The Way We Once Were

eight

i'm on a roll this week i've posted like four one-shots and this 💃💃💃

Travis's POV

My phone rung early that morning, Taylor's face lighting up on my screen. I answered it as fast as I could and held it to my ear. "Hey." I murmured. "Hi Travis. I think I've made up my mind." Taylor's quiet voice came through the phone. My heart sped up. "What is it? Just remember kitten, I'm always here for you no matter what you choose." I assured her. God, what had she chosen?

"I want you Travis. I think I always have. I just haven't let myself believe it." Taylor whispered. I pressed the phone closer, my heart racing, barely able to believe what I was hearing. A sigh of relief escaped me, one I hadn't even realized I was holding. All these months of trying to move on, convincing myself she was out of reach—it all came crashing down with those words. "Taylor," I managed, my voice thick, "are you... are you really choosing me?"

There was a pause, just her steady breathing on the other end, and I pictured her staring down at the floor, gathering her courage the way she always did. "Yes," she finally said, her voice firmer this time. "I'm choosing you. No more holding on to what I think I should want. No more pretending."

Hearing her say it—actually say it—was everything I'd been waiting for, everything I thought I'd lost. I closed my eyes, holding onto the phone like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. "Taylor," I whispered, barely able to contain the flood of emotions. This was our second chance. And this time, I wasn't going to let her go.

"Do you want to meet me at the coffee shop around the corner in thirty and we'll hang out there for a bit?" Taylor offered, her voice soft. "Of course. See you there. And Taylor, thank you." I murmured. "No problem. Thank you too." Taylor replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

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I arrived at the coffee shop early, nerves jangling, even though I'd been here a hundred times. This was different. Today was the day Taylor and I were finally going to stop pretending and let things be... whatever they were meant to be.

The bell above the door chimed, and there she was, scanning the room until her eyes found me. Her smile was small, hesitant, but the moment she caught my gaze, it grew warmer, like sunlight breaking through clouds. She walked over, slipping out of her coat and settling across from me. I felt my heart skip just watching her settle into the seat.

"Hey," she said, a little breathlessly, like she'd been just as nervous as I was. "Hey." I smiled, trying to keep my voice steady, though I knew I was probably grinning like an idiot. "You made it."

"Of course I did," she replied, rolling her eyes but smiling, too. "I've been wanting to do this for... well, you know." She glanced down at her menu even though we both probably knew what we were ordering, and I watched her, just taking her in—the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the slight furrow in her brow as she pretended to consider what to order.

"I'm going with the usual," I said, breaking the silence. She laughed softly, looking up at me with that sparkle in her eyes. "Of course. You and your black coffee. No sugar, no milk."

"You know me." I shrugged, leaning back in my chair, letting myself relax a little now that we were here, together.

After we ordered, the conversation flowed more easily. We talked about everything and nothing—our favorite songs, stupid things that had happened at work. It felt natural, like picking up where we'd left off, but somehow even better. Like there was this unspoken understanding between us, this warmth that had been waiting for us all along.

At one point, our hands brushed as we reached for our cups. I felt a jolt, and I looked up to find her watching me, her cheeks slightly pink. "I didn't realize how much I missed this," she murmured.

"Me too." I took a deep breath, reaching out and taking her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm just glad we're here now."

She smiled, her fingers tightening around mine, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be. We sat there, fingers laced across the table, neither of us wanting to pull away. The coffee grew cold, the chatter of the café faded into background noise, and it felt like the rest of the world didn't exist. "So, what happens now?" I asked, my thumb tracing small circles on her hand, savoring every second of this closeness.

Taylor tilted her head, a little smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I guess we take it one day at a time," she said softly. "No rush. Just... seeing where this takes us. Also. We can't let Joe see us." Her words calmed me, like we'd shed the weight of expectations we'd both been carrying. It felt new, yet somehow familiar, like we were finally stepping into something that had always been there.

"Of course. Why don't you just break up with him." I offered, tilting my head. "I guess... I'm just scared. But I really don't want him to change our relationship. Please?" Taylor whispered. "Never." I squeezed her hand.

We stayed in that moment a little longer, watching each other in comfortable silence. Then, as if realizing all over again that this was real, she squeezed my hand and said, "Come on, let's go for a walk. I feel like I could talk to you forever."

Outside, the autumn air was crisp, and she slipped her hand into mine without a second thought. We strolled down the tree-lined street, kicking through the fallen leaves, laughing over shared memories and inside jokes that had somehow endured, even when we'd been apart.

I glanced down at her, at the way she looked up at me, and felt a surge of gratitude I couldn't quite put into words. All I knew was that I didn't want this to end. Not tonight. Not ever.

As we reached a quiet spot in the park, she paused, looking up at the sky. "You know," she said, her voice soft, "I don't think I ever really got over you, Travis. I thought I could, but..."

She trailed off, and I took her hands, pulling her close. "You don't have to say it. I get it," I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She looked at me, eyes shining, and in that moment, I knew this was our chance to start over—to build something real, something honest.

I leaned down, and as our lips met, the world around us faded entirely. It was just us, tangled together in a kiss that felt like a promise: no more second-guessing. Just trust and happiness.