Touchdown Hearts: The Swift-Kelce Love Story!

Chapter Four

"don't ever feel bad for how you feel, or even if you don't feel anything. whatever you're going through, it's real, and it's okay."

travis's keys jingled as he stepped into the hallway of his apartment. it was super late, the only light coming from a flickering bulb above. he slipped off his shoes quietly, trying not to make any noise, but suddenly a sharp voice cut through the silence.

"do you even know what time it is?" kayla stood in the doorway to their bedroom, her arms crossed, looking mad and kinda hurt.

"yeah, it's like 2 am," travis mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

"2 am? and you've been out doing god knows what with that slut!" she snapped.

"i'm not gonna fight with you, kayla," travis sighed, sounding tired. "you know where i've been. i've been texting you all night."

"texts don't prove anything! you could've been anywhere, doing anything!" she shot back, her voice getting louder.

"kayla, i'm just not in the mood to fight tonight. i'm really tired," he said, sounding drained. "it's been a long day, and all i want to do is go to bed."

he slowly started walking towards their bedroom, hoping she'd let it go and they could end the fight. kayla scoffed.

"yeah, go ahead, go to bed."

the next morning, travis woke up to an empty apartment. he immediately grabbed his phone and called tay, needing to check on her.

the phone call

"hey, tay. just wanted to check in... how're you doing?" travis asked softly.

there was a pause, and when tay spoke, her voice sounded flat. "i don't know, travis. i don't really feel anything. i'm just... numb," she said, sounding empty.

"that's totally normal, tay. it's okay to feel numb right now," travis reassured her gently. "what you're going through... it takes time to process, and it's different for everyone."

tay sighed, sounding really tired. "yeah, maybe. i just thought i'd feel sad or mad or something. but i just feel... nothing. it's like i'm here, but i'm not really here."

"you're not alone, tay. i'm always here if you need to talk, or even if you just want to sit in silence."

tay gave a tiny laugh. "thanks, travis. it means a lot. it's hard to talk to other people about it. they don't get it, or they just act super sorry for me."

"you don't have to go through this by yourself. i'm just a call away, anytime. and tay, don't ever feel bad for how you feel, or even if you don't feel anything. whatever you're going through, it's real, and it's okay."

"thanks, travis. i might take you up on that," she said, sounding a little warmer.

"please do. and take all the time you need."

"i'll try," tay replied, her voice softer now.

"how's blake?" travis asked after a pause.

"she's okay," tay answered quietly.

"that's good," he said, trying to keep it light, even though they both knew there was nothing light about what had happened.

"yeah," tay said softly. "she left this morning. ryan called, said the kids missed her, and they needed her." her voice trailed off like she was still trying to be okay with it. "i kinda had to force her to go, trav..t-travis. she didn't want to leave, but she had to, you know? but she'll probably be back soon."