Travis felt his throat close. But I thought you wanted me around more. I want you to be happy. And Travis, you are never happier than when you’re talking ball. When you come home from practice and break down some route you guys ran, or when you’re watching film and explaining why a play worked, that’s when you’re most yourself.
She reached over and flicked on the bedside lamp. And he could see unshed tears in her eyes. If you retire for me, you’ll resent me eventually. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but someday you’ll be watching the Chiefs from our couch, and you’ll wonder what would have happened if you’d played another season. And I can’t live with being the reason you walked away from something you love.
Taylor, I’m not done. Her voice was stronger now, more certain. You asked me once why I keep touring even though I could stop tomorrow and never worry about money. And I told you it’s because music is who I am, not just what I do. Well, football is who you are, Travis. It’s not just your job or your paycheck.
It’s part of your DNA. Travis stared at her, feeling like he was seeing clearly for the first time in weeks. You think I don’t know how to love someone with a demanding career? I’ve been doing it for 2 years. I figured out how to be with someone who travels, who has crazy schedules, who’s passionate about their work. That’s not the problem.
Then what is? The problem is you thinking you have to choose between football and me. Like there’s some rule that says married people can’t both chase excellence. Something cracked open in Travis’s chest. Something he hadn’t realized he’d been holding tight. I was scared, he admitted. Scared I wouldn’t be able to give you what you deserve.
What I deserve, Taylor said, moving closer to him, is the man I fell in love with. And that man plays football for the Kansas City Chiefs. Even if it means more time apart during the season, more scheduling conflicts around playoffs and album releases. Travis, we’ve made it work this far, haven’t we? Through your playoff runs and my tour dates, and all the insanity that comes with both our careers, why would getting married suddenly change that? She was right.
They had figured it out. Not perfectly, not without challenges, but they’d found a rhythm that worked. “Besides,” Taylor added with a smile that was half teasing, half serious. “Do you really think I want a husband who’s home all the time? I’ve got music to make and an empire to run. I need you to go be great at football so I can miss you the right amount.
” Travis laughed despite the emotional weight of the conversation. “You want to miss me? I want to miss you and then have you come home and tell me about your day and feel proud that the man tearing up NFL defenses is mine. I want to wear your jersey and know that the guy making impossible catches is coming home to me.
I want our future kids to think their dad is the coolest person on earth because he played for the Chiefs. Kids. The word caught in his throat. Future kids. hypothetical kids who will grow up thinking it’s totally normal that their dad catches passes from Patrick Mahomes. Travis pulled her closer, pieces clicking into place.
So, you’re saying I should sign the deal? I’m saying you should do what makes you happy and walking away from football right now would make you miserable. You really believe that? I know that because I know you. She traced patterns on his chest with her finger. You’re not ready to be done, Travis. You’ve still got more in the tank.
more records to break, more moments to create. Don’t rob yourself of those because you think being a good husband means giving up being a great player. Travis lay back down, pulling Taylor with him. His mind was racing with everything she just said. Patrick’s been texting me, you know, Taylor said quietly, asking if I knew what you were thinking.
That man is like a worried parent when it comes to your career decisions. Patrick’s been bugging you about my contract. He’s terrified you’re going to retire and leave him with no one to throw to. I told him he needed to trust the process. What process? The process of you remembering who you are. Travis was quiet for a moment, then started laughing.
Not just chuckling, but really laughing. What’s funny? I’ve been overthinking this for weeks, trying to figure out the right choice. What you wanted, what was best for us. And the whole time, the answer was just to keep being myself. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right answer. I’m calling Brett first thing in the morning. Good.
The kingdom needs their tight end back. Travis looked at her with something approaching awe. You know what you just did? Reminded my fiance that he’s Travis Kelsey. You talked me out of early retirement using pure psychology. You knew exactly what buttons to push. I told you the truth. That’s not manipulation. That’s love.
And what’s the truth? The truth is that I fell in love with a football player, a really, really good football player who gets fired up about the game and comes home happy because he got to compete at the highest level. I don’t want to marry some watered down version of you that quit because he thought that’s what I wanted.
Travis kissed her then, tasting the promise of a future that somehow managed to include everything they both loved. I love you, he said against her lips. I love you too, all of you. Especially the part that can’t imagine walking away from the game. The next morning, Travis called Brett Vch at 7 a.m. sharp. Travis, it’s early. I’m signing the contract. There was a pause.
Then Brett’s relieved laughter. Thank God. I was starting to think we were losing you to domestic bliss. Turns out domestic bliss includes football. That Taylor of yours is something else. Yeah, she is. Within hours, the news broke everywhere. Patrick posted celebration photos on social media. The Chief’s Kingdom went wild and Taylor left a single heart emoji on the team’s announcement that somehow said everything.
That evening, they sat in the same kitchen where Travis had wrestled with his decision, sharing takeout and scrolling through the reactions. Any regrets? Taylor asked, stealing a bite of his lane. Only that I almost made the stupidest decision of my career. What changed your mind? You did. You reminded me that real love isn’t about sacrifice.
