Lady in RED || Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

Don't drop the Baby

Taylor stepped out of the bedroom, the soft sound of her bare feet against the cool marble tile floor filled the space as she crossed into the living room. Her eyes immediately landed on Travis, pacing back and forth near the pool deck, his silhouette framed by the sunlit ocean beyond. He was still in the clothes he'd worn on his flight back, rumpled joggers and a fitted crew shirt pushed up at the sleeves. His duffel bag sat untouched near the glass doors of the patio, a reminder of how sudden and unexpected his early morning arrival had been.

He was on the phone, the edges of his voice sharp enough to carry faintly through the open doors. Taylor couldn't make out the words, but his tone and the way his hand kept raking through his hair told her everything she needed to know. The tension in his shoulders and the restless energy in his movements were unmistakable. Travis gestured sharply with his free hand as he paced. Whatever he was discussing, it wasn't going well.

Taylor lingered by the edge of the living room for a moment, watching him. Normally, seeing him back home brought a sense of calm and reassurance, but today, that calm was absent. His unexpected return from Kansas City had thrown her off, and now, seeing him like this only deepened her unease. Finally, she stepped forward, sliding the door open more to let the salty breeze wash over her. The sound of the door caught Travis's attention, and he turned mid-stride, his expression softening the moment his eyes met hers.

"Hey," he said, lowering the phone for a moment. His voice was quieter now, but the tension hadn't left it entirely.

"Hey," Taylor replied, crossing her arms, leaning against the doorframe as she studied him. "Long day already?"

Travis let out a breath, his hand dropping to his side as he ended the call and set his phone on a nearby table. "Something like that." 

Taylor tilted her head, her gaze sharp but laced with concern. "You want to tell me what's going on? Why you're back so soon?"

Travis hesitated, his jaw tightening as he looked away toward the horizon. He rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture she recognized as his way of stalling. "I will," he said after a moment. "Just... give me a second to figure out how to explain it all."

Her heart sank at the guardedness in his tone. Travis rarely held back with her, and the fact that he was now only made her worry more.

"You're scaring me a little," she admitted, stepping closer to him.

He turned to face her fully, his shoulders slumping slightly as he let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't mean to," he said softly. His hand reached out to rest on her waist, grounding both of them. "Let's sit down. I owe you an explanation."

"Alright," Taylor said, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions rising in her chest. She let him guide her back inside, his hand warm and firm on the small of her back. Travis led her to the large sectional sofa in the center of the living room, and as soon as she sat down, he followed, stretching out to rest his head on her lap. She could feel the tension radiating from him, the weight of something unspoken pressing heavily on his shoulders. Her fingers instinctively moved to his hair, brushing through the soft, short strands as he closed his eyes. His breathing slowed, but the lines on his face didn't ease. She could tell he wasn't quite ready to speak yet, so she simply let him stay there, her hand moving gently against his head, offering the silent reassurance he seemed to need. For a moment, the room was quiet, the sound of waves faint in the background. Travis's head rested against her legs, but she could feel the heaviness of his thoughts, the sadness and stress rolling off him like a storm cloud.

Then, without a word, he shifted slightly, his arms wrapping around her waist as he turned his head more. He pressed his forehead against her baby bump, the motion so tender and deliberate it made her heart clench. Taylor stilled, her breath catching as his head rested fully against her belly. "Travis," she whispered, her voice soft but laced with concern.