Taylor x Travis: In Every Life

not quite the plan

Taylor's POV

The suite went silent as half of the stadium erupted into cheers, the other half that supported the Chiefs dropping back in disbelief. I exchanged a look with Donna, the room so silent you could have heard a pin drop. She just shook her head, looking back out onto the field where the other team celebrated their Superbowl win and the Chiefs dropped back to the sides in defeat.

"Well." Jason was the first to speak. "They almost had it."

I nodded, my eyes searching the field for Travis. He had to be absolutely devastated, since they'd been so close, only losing by a few points in the final few seconds. I knew how much the team had worked, how much they'd fought to get to this point. They'd got their third win last year and had hoped this season would be their fourth, but that had all slipped away in the last seconds of the game.

"Taylor, honey." Donna placed her hand on my arm. "I think you should be the one he sees first."

"Are you sure?" I whispered. "You're his family."

"Oh come on, you're his family." Kylie nudged me. "We all know he loves you the most. If there's anyone who can make him feel even a tiny bit better about this, it's you."

And she was probably right, so I nodded. We packed up the suite, and then we all started heading down to the locker rooms. Not wanting to overwhelm anyone, Donna, Kylie, and Jason told me they'd wait outside while I went in. Telling them I'd see them soon, I moved along with the family and friends heading into the locker room. The place was quiet when I walked in, full of murmuring voices and consoling hugs.

Moving past the crowds of people and lockers, I searched for the man I was here for. Eventually, I spotted him sitting on the bench by his locker, elbows on his knees, his head bent. Everyone had left him alone and he was just sitting there, looking wrecked. My heart reaching out, I walked over and sat down next to him. Travis looked over, meeting my gaze, and he tried to force a small smile and completely failed.

"Oh, sweetie." I sighed, putting an arm around his shoulders. Travis slumped against me, burying his face in my neck with a sigh. "You did amazing out there my love." I whispered, rubbing his shoulder gently.

"We lost." Travis mumbled. "And I know it's okay we lost but I'm still down about it."

"I know, I know sweetie." I kissed his forehead. "And it's okay to be upset, but even though you guys didn't win I have never seen you play better." Travis nodded as I shuffled closer and wrapped both of my arms around him.

"I just really needed us to win this year." He sighed.

"I know." I murmured.

"No, baby, you don't get it." Travis looked up at me. "Could you...could you go and look in my locker please?"

Confused but willing, I nodded and kissed his cheek before letting go of him and getting to my feet. Travis turned to watch as I stepped over the bench and moved over to his locker, reaching out to open it. When I pulled the door open, my breath was taken away by the sight that lay before me. Travis' locker was filled with pictures of me and him, every single inch covered. Lying on the floor of his locker were five friendship bracelets, and I smiled to myself as I reached for them.

"Read them out for me baby." Travis murmured from behind me, and I nodded as I picked them up. The first one was the original bracelet Travis had brought to the Eras Tour with his number on it, and I smiled to myself as I moved on to the next ones.

"Okay." I whispered as I read the next ones. "Will....you..." I gasped, spinning around before I finished my sentence. Travis was on one knee, waiting for me, and everyone else had stopped and moved back to watch.