Never Knew I Could Be So Lucky
pairing: travis ‘teacake’ meacham x single mom!reader
summary: your life was pretty quiet and rather lonely as a single mom, until one day a regular customer at the bookstore asked you out
part 2
wc: 4.5k
tags: fluff like sooo much fluff, travis being adorable with a baby, some insecurities, reader is a mom, uhhh i don’t really know what else
ao3 link:
a/n: this was something i came up with my darling friend @bairdbesson so i wanted to give her credit, she’s always so helpful with any ideas i have. we lowkey make gold together. i also am planning on this being a little series, especially if people end up liking it and requesting more so yayyy!! im writing again!! i’ve read this a million times, so hopefully there’s no typos but if there are, you just gotta ignore them at this point😭
divider cred: x
You had seen him multiple times at the used bookstore where you worked, almost always in the self-help section, looking through worn paperbacks. He was hard to forget with that mop of curly blonde hair, streaked with noticeable brown roots at the top that matched his warm eyes. He had a goofy, sweet smile that always made you smile back at him, regardless of how you were feeling. He always waved to you when he came in, a gesture that had now become a familiar rhythm in your mundane life.
This time, his visit to the store was different, though. You actually rang him up at the register, which meant you had a conversation with him that went further than "Do you need help finding something?"
What began as a casual conversation about the books he was purchasing shifted to you sharing your experience reading the author's work and how helpful you found it, particularly the one he was buying. The conversation flowed naturally; he talked enough for both of you, which was a relief given how shy you naturally were.
Then, unexpectedly, he said in a calm tone, "Maybe we can talk about the books again sometime."
You nodded enthusiastically, a wide smile spreading across your face. "Oh yeah, I mean, you know where to find me!"
He gave a small smirk, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Maybe over dinner or something?"
A blush rose up your cheeks as you looked at him, blinking slowly in surprise. Did he just ask you out?
You could feel the nerves twist painfully in your stomach as they often did when a man tried to make a move on you. This time, there was also a faint flutter in your chest, something you hadn't felt in God knows how long…so you say yes. Even though part of your brain is screaming at you, demanding to know what the hell you're thinking.
And that's how Travis ended up with your phone number.
Truth be told, you hadn't gone on a date in over two years. The last guy you dated was the father of your daughter, Lucy. Her father turned out to be a piece of shit who left before you could even finish telling him the news of your pregnancy, but having your sweet Lulu was never something you regretted.
Now she was fourteen months old, and your mom friends were constantly telling you to get back out there; it didn't have to be serious, but they weren't going to stop until they convinced you to go with one of the men they tried to hook you up with. You deserved to see yourself as more than just Lucy's mama. There had been a few brief dates, even though your stomach churned each time you agreed to them. Surprisingly, none of these dates went anywhere, but everything changed with Travis.
Things started off casually, he was easy to get to know, an open book in fact, and he made it easy for you to talk. There was never any awkward silence between you two. He quickly shared everything about his life and past, including jail, the storage facility, and the weird fungus thing you remember seeing on television when you were pregnant.
Everything felt easy and fun around him; he's like sunshine made human. Things were going so smoothly; even if there wasn't a label for what the two of you shared, those dates became the highlight of your week.
There was only one issue, you hadn't told him about your daughter, and it made you feel like the worst person alive. It wasn't shame that kept you silent; you would never be ashamed. She was the best thing that had ever happened to you; her bright smile, messy hair, and curious eyes always brightened your day.
However, none of that stopped you from getting into your own head; the nagging anxieties in your mind were always your worst enemy. You worried he'd be scared off, that as soon as Travis found out you were a mom, he would see you differently.
He didn't even seem like that kind of guy; he was painfully sweet, caring genuinely, and he'd probably love your little girl instantly, as if she belonged right there in his life.
You loved being seen as more than just a mom, honestly forgetting what that felt like. Yet, keeping this secret was killing you; it was impossible to sit with the guilt. You knew you had to rip off the band-aid; it wasn't fair to either of you.
Finally, you got the nerve to tell him. It was just supposed to be a simple movie date, maybe going to a burger place after. It seemed like the right time, as you had been seeing each other for a month now, there wasn't a formal label, but you couldn't keep pretending this was just 'casual.'
