Isn't That Sweet? | Tayvis Stories

Family That I Chose (2/3)

Note: I feel like this one is a bit more reflective than the first part, and also maybe leaning in a bit more into Taylor and Travis's relationship than the family dynamic, but I like it and I hope all of you do as well!

Travis had a knack for surprises. It wasn't something he consciously planned, but there was a spark in him every time he pulled off something unexpected for Taylor. Maybe it was the way her eyes lit up, or the way her smile deepened with delight when she saw him do something out of the blue. Whether it was showing up unannounced in the middle of her show or slipping a pint of ice cream into her freezer with a note, he never grew tired of seeing her happiness. It was like a light switching on inside her—a radiance that always left him in awe. But this time, this time was different. This surprise would feel heavy in his chest, like something he couldn't quite give.

"I don't want you to rush yourself," she said, her voice quiet but threaded with a softness that almost broke him. There was a trace of something unspoken in her words—some worry, some weight she carried. "You have practice, and I know it's a quick turnaround."

Her words were gentle, but they hit him like a ripple in still water. He could hear the concern in her voice, the way she held back, knowing how hard he was working this season, how much pressure weighed on him. And yet, even in the midst of her own demanding schedule, she was thinking of him. His heart squeezed. It didn't matter how busy they were; he always wanted to be there for her.

"Baby," he began, trying to soothe her, to give her peace. "You flew all the way from Japan to Las Vegas to see me at the Super Bowl with hardly any time at all. A quick flight to see you isn't a bother, not for me. It's the last show I can make. I want to be there, more than anything." His words were firm. He would be there, and his words were laced with the silent promise that he was always going to show up for her.

She sighed softly on the other end, a small sound that made him wish he could pull her close, "It means so much to me that you want to be there one more time." There was sweetness in her words, but also something else. Something hidden. A small ache. It hung in the space between them, the unspoken thing—the absence of others, the quiet disappointment of unmet expectations. It twisted in his chest, a flash of protective anger. He couldn't stand the thought of her feeling alone in this. Not if he could do something about it.

"Nothing else I'd rather be doing," he said again, more forcefully this time, as if to erase any trace of doubt. He meant it, with everything he had.

She seemed to breathe easier at that and he could hear another voice in the background, "Tree's calling for me. Probably stuff about filming."

"Go see what she has to say, baby. I'll talk to you later," he replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he imagined her face.

"I love you, Trav," she whispered. Those words had become a rhythm between them, something that settled in the air without needing to be said aloud, yet they echoed it back and forth as much as they could.

"I love you too," he replied softly.

As the call ended and he sat there, Travis couldn't help but feel the bittersweet mix of love and regret. He wished he could have been there sooner for her. But the thought of what was waiting—what she was waiting for—kept his heart in motion.

The next day, the cool night air wrapped around him as he stepped out of the car and into the bustle of the stadium. There was a hum in the air, the kind of excitement that was signature of one of Taylor's shows. Tree stood at the back entrance, waiting for him. They exchanged pleasantries and a few casual words about his flight, but Travis couldn't help but feel his mind drifting toward the stage.

The bass from the music hit him even before he walked through the door. He had made it just in time. Just in time for the TTPD set. A smile spread across his face. Perfect .