guilty as sin? (tayvis)

adore you

The morning of Travis's 33rd birthday dawned quietly, a soft October chill lingering in the air as the sun rose over the city. Taylor had been up for hours, excitement buzzing through her as she carefully put the final touches on the surprise she'd been planning for days. She glanced over her shoulder at the clock—it was early, but not too early to wake him.

Quietly, she tiptoed into the bedroom where Travis was still fast asleep, his arm draped over the side of the bed, his face peaceful in the morning light. She smiled to herself, loving this moment of stillness. In a few hours, everything would be set in motion, but for now, she let herself soak in the simplicity of the morning.

She leaned over, brushing a soft kiss against his cheek. "Happy birthday," she whispered, her voice barely a breath against his skin.

Travis stirred, his eyes fluttering open as a sleepy smile spread across his face. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice gravelly. Then, as her words registered, his smile widened. "Birthday morning," he corrected with a grin.

Taylor laughed softly, her heart warming at the sight of him so effortlessly happy. "That's right, 33 years old today. How does it feel?"

He stretched lazily, pulling her down beside him. "Feels pretty good so far," he said, his arms wrapping around her. "Especially waking up to you."

She snuggled into his chest, her smile softening. "Well, today's going to be special. I have something planned for you."

Travis raised an eyebrow, intrigue flashing across his face. "A surprise, huh? I like the sound of that."

"You'll like it more when you see it," she teased, pressing a kiss to his lips before slipping out of bed. "But first—breakfast."

An hour later, they were sitting in the kitchen, the smell of fresh pancakes filling the air. Taylor had insisted on making everything from scratch, despite Travis's protests that he didn't need anything fancy. She'd gone all out anyway, whipping up pancakes, bacon, eggs, and even fresh coffee just the way he liked it.

"This is amazing," Travis said between bites, his eyes lighting up with every bite. "You didn't have to do all this, you know."

"I wanted to," Taylor replied, watching him with a satisfied smile. "Besides, birthdays only come once a year. And you deserve something special."

He reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "You're something special."

She blushed, shaking her head with a grin. "Just wait until later. I have the real surprise planned for tonight."

Travis leaned back in his chair, his curiosity growing. "You're killing me, Tay. What's the plan?"

"You'll see," she said, her voice playful but firm. "But first, we've got the whole day to spend together. No work, no football, just us."

He liked the sound of that. With their schedules always pulling them in different directions, having a full day to themselves felt like a gift in itself. "That's the best birthday present I could ask for."

(...)

By the time evening rolled around, Travis was practically buzzing with anticipation. Taylor had been tight-lipped all day, giving him no hints about what she had planned. They'd spent the afternoon walking around the city, enjoying the crisp fall air and the rare chance to be together without any interruptions. But now, as the sun began to set, Taylor was preparing for the main event.

"Okay, close your eyes," she instructed as they pulled into a secluded parking lot just outside the city.

Travis chuckled but did as she asked, closing his eyes as she guided him out of the car. "This better not be one of those pranks where you lead me into a ditch or something," he joked.

Taylor laughed, shaking her head. "Trust me, it's nothing like that."

She led him a few steps forward, the sound of crunching leaves beneath their feet the only noise in the quiet evening. Finally, they stopped, and Taylor positioned him just right before whispering, "Okay, open your eyes."

When Travis opened his eyes, his breath caught in his throat. They were standing in front of a private outdoor setup—fairy lights twinkling in the trees, a table set with candles, and in the distance, a small screen was set up for what looked like an outdoor movie night. But the best part was the view—a sprawling overlook of the city skyline, illuminated in the golden glow of the setting sun.

"Whoa," Travis said, his voice hushed in awe. "Tay, this is incredible."

Taylor smiled, her heart swelling at his reaction. "I wanted to do something that felt like us—just the two of us, away from everything else."

She had rented out the small space for the night, arranging for them to have a private dinner under the stars, followed by one of Travis's favorite movies on the outdoor screen. It was intimate, quiet, and perfectly suited to the way their relationship had grown—away from the prying eyes of the world.

They sat down for dinner, sharing quiet conversation as the sun dipped lower behind the city. Travis couldn't stop looking around, taking it all in. It was the perfect mix of romantic and relaxed, a reflection of everything he loved about their time together.

"You really outdid yourself," Travis said, his voice filled with warmth. "This is the best birthday I've ever had."

Taylor beamed, her eyes sparkling under the soft glow of the fairy lights. "I'm glad you like it."

After dinner, they settled on the outdoor lounge chairs, wrapped up in blankets as the movie started playing. They were watching American Pie once again. Travis had chosen an old favorite, and as the scenes unfolded on the screen, Taylor found herself more focused on him than the movie. She loved how his face lit up at certain parts, the way he laughed so easily, the contentment that radiated from him.

When the movie ended, they stayed there, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance. The air was chilly, but with Taylor tucked against him, Travis felt warm, completely at peace. It was rare, these moments of stillness in their chaotic lives, and he wanted to hold onto it for as long as he could.

"You're amazing," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you for this. For everything."

Taylor looked up at him, her heart full. "You make it easy," she whispered back.

They sat in silence for a while longer, wrapped in the quiet and the comfort of each other's presence. Taylor could feel how much this meant to Travis—how much he valued the time they spent together, away from the noise of the world. And in that moment, she realized how much she needed it too.

As the night grew darker, they reluctantly packed up, heading back to the car. But the magic of the evening lingered, the memory of the lights and the view etched into both of their hearts.

As they drove home, Taylor glanced over at Travis, who was still smiling, his hand resting on her thigh. She knew the next few weeks would be a whirlwind of work, travel, and responsibilities. But tonight had reminded her of what really mattered—these moments of connection, the love they had for each other.

And as they pulled up to their place, Travis turned to her, his voice soft in the quiet car. "I adore you, Tay."

Her breath caught at the words. She knew.

"I adore you too," she whispered, her heart swelling with certainty.

And just like that, on the night of his 33rd birthday, everything fell into place.

—-

next chapter is just so sweet, can't wait for you to read it <3

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