However, a wrench was then thrown into your plans: the babysitter couldn't make it, and it was too short of a notice to find someone else, so you had to cancel on Travis. You sent him a quick text, saying you were feeling sick and how awful you felt about having to cancel.
Of course, he responded with nothing but understanding and kindness, which only made you feel worse, but you pushed those feelings aside. You knew you were going to see him next week and tell him then. So you decided then and there to try and let the guilt go, focusing instead on the simple dinner you were now making.
The evening began to fall into a quiet night at home. You were in the kitchen, stirring a pot of bubbling mac and cheese for Lucy and yourself. You had some leftover vegetables from lunch to add to her plate. Lucy would probably eat more of the veggies dipped in the cheese sauce than the cheesy noodles themselves. It was the complete opposite of your own eating habits, but you had long since given up trying to make sense of a toddler's eating preferences.
Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door made you freeze in place, your heart pounding. Who could that be at this hour? Anyone you knew who might drop by would've texted. Maybe it was just something in the show Lucy was watching in the living room. You had become pretty good at distinguishing the difference between real noise and whatever sounds came from her shows, especially after so many afternoons were spent checking the door before realizing it was your little angel copying the knocking on her show with a mischievous little grin on her face.
Then you heard a second, slightly louder knock, confirming that someone was indeed at the door. You turned off the stove, carefully pushing the pot to the edge of the furthest burner, and hurried to the door, peering cautiously through the peephole.
What you saw made your stomach fall…Travis was standing there, holding a small bouquet of brightly colored flowers in one hand and a crumpled paper bag from the local drug store in the other.
With a sigh, you unlocked and opened the door. His face lit up instantly with a warm, genuine smile that reached his hazel eyes. God, you felt like you were twisting a knife in your gut.
"Hey…I know I probably shouldn't be here, especially if you're feeling sick," he said quickly, his voice tinged with hesitation. "But I've been looking forward to seeing you all week." His cheeks flushed faintly as he spoke, and a shy smile played on his lips. "Here! They smell pretty…if you can smell them." He joked as he pushed the bouquet toward you, his eyes searching yours. You noticed he had somehow picked out some of your favorite flowers, even though you hadn't even spoken to him about flowers.
The nervous expression on your face made his face fall, and he stepped back half a step, his brow furrowing as he took in your appearance more carefully. You were dressed in the same outfit that you had carefully picked out for the date, and you were breathing normally out of your nose, unlike what you had told him about 40 minutes ago.
"Oh…" he says quietly, shaking his head.
Suddenly, a loud giggle erupts behind you, sharp and joyful, accompanied by the quick patter of little feet tripping over the wooden floor.
"Mama!!" Lucy squeals, her tiny arms reaching out as she throws herself forward, pressing her body against your legs.
You jolt forward slightly at the sudden movement, eyes locking with Travis's as you watch his gaze shift from hurt and confusion to surprise, then softening into something unexpectedly tender as it trailed down to look at who was hiding behind your legs.
"She needs a new episode of her show," you explain softly, gently pick up Lucy, and guide her back to the small, colorful chair she has set up against the couch in the softly lit room.
Travis remained in the doorway, eyes tracking every move you make. Lucy babbles excitedly, words mumbled incoherently with a triumphant "mama!! mama!!" sprinkled in among her chatter. You catch a glance at Travis, noting how his face brightens up with genuine affection and curiosity as he watches your daughter.
After turning on another episode of Bluey, you carefully placed the remote back on the cluttered table by the couch. Then, you walked over to Travis again, your steps slow and hesitant.
"The sitter canceled on me…I couldn't find anyone else, so that's why I canceled." Your voice quivered slightly as you spoke, "I was going to tell you tonight, I swear." You were uncertain of his reaction; maybe he wouldn't care about you being a mom, maybe he'd be angry about the lie.
Instead, Travis shook his head with a soft chuckle. "I thought you got tired of me already," he said. His tone carried a weight that broke your heart a little, like he had heard a similar excuse before.
"Never," you whisper, "I just didn't think I should tell you over text, and it was hard for me to tell you before-"
"Hey, I get it. It's probably weird to introduce a new guy into your kid's life. I'd love to meet her though, i-if that's okay with you. Oh, and the dad…he might not like another guy around. I don't know…" He nervously chatters away as you watch him with tear filled eyes.
