As the moon climbed higher into the night sky, the warmth of the kitchen and the comfort of Travis's embrace began to lull Taylor into a sleepy haze. The thrill of the night's concert, the fall on stage, and the emotional high of being caught in Travis's arms had all been exhilarating, but now, with the quiet moments slipping by, Taylor felt the exhaustion from weeks of touring finally catch up to her.
"Travis," she murmured, her voice soft and a little drowsy as she rested her head against his chest. "I think I'm ready to crash."
He chuckled softly, his arms tightening around her. "You sure? You look like you could barely keep your eyes open."
"I'm sure," she replied, nuzzling into the comfort of his hoodie. "Let's go to bed."
He helped her off the counter, his strong arms steadying her as she stood up. With a tender smile, he led her down the hall to the bedroom, the soft glow of the bedside lamps casting a warm light across the room. Taylor didn't even bother changing out of his hoodie; it was soft, smelled like him, and was exactly what she needed. She slipped under the covers, and before Travis could even tuck her in, she was already drifting off, her breathing evening out as sleep overtook her.
Travis watched her for a moment, his heart swelling with love. She looked so peaceful, her face relaxed, the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Tay," he whispered before quietly slipping out of the room, leaving her to rest.
As he returned to the living room, Travis heard the sound of voices approaching the front door. He had completely forgotten that his family had texted earlier, saying they were coming by after the concert to congratulate Taylor. The timing couldn't have been better—or worse, depending on how you looked at it.
The doorbell rang, and Travis opened it to find Jason, Kylie, and their kids—Wyatt, Ellie, and Bennett—all standing there with wide smiles and excitement still buzzing in the air. Behind them was Ed Kelce, beaming with pride, and Donna Kelce, who had a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Surprise!" Jason grinned, clapping Travis on the back as he stepped inside. "We thought we'd come by to celebrate the final show. Hope it's not too late."
Travis laughed, though his eyes flickered with concern as he glanced toward the hallway leading to the bedroom. "Not at all. Come on in. But just a heads up—Taylor's already knocked out. She's been out cold for a while now."
Kylie smiled warmly as she ushered the kids inside. "That's totally understandable. She's been through a lot lately, and tonight was huge."
Wyatt and Ellie, however, were less understanding. "But we wanted to see Auntie Taylor!" Wyatt pouted, while Ellie's lower lip jutted out in disappointment. "Can't we just say hi really quick?"
Donna, ever the doting grandmother, knelt down to Wyatt and Ellie's level, her smile gentle. "Now, now, you two. Auntie Taylor needs her rest. She's been working really hard, and we'll get to see her in the morning. How about we let her sleep, and tomorrow, we'll all have breakfast together?"
The promise of breakfast seemed to appease the kids, and they nodded, though not without a few lingering glances toward the hallway. Travis gave his mom an appreciative smile, grateful for her help in wrangling the little ones.
They all settled into the living room, the kids immediately making themselves at home by scattering toys across the floor. Jason and Ed helped themselves to the leftover chicken tenders, while Kylie poured herself a glass of wine. Donna, ever the nurturing presence, went into the kitchen to put on a fresh pot of coffee, knowing that the adults might need a little pick-me-up to keep the celebration going. Despite the late hour, the house was soon filled with the hum of conversation, laughter, and the occasional scuffle between the kids.
