Skates & Cleats

5

It was a crisp November morning, and Taylor's nerves were in overdrive. She stood in front of the mirror in the locker room, adjusting her figure skating outfit for what felt like the millionth time. The shimmering blue costume fit her perfectly, but that didn't stop her from obsessing over every little detail. She pulled her blonde hair into a neat bun and smoothed down the edges, trying to focus on anything other than the butterflies swirling in her stomach.

Today was the day. November 5th. Her competition.

Taylor had been training for months, pushing herself harder than ever. And now, all the long hours on the ice were about to pay off. Still, as much as she tried to focus on her routine, her thoughts kept drifting to Travis. They hadn't seen each other in person since he'd gone back to Ohio. It had been a long, sometimes frustrating month of texts and calls, but knowing he was supporting her from afar kept her going.

She couldn't help but wish he was there to see her skate in person today. But it was too much to hope for. Ohio wasn't exactly close, and she knew Travis had football and family commitments. Still, she could imagine him cheering her on from wherever he was.

"Taylor, you're up next," her coach called from outside the locker room.

Taking a deep breath, Taylor grabbed her skates and walked out to the rink. The ice gleamed under the bright lights of the arena, and she could already hear the hum of the crowd gathering in the stands. Her parents were out there somewhere, and so was Austin, her younger brother, who'd been teasing her all morning about the competition. She knew they'd be cheering for her, and that was enough.

But still... the thought of Travis popped into her head again, and she had to shake it away as she laced up her skates.

---

Meanwhile, across the arena, Travis Kelce was on a mission. He and his family had arrived just in time, slipping quietly into their seats near the back of the arena. His heart pounded with excitement as he scanned the rink, looking for Taylor. He hadn't told her he was coming—it was supposed to be a surprise. And after a month of planning, begging, and convincing his family to make the trip to Pennsylvania, it was all about to pay off.

"She's gonna freak when she sees you," Jason, his older brother, teased, nudging Travis in the arm.

"Shut up," Travis muttered, though he couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face. "I just hope she's happy. I didn't want her to feel alone today."

His mom, Donna, smiled warmly at him from beside Jason. "You're sweet, Travis. This girl must be something special."

"She is," Travis said, his voice softening. He couldn't explain it, but Taylor had this way of making him feel like he could be himself. It was new and exciting, and he wasn't about to let her skate the biggest competition of her life without him there to support her.

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, calling Taylor's name, and Travis's pulse quickened. "That's her," he whispered, leaning forward.

Jason smirked. "Go get your girl."

---

Taylor stepped onto the ice, her heart racing as she took her starting position. The familiar chill of the rink enveloped her, and for a moment, she closed her eyes, blocking out everything else. This was it. She'd practiced for this. She was ready.

The music began, a soft and haunting melody, and Taylor launched into her routine. Each movement was fluid, each jump and spin perfectly timed to the music. The crowd was a blur in the distance, but she didn't need to see them—she could feel their energy. She skated with precision and grace, her body moving effortlessly across the ice as the routine unfolded.

But as she came out of a triple spin and glided into the next sequence, something caught her eye in the stands.

Her heart nearly stopped.

There, sitting near the back of the arena, was Travis. She blinked, half-convinced she was imagining things. But no, it was him. Travis Kelce, wearing a proud grin and watching her every move. And next to him were his parents and brother, all cheering for her.

The shock sent a jolt of adrenaline through her, and she felt a surge of excitement and joy wash over her. Travis had come. He was really here. For her.

With renewed energy, Taylor powered through the rest of her routine, landing every jump with confidence and nailing her final spin with a flourish. As the music faded, she struck her final pose, breathing heavily as the crowd erupted into applause. She couldn't help but glance at Travis again, who was clapping and whistling from his seat.

She couldn't wait to see him.

---

As soon as she stepped off the ice, Taylor practically sprinted to the side doors of the rink, knowing Travis would be waiting for her there. Her heart raced, and she felt like she was floating as she pushed through the crowd, her skates clicking against the ground.

And then, there he was.

Travis stood by the door, towering above everyone around him, grinning from ear to ear as soon as their eyes met. Taylor's breath caught in her throat. Without thinking, she dropped her bag and ran straight into his arms, throwing her arms around his neck.

"You came!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Travis laughed, pulling her closer. "Of course I did. I wasn't gonna miss this. You were amazing out there."

Taylor pulled back just enough to look up at him, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. "I can't believe you're really here."

Before she could say anything else, Travis leaned down and kissed her, right there in front of everyone. It wasn't a long kiss, just a soft, sweet brush of their lips, but it was enough to send her heart soaring.

"Happy late birthday," Taylor whispered, her smile wide as she pulled back from the kiss, her hands still resting on his shoulders.

"Best birthday gift ever," Travis replied with a wink.

But as they stood there, caught up in their moment, Taylor suddenly became aware of her surroundings. She turned, and her heart dropped when she saw her parents standing nearby, both of them staring at her with wide eyes. Her mom looked shocked, while her dad's expression was unreadable.

Taylor's stomach flipped. Oh no.

"Uh, hey, Mom, Dad," she stammered, quickly stepping out of Travis's embrace. "This is... Travis."

Her parents exchanged a look, and for a moment, the tension was thick in the air. Taylor's mind raced, trying to figure out how to explain everything without making it sound like she'd been sneaking around.

But then, to her surprise, her dad's stern expression softened, and he offered a small nod in Travis's direction. "Nice to meet you, Travis."

Taylor blinked. "Wait, what?"

Her mom chuckled, shaking her head. "We've known about you two for a while, honey. Austin may not have said anything directly, but we put the pieces together."

Taylor's face burned with embarrassment. She shot a look at Austin, who was standing off to the side, grinning like a little devil. "Austin!" she hissed.

He shrugged innocently. "Hey, I didn't say anything. They just figured it out."

Travis laughed beside her, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Well, I guess the secret's out."

Taylor sighed, but she couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Her parents smiled back, and her mom stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We're just happy to see you happy, Taylor. You were incredible out there today."

Taylor glanced back at Travis, who was watching her with that same proud grin. Her heart swelled with warmth. "Thanks, Mom."

As the crowd began to disperse and the arena emptied, Taylor took Travis's hand, squeezing it tightly as they walked toward the exit. She didn't know what the future held for them, but after today, one thing was certain—she wasn't alone.

Not anymore.