You step forward, placing your hand gently on his chest to try to catch his attention. "Travis?" you say softly, voice trembling.
"Yeah?" His eyes meet yours; they're so kind it almost physically hurts you. His gaze is warm, filled with genuine concern, and it causes a rush of emotion in your chest.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I was so scared you weren't gonna-" your voice trails off.
His eyebrows furrow in confusion, and his head tilts slightly. "Wait…you were scared of telling me?"
A wave of embarrassment rises in you, warm and uncomfortable, spreading from your cheeks to your chest. You nod slowly.
"A single mom with a one year old and a dad who isn't in the picture isn't exactly someone that guys are racing to date," you say softly, glancing Looking down at the bouquet now in your hands. You nervously play with a small daisy between your fingers.
The thought of dating had honestly intimidated you, filling you with a mix of nervousness and uncertainty. Yet, something about Travis felt different; reassuring and genuine. He made you feel…safe.
Travis gently pulls you closer, his hand resting firmly on the small of your back as the plastic wrap around the flowers crinkles softly against your chest. "I'm not running away," he whispers, his voice steady. "You're my girlfriend…I'll always run to you."
Your head snaps up in surprise, eyes widening as you process his words. "What?"
Now it's Travis's turn to avert his gaze, his eyes drifting down to focus on the pale pinks, purples, and yellows between you. "I know we haven't officially put a name on it…b-but I thought you were my girlfriend," he admits quietly.
You nod your head softly, blinking away tears that threaten to spill over. "Yeah… yeah. I'm your girlfriend," you whisper, voice trembling.
In that moment, with the cartoons playing loudly from the TV behind you and Lucy's giggles echoing nearby, you feel yourself melting into his reassuring embrace.
Travis’s hand slowly trails up and down your back, palm warm and steady against your spine, as he softly asks, “Can I meet her now? Please?” His voice has a childlike innocence that makes you smile.
Pulling away gently, you take his hand in yours, giving it a tender squeeze before leading him into the apartment. Your first stop is the kitchen, where you carefully place the flowers on the counter for you to tend to later.
"I'm nervous," Travis whispers, his voice so quiet it makes you giggle softly.
"She's a year old, so it doesn't take much to please her," you reassure him, knowing she would fall in love with him easily.
"But I read that one year olds are very emotionally mature, they're astute on how they feel about people," he adds, nervously
His words make you pause and look up at him. "You read about it?"
Travis blushes, stopping at the table so you can pause Lucy's show. "I saw her on your lock screen, and I figured she was important to you. I was hoping I'd be meeting her soon, so I wanted to be prepared," he says casually, shrugging his shoulders as if what he just said wasn't possibly the sweetest thing you've ever heard.
You could honestly cry right there, as you watched your boyfriend awkwardly sway from one foot to the other.
Grabbing his shirt, you swiftly crash your lips against his in a brief, impulsive kiss before pulling away. A lovesick smile spread across his face as he watched you pause the TV.
"Hey, baby," you say softly, gently lifting Lucy out of her chair. Her small lip wobbles as she points a chubby finger toward the paused screen. "You wanna meet a new friend?" You exaggerate the excitement in your voice, hoping to lift her spirits and distract her from the lack of Bluey.
Lucy nods slowly, her face softening into a gentle smile as you shift her onto your hip, her tiny hands clutching your shoulder. You walk back over to Travis, feeling the warmth of her body against your side. As expected, Lucy presses her face into your neck, her dirty blonde curls tickling against your cheek, her little breaths fluttering in your neck
"She gets a little shy at first," you explain softly as you turn her towards him. "This is Lucy!" She peeks out cautiously, her large brown eyes looking at him with curiosity.
"Hi Lucy, I'm Travis," he greets her, offering a shy smile.
Lucy thoughtfully rubs her face with the back of her hand, then lifts her head to study the man in front of her. After a moment, she gives him a little smile.
"You want Travis to watch Bluey with you while I finish dinner?" you ask, bouncing her just a little, her face brightening up at the idea
She nods vigorously, reaching out with both arms stretched towards Travis.
