. No matter the distance, our love would always bring us back to each other.

Feeling the need to coordinate the surprise, I called my sister Brittany. She answered on the second ring, sounding cheerful.

"Hey, Ari! How's Germany?" she asked.

"It's good, but listen, I need your help with something," I said, diving right into my plan. "Travis's birthday is coming up, and I want to fly back to surprise him. Do you think you could plan a party for him in Kansas City? He wouldn't suspect a thing if you're the one organizing it."

Brittany's excitement was palpable. "Absolutely! That sounds perfect. He'll never see it coming. We'll make it an amazing party."

"Thanks, Britt. I'll fly in right after my show in the Netherlands. Just keep it a secret, okay?"

"Of course! This is going to be so much fun. We'll coordinate everything. Just focus on your tour and getting here safely."

"Thanks, Brittany. I couldn't do this without you."

We talked a bit more about the details, and I hung up feeling lighter. The plan was set. Now, I just had to make it through the next few days without spilling the beans to Travis. His birthday surprise was going to be epic, and I couldn't wait to see the look on his face.

Author's note
Ari and Travis reunion soon