TNT Short Fics

I just want you (2/2)

The football slams into his back, knocking him out of his thoughts.

"What the fuck?"

"Yo, Kelc! Wake the hell up!"

He blinks against the sun, turning to find Patrick already staring him down, hands on his hips.

"The hell, man?"

Patrick jogs over, shaking his head. "I've been calling your name for, like, thirty seconds. Where are you?"

He's right. He's not here. Not really.

Travis's mind is still somewhere else. Back in that quiet moment last night. Phone pressed to his ear. Her voice, soft and steady, threading through the line like she's sitting right next to him instead of halfway across the world.

Singing about everything she wants.

About him. About their future.

Patrick studies him for another second, then groans. "Oh, my God. You're being all lovesick again, aren't you? You two are disgusting. It's been, what, a year?"

"Not a year 'til Saturday," Travis mutters.

Patrick rolls his eyes immediately. "That's exactly my point."

He tosses the ball lightly against Travis's chest this time. "What's up with you? She's back tomorrow, right? I figured you'd be locked in, trying to get through this last day of camp."

"Yeah," Travis says, catching the ball without looking. "She's got a meeting in New York. I'm heading up after practice Thursday."

Patrick nods once. "Okay, so what's the issue? You get your girl back, we all head to the beach this weekend. Life is good."

Travis huffs out a breath, dragging a hand over the back of his neck.

That's the thing.

There isn't an issue.

Everything's good.

Better than good. It's fucking amazing.

He just... doesn't know how to explain what shifted last night.

Patrick tilts his head, watching him. "Dude. What happened?"

Travis hesitates, then shrugs like it's nothing.

"She played me something last night."

Patrick's eyebrows go up. "Oh yeah? We talking cute little love song, or—"

Travis lets out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

"Not little."

Patrick studies him again, something more curious settling in now. "Alright... so?"

Travis looks out over the field for a second. Guys running drills. Spags shouting at the D line. The sharp whistle cutting through the air.

Everything feels normal except it isn't.

"It's just..." He trails off, searching for something that doesn't feel too big to say out loud. "Different."

"Different how?"

He shrugs again, jaw tightening slightly. "Like she's not second-guessing herself anymore."

Patrick frowns. "Guessing what?"

Travis glances back at him. Holds it for a second.

Then, quieter—

"That this is real. That it's going to be forever."

There's a beat.

It clicks.

Patrick's expression shifts, eyebrows lifting. "Oh."

Yeah.

Oh.

Travis exhales through his nose, nodding once. "Yeah."

Patrick nudges him with his shoulder. "I'm just saying... that's future-future."

Travis looks out over the field again.

He thinks about her voice. The way it didn't hesitate. The way it sounded like something already decided.

Patrick shakes his head, half-smiling. "Yeah... I know that look. Saw it in the mirror whenever I thought about Brit and me settling down."

Travis huffs a quiet laugh, glancing back at him.

"Yeah," he says easily. "That's the point."

Another beat passes between them. The noise of practice fills it easily, but something about the moment still feels settled rather than heavy.

Like the last bit of hesitation is finally gone.

Patrick watches him for a second longer, then a grin starts to form.

"...You're gonna do something about it, yeah?"

Travis glances down at the grass, then back up.

"You already know."

Patrick huffs out a laugh. "You haven't already?"

"Would've," Travis says. "She wants to wait. 'Til after the tour."

Patrick nods like that makes perfect sense. Because, with her, it does.

"You got a ring?"

Travis lets out a breath, half a laugh. "I've got an idea of one. And the name of a jeweler she likes. She showed me some of her stuff back in the winter."

Patrick just shakes his head, grinning now.

"You two have been sprinting toward this since, like, day one."

Travis doesn't even hesitate.

"Knew I was gonna marry her after the first date."

Patrick barks out a laugh, tossing the ball back into his hands. "Yeah, alright. That's insane."

Travis shrugs, easy.

"Yeah."

A beat.

Then, softer—

"But it's not wrong."

A whistle blows sharp across the field.

"Alright, let's go!" Coach Reid yells. "15! 87! Get a move on!"

Patrick claps him once on the shoulder. "Try to stay in the present this time, dawg."

Travis snorts. "No promises."

They jog back into position.

Helmet in hand, grass under his cleats, sun beating down like it always does.

Everything exactly the same.

And not.

For the first time all morning, his head is quiet.

Not spinning. Not trying to catch up.

Just settled.

Like everything she sang about last night isn't some far-off idea.

Not something to figure out.

Not even something to hope for.

Just... something they're already moving toward.

A matter of time.