"Wait--" you start to say, but before you finish, Travis awkwardly catches her in his arms.
"Not sure I"be ever held a one year old," he mumbles as he shifts her onto his hip. His movements are tentative, trying to mirror the way you were holding her. His face shows a mix of fear and concentration, clearly worried about making any sudden movement, as if one false move would make her shatter.
You laugh gently, reassuring him, "They're almost indestructible at this age, don't worry. She's always hurting herself."
That seems to ease the worry from his creased brow, but it doesn't change the way she's snuggly held against him. You'd be lying if you said it didn't make your heart flutter to see her so content.
Travis carefully sits down on the couch, gently positioning Lucy on his lap. As you turn Bluey back on, she begins to squirm in his arms, reaching eagerly for the toys piled in a corner of the room.
"Wanna play, Lulu?" The nickname rolled off his tongue with ease, making you smile to yourself.
The moment he set her down on the carpeted floor, your daughter quickly toddled over to the shelf where the Bluey figures are kept. She clutches the figures close to her chest as she flops down on the floor.
"She enjoys live theatre as she watches on the big screen." You explain with a chuckle as you hand Travis the remote, then turn back to finish preparing dinner.
After a few minutes of standing at the stove, you hear Lucy begin to babble loudly, her voice rising in excitement, followed by the sound of plastic figures clattering to the floor as she tries to grasp as many as she can hold. You glance back, away from the pot of cheesy noodles to look into the living room.
Lucy is carefully handing each toy to Travis one by one. As he accepts each toy, she starts to babble, as if she's trying to explain each dog to him in her own language.
"Yeah, yeah, I got you," Travis replies, with a gentle smile, listening attentively.
Periodically, a clear, joyful shout of "Mama! Mama!" escapes her lips as she happily points toward the kitchen.
"Mama is making dinner right now for us," he gently explains, smiling and nodding as she repeats her cheerful exclamation. "Yeah…I like Mama a lot, too," he adds warmly.
By the time dinner is ready, Travis and Lucy are both seated comfortably on her play mat, with Lucy giggling loudly at the amusing voices Travis makes while playing with her toys.
"I hope mac and cheese is okay," you say as you scoop Lucy into your arms, and Travis follows you into the small kitchen.
"Oh, awesome! Who doesn't like mac and cheese?" he responds enthusiastically, sitting down at the table once he makes sure you got Lucy in her high chair, okay.
After dinner, Travis immediately offered to wash the dishes, before you even had a chance to take them to the sink. You initially protested; you were never good at accepting help—he was the guest, after all, and it was your job to clean the dishes. However, your boyfriend is possibly even more stubborn than you, and after much pleading, you give up. You decided to let him handle the cleanup while you changed Lucy into her soft polka-dotted jammies.
When you returned to the living room, Travis was sitting on the couch, completely absorbed in watching Bluey alone on the TV.
He looked up at you, "This Bluey guy is on to some good sh-stuff," he said, stuttering slightly over the swear he was going to say. His correction made you smile.
He scoots over on the couch, making enough space for the two of you to sit comfortably. You step right in his line of vision, fully capturing his attention away from the cartoon playing on the screen.
"I hate to ask, but I'm rarely alone at home…" You begin quickly, "Could you watch her for a moment while I go pee?" You exhale softly, almost unaware of the breath you had been holding. Travis nods, stretching his arms out to cradle the small, fuzzy bundle of Lucy.
You were gone for maybe five minutes. When you return, you find Lucy curled up on his chest, her eyelids heavy with sleep. Travis is gently stroking her hair, a look of pure wonder on his face as he watches her peaceful expression.
Quietly, you settle down at his feet, tilting your head slightly with a gentle smile. "And to think… You were worried she wouldn't like you," your hand absentmindedly running up and down the back of his calf, feeling the slight tension of his muscle. "You might just be her new favorite person."
"I can be very charming," he replies with a playful wink, the lamp light catching his eyes as he looks down at you.
With a contented sigh, you rest your head against his knee, the exhaustion from the day settling into your bones. One of Travis's large hands begins to massage the back of your head, fingers gentle in your hair, as if this were a familiar, comforting routine for the three of you. The faint sound of the TV mingled with the pressure from his fingertips, lulling your eyelids towards closing.
