Chapter: Little But Mighty
Travis walked beside Taylor, his 6'5" frame towering over her as they strolled through the familiar aisles of Target. It was supposed to be a quick trip, a chance to grab some essentials, but the moment Taylor spotted the kids' section, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"C'mon, just for a minute!" Taylor pleaded, giving Travis her best puppy-dog eyes. At 4'6" with a size 2 in kids' shoes, she had long ago learned how to make the most of her petite frame, often sneaking in and out of kids' departments and scoring adorable finds.
Travis grinned, hands in his pockets as he looked down at her. "Alright, alright, just a minute," he chuckled. "But you realize that everyone here is probably thinking I'm your dad, right?"
Taylor smacked his arm lightly, blushing as she rolled her eyes. "Don't even start with that! Let me live my best tiny life, okay?"
They navigated through the racks, Taylor leading the way with a certain determination, her tiny frame weaving effortlessly between displays. Travis followed, ducking his head slightly under a hanging rack, trying not to laugh as he watched Taylor's eyes flit over an array of colorful sneakers, glittery shirts, and jackets that would fit her perfectly.
"Oooh, look at these!" Taylor squealed, picking up a pair of hot-pink high-top sneakers covered in sparkles. She held them up to Travis with a triumphant grin. "Tell me these aren't the coolest shoes you've ever seen!"
Travis squinted at them, pretending to scrutinize every sparkly detail. "I dunno, babe. They look a little... flashy."
"Flashy?" Taylor huffed, slipping off one of her own shoes and wriggling her foot into the high-top. It fit like a glove, and she wiggled her toes happily. "They're fabulous, and you know it!"
She did a little spin, showing off her new shoe as Travis laughed, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Only you would rock a pair of kids' sneakers in Target and make it look like a runway show."
Taylor stuck her tongue out at him, pulling the other shoe from the box and slipping it on. She took a few steps around, testing the comfort. "Oh yeah, these are coming home with me," she declared, grinning as she admired them in the mirror.
They continued down the aisles, Taylor darting between racks and occasionally stopping to grab something that caught her eye—a sparkly unicorn T-shirt, a set of glittery hair clips, and even a pastel backpack with cartoon characters. She looked up at Travis each time with a wide-eyed grin, and he'd simply shake his head with a laugh, agreeing to each item she picked.
Finally, they reached the accessories section, where Taylor found a collection of oversized hats. She grabbed a tiny, rainbow-colored bucket hat and plopped it on her head, adjusting it with serious intent.
"How do I look?" she asked, tilting her head up to give him her best model pose.
Travis crossed his arms, a broad smile stretching across his face as he watched her, both amused and charmed by how much fun she was having. "Like the coolest kid in this whole store," he replied, leaning down to give her a quick kiss on the forehead.
She grinned and grabbed another hat, a bright yellow cap with the words Little but Mighty embroidered on the front, waving it toward Travis. "I think you should wear this one," she teased.
"Oh, no way," he said, backing away with his hands up. "Not a chance, Swift."
"Oh, come on, Mr. Football Star," she taunted, trying to get him to lower his head. "I think it suits you."
Travis rolled his eyes but eventually bent down just enough for her to place the hat on his head. It barely fit, perching on top of his thick curls like a tiny accessory. She giggled as she adjusted it, making sure it was straight.
