In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter Thirteen

December 30, 2020

Taylor sat on the living room floor in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a warm blanket with her laptop balanced on her knees. The room was quiet, the kind of silence that felt suffocating. It had just been her for weeks—no calls, no texts from Joe since he'd left for London.

And then she saw it.

Her heart dropped as she stared at the photo on her laptop screen. Joe was there, but he wasn't alone. A woman stood beside him, her face unfamiliar, and their body language spoke volumes.

"Joe Alwyn and Emma Laird Spotted Looking Intimate: Are Joe and Taylor Over?"

The headline made her stomach churn.

They hadn't broken up—at least, not officially. Not yet. But apparently, Joe didn't feel the need to call or explain. To show up and say anything. The betrayal stung, but more than anything, Taylor felt anger rising in her chest, sharp and unrelenting. She didn't even have the energy to cry.

Instead, she opened her contacts on the laptop, scrolling until she found Tree's name. Without hesitation, she pressed call.

"Don't worry, I already have it handled," Tree's voice came through, firm but reassuring. "It's his co-star. The media's just spinning it."

"No," Taylor whispered, her throat tight. "It's real."

There was a pause on the other end. "Did you guys break up?" Tree asked, her tone softer now.

Taylor swallowed hard. "No... not yet," she admitted, struggling to keep her voice steady. "But I need a favor."

"Okay?" Tree replied, her hesitancy evident.

"I need you to get me someone's address," Taylor said quietly. "Or a phone number."

"An address?" Tree repeated, the confusion clear in her voice. "Whose? Taylor, what's going on?"

"It's..." Taylor hesitated, the name caught in her throat. Finally, she forced it out. "Travis Kelce. Please, Tree. I need this."

Another silence hung between them, heavier this time. Then Tree let out a soft sigh. "Alright. I'll look into it."

Relief washed over Taylor, her voice trembling as she said, "Thank you... Thank you so much."

"Take care of yourself, Taylor. Please," Tree urged, her tone full of concern.

The call ended, leaving Taylor sitting alone in the quiet again. But this time, the stillness didn't feel as suffocating. It felt like the start of something—something she couldn't ignore any longer.

A glass of wine in hand, Taylor sat up abruptly at the sound of a notification. It was a text from Tree, containing everything she'd asked for—an address and a phone number.

Taylor stared at the screen, her mind racing. She couldn't just call him. He wouldn't know her.

Finishing the last sip of her wine, she picked up her phone and typed a message back to Tree. She needed to go to Kansas City.

Tree didn't exactly understand the urgency or the reason, but she wasn't going to stop Taylor.

Taylor spent the rest of the night packing a bag and pacing the house, her mind spiraling with questions. She knew this probably wasn't the best idea. How would he react? Would he even want to talk to her? What if this was all a mistake?

Her hands trembled as she zipped up her bag, the weight of uncertainty settling over her. But despite the doubt, one thing remained clear—she had to try.