Greatest In the League

cozy

Travis' pov

"its cancelled travis."

Instantly, I knew what she meant. Tree had called to give me the heads up that Taylor's shows in Vienna might have to get cancelled due to terrorist threats. Getting this text was just the confirmation. 

"My sweet girl," i typed back "I am so sorry. You don't deserve this" 

Taylor didn't reply, but Tree called me an hour or so later to let me know Tay wanted to come stay with me. Obviously, I was okay with that. Knowing she was safe and home with me would help me just as much as her. I knew Taylor well enough to know she would come back a little shaken up. 

So, I set up a surprise to make her feel safe. Blanket forts are something she'd once mentioned, offhandedly, that she used to make with her family, saying how much they'd comforted her as a kid. I'd never made one myself, but after a few YouTube tutorials and a lot of trial and error, I managed to build something I was pretty proud of—an impressive structure of blankets, pillows, and fairy lights in my living room, cozy as can be.

I made sure the blankets went over the TV so if she wanted she could watch some while we lounged. I also stocked the kitchen with her favorite snacks and put some bath bombs on the sink in case she wanted to use them. 

Before long, I heard her key in the door, I straightened up, heart pounding as I waited for her reaction.

She stepped inside, and I wrapped her up in a big hug, needing to feel her close to me. She let out a breathe and I nuzzled my face into her neck, reminding myself she was safe. When I let her go she walked into the living room, promptly dropping her bag as she gasped and reached for my hand. "Travis...is this a...blanket fort?"

"It is," I said, a little sheepish. "I tried, I don't know how well I did but...I figured you could use a soft place to land."

Her eyes sparkled as she took a step closer, taking in the soft glow of the fairy lights, the tower of pillows, and the ridiculous mess of blankets I'd draped over everything. "You really made this...for me?"

I grinned, stepping forwards and tugging her along with me. "Come on, don't act so surprised. You know I want to make you feel safe and at home."

She broke out into a huge grin and led us towards the entrance I'd made from a bedsheet. We ducked down, giggling like kids, and crawled inside. Once we were settled, I noticed the way she took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing for what seemed like the first time all day.

She nestled into the pile of pillows, looking up at me with that wide-eyed wonder that melted me every time. "Travis, this is the sweetest, coziest thing anyone's ever done for me."

"Hey, what's the point of having all these blankets and pillows if we're not going to put them to good use?" I teased, settling in beside her and pulling a fleece blanket over our laps. "Besides, I wanted you to know you're safe here. Whatever's going on outside, it's just you and me in here."

Taylor snuggled into my shoulder, her head resting in my neck, and I could feel her smiling against me. "I feel like we're kids again, hiding away from the world."

"That's the idea." I reached over and handed her a bag of her favorite chocolates, which I'd hidden in the pillow pile. "Only the finest snacks for my fort buddy."

Her eyes lit up as she grabbed the bag and laughed, "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

"What can I say?" I shrugged, smiling as she unwrapped a chocolate. "Once I get an idea, I go all in."

She leaned back against the pillows, popping a chocolate into her mouth and closing her eyes with a blissful expression. "You, Travis Kelce, are officially a blanket-fort legend."

We both laughed, and I nudged her playfully. "So what exactly does a guy have to do to become a blanket-fort legend?"

"Well," she said, pausing as if deep in thought, "first, you have to make sure there's good food...like these chocolates. Then you've got to have the right atmosphere—fairy lights are a big plus." She glanced around, her face glowing in the light. "And you need to be a ridiculously sweet guy who puts all this together just to make his girlfriend feel safe."

I felt my face heat up, but I shrugged it off, trying to play it cool. "Ah, so the fairy lights were a good call."

She laughed and playfully nudged my shoulder. "Yes, they're perfect, you dork." Her laughter softened, and she leaned her head on my shoulder, her voice quiet. "Thank you, Travis. This...this means so much."

We stayed there for a while, just sitting in comfortable silence, the world fading away outside our little cocoon. After a while, she tilted her head up to look at me, her eyes glimmering.

"Hey, Kelce?"

"Yes, ma'am?" I looked down, meeting her gaze.

"I really, really needed this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "After everything, this just...it feels like home."

I swallowed hard, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in my throat. "Then it's a good thing I'm here, huh?"

Her face softened, and she placed her hand over mine. "Yeah. It really is."

We spent the next couple of hours lounging around, talking, and laughing about anything that popped into our heads. She told me a few stories from tour life, and I shared some of the more absurd locker room stories—her eyes went wide at some of the things the guys do for laughs. For a moment, it felt like we'd escaped reality, tucked away in our little fort.

Eventually, I noticed her eyelids getting heavy, her head lolling gently against my shoulder.

"Hey," I whispered, nudging her gently. "You look like you're about to pass out."

"Mmm, maybe a little," she murmured, fighting to keep her eyes open. "It's too comfy in here."

I grinned, shifting slightly so she could lie down on the pillow pile more comfortably. "How about we call it a night? I'll stay right here with you."

She gave me a soft smile, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "You're the best, you know that?"

"Only because you bring out the best in me, Swifty," I said, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. Her eyes fluttered closed, and I watched her drift off, a feeling of calm settling over me as I held her close.

---

The next morning, I woke up to find her already awake, sitting beside me with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.

"Good morning, Mr. Blanket-Fort King," she said with a grin, handing me the cup.

"Morning," I yawned, rubbing my eyes. "You sleep okay?"

"Best sleep I've had in ages," she said, snuggling up next to me. "This fort might just be magic."

We spent the morning lounging around in the fort, sharing laughs and cozying up together. I'd honestly never felt happier, and I could tell she felt the same. And as I held her close, I knew I'd build a thousand more forts if it meant seeing that smile on her face.

The world outside could keep its chaos. Right here, we had everything we needed.

xx