Karma | Tayvis

Happy tears

Note: Okay. I'm sorry that this took too long. I'm afraid I'm gonna keep apologizing since this will be a common occurrence. I hope this doesn't put you off, I promise I'm trying my best😭

I miss you all and I'm sorry I couldn't respond to comments right now but I hope you don't stop leaving your encouragements. Thank you!❤️

__________

Watching two discrete black SUV's pull over his driveway through the window is quite numbing. It was more like an out of body experience walking to the garage and letting one of her bodyguards inside, exchanging short and polite greetings like he didn't just run out of time.

From the corner of his eyes as they climbed up the couple steps to reach the main room, he sees Taylor struggling to carry her duffel bag and he hurriedly bolted to take it from her.

"Here. Let me." Their hands brushed, which could be the last time as he grips onto the leather handles tightly. "Are you sure you didn't forget anything? You're all set?"

She nods her silently.

"Okay. That's good." The bag isn't particularly heavy, but it does hold a bit of weight, he mentally noted. Standing by the doorway of their temporary bedroom, it's the longest foot distance they have between each other as he actively avoided looking at her. Travis cleared his throat. "I should let one of your guys take this, um--"

"Trav," Her tentative touch leaves a brand of heat on his forearm, forcing his gaze to look up. First, see the littered marks on her collarbone, then the lack of her signature red on her lips, opting for her natural shade of pink he grew familiar with. He hesitantly met her blue eyes, easily spotting the layer of moisture on them. His throat closes up and he squeezes the handles of the bag much tighter. "I just wanted to thank you."

His thick brows furrowed together in confusion. "For what?"

"For this. For everything. It may not mean much but I'm still thankful. So, thank you."

"Taylor," He placed the bag on the floor to regard her with unrestrained honesty. "It meant everything to me." He had to correct, because he didn't want her to leave compressing their time together as just meaningless sex. "I should be the one thanking you for it. It was very risky for you, and for some reason, you went home with me. Sweetheart, I'll forever cherish these last few days we had. Thank you."

By the time he finished outpouring an ounce of his emotions, Taylor couldn't help the tears from falling.

He opens his arms in invitation. "C'mere."

Without hesitation, she takes the last step forward to fall into his embrace. They wrap their arms around each other with all the desperation in the world. Travis closed his eyes, committing the shape of her body and her warmth to memory, burying his nose into her scented curls. Meanwhile, Taylor pressed her face into his chest, wetting the cottony fabric of his shirt with her tears as her fingertips scratched over his head comfortingly. They don't know how long they were standing there; can't be bothered counting the minutes.

However, they eventually had to separate.

It was time to go.

He pressed one last kiss on her forehead before taking the brave step backwards. "I'm going to miss you... Is that okay to say?"

She just nods her head, tucking a loose curl behind one ear. "I'm going to miss you too, Travis."

It's hard to say goodbye, nearly impossible to take the necessary steps of acceptance and letting go.

But eventually, at some point in time, they'd move on from each other. Taylor would be with a man deserving, someone who could love her openly and proudly. Maybe he marries and settles down with a nice lady of his own, no longer bounded by  age and obligation. Maybe he could love again. But he knows one thing for sure; he'll go back to these days. To the very moment he laid eyes on Taylor and the last second of having her in his arms. He would think of her and recount their memories with immense love and nostalgia and gratitude. He can only hope one day that she would do the same—think and dream of him too.