Tayvis one-shots (3)

Bucket List Challenge

Hi! I'm soooo sorry, I've completely forgot about this book. But don't worry, I'll update from now on, so stay tuned!
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Taylor reclined on their couch, her legs stretched over Travis's lap. She had her phone in hand, scrolling through articles to pass the rare evening where both of them were free. Across the room, Travis was tossing a football up and catching it with one hand, clearly restless.

"Alright, Superstar," Travis finally said, breaking the silence. "What's so fascinating on that phone of yours? You've been glued to it for the past ten minutes."

Taylor smirked, looking up at him. "I was reading about bucket lists—things people want to do before they die."

Travis raised an eyebrow and set the football down. "Bucket lists, huh? You mean like bungee jumping, skydiving, and swimming with sharks? Typical daredevil stuff?"

"Maybe for some people," Taylor said with a laugh. "But bucket lists can be about anything! It doesn't have to be all extreme sports, Big Guy."

He leaned back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Alright, let's hear it. Do you have a bucket list? Or are you just reading about everyone else's?"

Taylor tilted her head in thought. "I don't have one... yet. But I think it'd be fun to make one. Together."

"Together?" Travis grinned. "Alright, I'm game. But no shark diving. That's where I draw the line."

"Deal," Taylor said, sitting up and grabbing a notebook and pen from the coffee table. "Let's make it interesting. No boring or predictable stuff. We have to push each other out of our comfort zones a little."

Travis rubbed his hands together playfully. "Alright, Superstar. Let's do this."

The brainstorming session that followed was filled with laughter and playful banter as they came up with a mix of adventurous, sweet, and downright silly ideas:
    1.    Watch the sunrise together.
    2.    Try ziplining.
    3.    Go roller skating.
    4.    Cook a new recipe together.
    5.    Have a picnic in the park.
    6.    Karaoke night.
    7.    Take a pottery class.
    8.    Write a song together.
    9.    Stargaze from a rooftop.
    10.    Dance in the rain.

"This is a solid list," Travis said, tapping the notebook. "But how do we decide what to start with?"

Taylor grinned. "We'll just pick something easy. How about watching the sunrise tomorrow morning?"

Travis groaned. "That means getting up early, doesn't it?"

"Don't be a baby," Taylor teased, nudging him. "It'll be worth it. Trust me."

The next morning, they woke up before dawn and drove to a quiet hill overlooking Nashville. Wrapped in blankets and sipping hot coffee, they watched the sky transform into a canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples.

"This is beautiful," Taylor whispered, leaning into Travis' side.

He kissed the top of her head. "Totally worth the early wake-up call. But next time, let's bring breakfast."

As the week went on, they tackled their list with enthusiasm. Ziplining turned out to be more thrilling than either of them expected.

"Are you sure about this?" Taylor asked, eyeing the harness nervously as they stood on a platform high above the treetops.

"Safe as can be, Angel," Travis reassured her, grinning. "If you scream, I won't tell anyone."

"Better not," she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Taylor's screams echoed through the forest as they soared across the zipline, but by the time they reached the end of the course, her laughter was uncontrollable.

"You're lucky I trust you," she said, swatting his arm.

Their picnic in the park was a charming disaster when a persistent squirrel decided to raid their picnic basket.

"Travis, help me!" Taylor said, waving her arms at the furry invader.

"I think he's a Swiftie," Travis joked, earning an exasperated glare from Taylor.

Roller skating proved to be another unexpected adventure.

"You're terrible at this," Taylor teased as Travis wobbled beside her, arms flailing for balance.

"Hey, I'm a football player, not a figure skater," he shot back, laughing as he nearly stumbled.

One of the most memorable nights was karaoke. They rented a private room, and Travis brought the house down with an over-the-top rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer."

Taylor, of course, stole the show with an acoustic performance of "You Belong with Me."

"Not fair," Travis said, pretending to pout. "You're a professional."

"And you love it," Taylor teased, sticking out her tongue.

As their bucket list adventures continued, they found themselves growing closer in ways neither of them expected.

One evening, they climbed to the roof of their house and laid out a blanket to stargaze.

"Do you ever think about how small we are compared to all this?" Taylor asked softly, gazing at the endless expanse of stars.

"All the time," Travis said, his voice low and thoughtful. "But even with how big the universe is, I'm pretty sure finding you was written in the stars."

Taylor turned to him, her heart swelling. "That's the cheesiest thing you've ever said, Big Guy. But I love it."

Their final bucket list item—dancing in the rain—happened spontaneously.

One evening, as they were cleaning up after dinner, a sudden downpour started outside.

"Come on," Taylor said, grabbing Travis' hand.

"What? It's pouring!"

"Exactly!" she said, pulling him outside.

The rain soaked them as they danced barefoot in the driveway, twirling and laughing like kids.

"You're crazy, Superstar," Travis said, his hair dripping.

"And you love it," she replied.

"I do," he said, pulling her close. "More than anything."

Later that night, as they curled up on the couch with mugs of cocoa, Taylor looked at the notebook on the coffee table.

"We actually did it," she said, a note of pride in her voice.

Travis grinned. "Yeah, we did. And you know what? This week has been one of the best of my life."

Taylor leaned her head on his shoulder. "Mine too. I think we should make this a tradition."

"Deal," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Anything to keep making memories with you, Angel."

Taylor smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the cocoa. With Travis by her side, every day felt like an adventure, and she couldn't wait to see what the future held.