If He Wanted to, He Would

Always Wake Me Up

Travis' hand lay thrown across Taylor's lap while he slept. Taylor was sat up against the headboard while she scrolled through Instagram, keeping the sound on any reels so it wouldn't disturb her boyfriend.

Travis had flown out to Australia meet up with her on tour. The man had just had one of the busiest weeks of his life; winning the Super Bowl, attending many public appearance, and the parade. Taylor had expected him to bail on his potential trip to Australia to see her before he got busy with all the brand deals he'd got himself into. When he'd Face Timed her the night before he was set to leave, Taylor thought for sure he was cancelling but he hadn't been. He just 'wanted to see her face one more time before the flight' and her heart exploded. After landing, he had also been enthusiastic for the day she had planned, the Sydney Zoo and then dinner at one of the highest rated Michelin Star restaurants in the city. 

The day had been going perfectly, Taylor could barely tell that Travis had had such an eventful week. Until they got back to the hotel to clean up for dinner. Taylor had been in the bathroom fixing her hair and makeup when she heard soft snoring coming from the bedroom. She laughed lightly, looking through the doorway at Travis who had accidentally fallen asleep on the bed. Taylor finished her makeup and then climbed on the bed with him, figuring she could let him rest for a bit before they had to go to the reservation. As if he sensed her presence, Travis had stirred slightly, rolled over, and thrown an arm over her lap, securing her thigh against his chest.

However as time passed, Taylor grew anxious. The time they needed to leave to make their reservation was approaching and Travis was not waking up. Taylor glanced down at her sleeping boyfriend wondering if she should wake him or not. Previous experience with men, well Joe, told her not to disturb him. Travis had flown across the world and into an entirely different time zone for her. That was definitely enough, his presence should satisfy her, like the way Joe's should've. It would be easy to cancel the reservation or send some members of her team to enjoy it themselves. If they're going to go they need to leave now. 

She clicks her phone off and sets on the bedside table. She sighs in exasperation, hands coming up to cover her face. This shouldn't be this hard, she should just know what to do. She was torn between wanting to go on the date but not knowing if Travis wanted to as well. Would he be upset if she woke him up for it? Would he be upset if she didn't? Regardless of what Travis wanted, Taylor was sure she would make the wrong choice. She always seemed to with Joe. 

Taylor's mental turmoil must seep through to her actions because beside her Travis stirs. She sort of freezes, when his breathing hitches and he blinks awake, not wanting to have to explain why she's suddenly so worked up.

"Oh fuck, did I fall asleep?" Travis grumbles. He rolls away from her and pushes himself into a seated position all while rubbing at his eyes and yawning widely.

"Yeah" she starts, "but you needed it so I'm glad you did." He looks to her, his expression is soft and relaxed and then all the sudden it flips to something more on edge. 

"Oh my god" he looks at his watch; "did I sleep through dinner?" he gets out of bed in somewhat of a panic. 

"No, no. We still have time if you want to go. We don't have to though" Taylor says, she's treading lightly here. She doesn't want him to think she doesn't want to go to dinner but also doesn't want him to think his presence isn't enough for her.

"Of course, I want to go. You planned this for us and I can't wait" he says, flopping back down on the bed so he can pull her into his embrace. "When do we need to leave?" he asks. Truth is they needed to leave a few minutes ago. Before Taylor had gotten all wound up in her head, worrying about what to do.

"Um, like now" Taylor answers with apprehension. She knows she's messed up now, not only has she not let him sleep, she's screwed up the timing for their reservation. Joe hated when she was late, or even worse, made him late. He'd make a point to lecture her on the importance of not wasting anyone's time.

"Shit, baby. You should've woken me up," he moves to get off the bed, "I'm going to go brush my teeth and stuff, are you ready?" 

Taylor just nods in response. She had managed to mess up this day with trying so hard to do what he wanted. 

"Tay," he says sitting back down on the bed. "What's wrong?". God, he's so attuned to her. Joe wouldn't have even noticed her was thinking too hard about the situation, he would've been preoccupied with how she had messed up.

"I'm- I'm just sorry I planned this day, I knew you were gonna be too tired, I should've just let you rest and enjoyed having you here, and now I'm making you go to this stupid dinner-", he cuts her off.

"Tay, baby, stop," he says and takes her hands in his. "I wanted to go to the zoo and I want to go to dinner because I get to be with you and because you want to do it."

"No, Trav, I'm sorry. This was too much. And I didn't know if I should wake you up. I didn't know what you would want," Taylor is almost in tears now. She feels dumb, this isn't that big of a deal. 

"Is this what this is about? If you should've woken me up or not?" he asks, sounding a bit exasperated. Taylor nods, a single tear spilling over and down her cheek. Without missing a beat, his hand is on the side of her face, thumbing away the tear. 

"Listen, you can wake me up any time. If the house is on fire or if you're sad or if you're happy or if you just feel like it." he reassures; "and baby, if I'm going to miss something or whatever, absolutely wake me up. I want to maximize my waking hours with you."

Taylor feels relief flood over her and then an overwhelming sense of security and love for him. 

"I love you" is all she can get out because she does. 

"I love you too" he says, kissing her on the lips; "now, let's get going. I am hungry."