guilty as sin? (tayvis)

you knew what it was he is in love

The days after Travis's birthday passed in a blur of rehearsals, meetings, and album prep for Taylor, while Travis threw himself into the NFL season. They were both busier than ever, but in the midst of the chaos, they always found time for each other, whether it was late-night phone calls or stolen moments between their schedules.

One night, though, something shifted.

It was a rare evening when they were both home at the same time. The world outside their apartment was moving at a dizzying pace, but in here, it was quiet. Taylor had finished a long day of meetings about Midnights and was curled up on the couch, a book in her hands. Travis sat beside her, flipping through the channels before settling on a football game, but he wasn't really paying attention. His eyes kept drifting over to her.

It was late—far later than they usually stayed up—but neither of them seemed in a hurry to go to bed. The soft glow of the lamp cast a golden light over the room, and the sound of the city outside was muted by the closed windows. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Taylor glanced up from her book, catching the way Travis was looking at her. "What?" she asked, smiling softly, her curiosity piqued by the strange expression on his face.

He didn't answer right away. His brow furrowed slightly, as if he was trying to figure something out, and for a brief second, Taylor wondered if something was wrong. Then, without warning, he shifted toward her, setting the remote down and leaning closer.

"I've been thinking," he said, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

Taylor's heart fluttered at the serious tone. "About what?"

Travis paused, his eyes searching hers. There was something different about him tonight—something deep and unspoken hanging in the air between them. And then, just like that, the words tumbled out.

"You're my best friend, Swifty"

Taylor blinked, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected confession. There was a strange look on his face, one she hadn't seen before. It wasn't the playful or easygoing Travis she was used to—it was something more vulnerable, more raw.

For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath.

She didn't say anything, didn't need to, because she knew exactly what it meant. The look in his eyes, the way he hesitated before speaking—it all clicked into place. This wasn't just a simple declaration of friendship. This was more. So much more.

He was in love. And she could hear it in the silence, feel it on the way home, see it in the dark. She was in love.

Taylor felt a warmth spread through her chest, her heart pounding as the weight of his words settled over her. She had always known there was something special between them, something that went beyond the easy chemistry or the way they fit so naturally into each other's lives. But hearing him say it, seeing the way his eyes softened, she knew this was a turning point.

"Travis..." she started, her voice barely a whisper.

He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as he took a deep breath. "I mean it, Tay. You're not just... someone I care about. You're it. You're the person I want to tell everything to, the one I want to be with at the end of the day. You're my best friend. And I'm in love with you. I love you"

There it was—the truth, laid bare between them.

Taylor's heart swelled, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. Her mind flashed through every moment they'd shared—the laughter, the quiet nights, the way he always seemed to know exactly what she needed. He was her calm in the storm, her anchor when everything else felt overwhelming. And now, she realized, he was so much more than that. He was her person.