Chapter 10 : The Big Reveal

142 3 0
                                    


The evening was warm and familiar, the kind of gathering both families had shared countless times. The Swifts' dining room was filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the smell of Andrea's famous roast chicken. Taylor sat at one end of the table, Travis at the other, sneaking glances at her when he thought no one was watching.

Austin, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension between them, was in the middle of a story that had the entire table in stitches. Donna and Ed, seated beside Andrea and Scott, exchanged knowing smiles as they enjoyed the easy camaraderie that had defined their friendship for years.

But for Taylor and Travis, this dinner was different. They had talked endlessly about how and when to tell their families about their relationship, and they had finally decided: tonight was the night.

Taylor's heart raced as she glanced at Travis, who gave her an almost imperceptible nod. Taking a deep breath, she set her fork down and cleared her throat.

"Um, Mom, Dad, Donna, Ed..." she began, her voice slightly shaky. The room quieted instantly, all eyes turning to her. "There's... something I need to tell you. Well, *we* need to tell you."

Andrea leaned forward, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it, sweetheart?"

Travis straightened in his chair, his usual confidence faltering slightly under the weight of the moment. "Taylor and I... we're together. We've been dating for a little while now."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Austin, who had been mid-drink, choked on his soda and began coughing violently. Scott quickly reached over to pat his son's back while Andrea and Donna exchanged stunned glances.

"You're *what*?" Austin finally managed, his voice a mix of disbelief and irritation.

Taylor flinched slightly but held her ground. "We're together, Austin. I know this is probably a shock, but—"

"A shock?" Austin interrupted, his voice rising. "You're my *little sister*! And Travis, you're supposed to be my *best friend*! How long has this been going on?"

"A few months," Travis admitted, his tone calm but firm. "We didn't mean to hide it from you, but we wanted to be sure about how we felt before telling everyone."

"Well, great job keeping it a secret," Austin muttered, crossing his arms and glaring at Travis.

Donna was the first to break the tension with a warm smile. "Well, I have to say, I'm surprised... but I'm also happy for you both. If anyone knows Travis, it's us, and we know he'll treat you right, Taylor."

"Exactly," Andrea chimed in, her face lighting up with a smile. "I couldn't have picked a better first boyfriend for my daughter."

Taylor's cheeks flushed, and Travis looked down, clearly relieved by their acceptance.

"Hold on," Austin interjected, his voice still sharp. "You're all just okay with this? This is *Travis*! The guy who convinced me to dye my hair orange in eighth grade because he said it would make me look 'cool.' And now he's dating Taylor?"

Scott chuckled, breaking the tension. "Austin, calm down. I get it—it's a little weird. But they're both good kids, and if they're happy, that's what matters."

Austin threw up his hands in frustration. "Fine. But don't expect me to be okay with this overnight."

"That's fair," Taylor said softly, her eyes meeting her brother's. "But we really care about each other, Austin. I hope, in time, you can understand that."

Austin didn't respond, choosing instead to stab his fork into a piece of chicken with more force than necessary.

---

Sunsets and Second chances (a short Tayvis Story) Where stories live. Discover now