You notice yourself starting to feel drowsy, but your eyes fly open as you realize Travis is trapped beneath two sleeping bodies. "I can go put her down." Speaking quietly so you don't wake her up.
"No, no, we're fine," he whispers, his hand gently rubbing her back in a soothing motion.
You stick your lower lip out into a pout, quietly murmuring, "But I wanna cuddle too..."
Travis chuckles warmly, patting the spot on the couch next to him. "Then come join us."
As soon as you sit down, you curl up next to his warm, comforting body as best as you can. Travis instinctively wraps his muscular arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. Your gaze is almost level with Lucy's closed eyes, lashes resting on the apples of her precious little cheeks. A soft sigh escapes your lips as you soak in the peaceful moment. Tenderly, you brush a few stray curls off her face and tuck them behind her ear.
If you had thought back a month ago about what your life would look like now, you would never have guessed that you'd be happily dating, let alone have a boyfriend who's already met your daughter. This just felt right; it felt like coming home. Sitting there on the couch with Lucy's peaceful face and Travis's steady, comforting presence, you never felt so lucky.
After that night, Travis started coming by for dinner more often; he didn't stay the night, but he would often stay until you were dozing off on the couch, the soft glow of the television flickering off your face as he held you. It was easy to slip into the happy-family routine with him. Yet, sometimes a flicker of worry would cross your mind. You didn't want him to think it was his obligation to take care of you or Lucy. You didn't need him; of course, you loved being with him and enjoyed seeing him so much more than before.
Still, you had heard plenty of speeches from your friends who had experienced similar situations, and you knew how this would often play out in the end. You didn't want to face that heartbreak; you definitely didn't want Lucy to go through that kind of pain either.
It was a quiet, calm evening. You had made spaghetti, one of Lucy's favorite foods to eat. The smell of garlic and tomato sauce filled the apartment.
"You like wearing your spaghetti, Lulu-bean?" Travis asked your daughter, laughing softly at the way she had somehow managed to get red sauce tangled in her hair.
Putting down your fork, you straightened up to get up from the table and grab a cloth to clean her face, but Travis was quicker.
"Finish eatin', Muffin, I got this," he said casually, as if cleaning face smudges was another part of his regular routine.
You watched him stand up from the table, gathering his and Lucy's empty plates and setting them by the sink.
"I'll start on those after I'm done cleaning off the little monkey," Travis said, his face breaking into a wide, affectionate smile. He turned to the adorable, giggling girl, who clapped her hands together with delight.
Sitting back down on the creaky chair, he takes a damp washcloth and gently begins wiping your baby's chubby cheeks. When Lucy started to fuss and squirm, Travis immediately started making silly noises, lips smacking, and silly voices making her burst into giggles.
"There's my smiley girl!" he cooed softly, leaning to clean some sauce out of her curls carefully.
A smile spreads across your face as you watch the tender scene unfold. If every evening could be like this—with laughter and love filling the room, maybe things would turn out okay.
Travis gets up, ruffling Lucy's curls as he walks back to the sink and begins washing the dishes.
"Y-you don't have to do that!" you stutter, joining him at the sink. "I mean, it's not your job…"
He turns to look at you, pressing a kiss to your temple. "But I want to."
You left Travis to clean the kitchen so you could give Lucy her bath. When the two of you entered the living room in her favorite pair of pajamas (which also matched yours), Travis was waiting with open arms.
Lucy ran up to the couch, and he scooped her up, kissing her cheek repeatedly before sitting her on his lap.
You smiled, sitting comfortably next to them, Travis's eyes widened with surprise as he noticed your pajamas matched Lucy's.
"Oh my God, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen!!" he exclaimed, leaning over to press a soft, lingering kiss to your lips.
"I'm sorry we haven't gone out on a proper date in months," you mumbled, eyes glued to the TV as you flipped through the channels. It was easier to look at whatever was playing than to meet your boyfriend's big puppy dog eyes.
Travis tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do ya mean you're sorry? I love being here with you two," he said, sincerely.
"But wouldn't you rather be out going places than just playing house?" you asked, your voice dripping with insecurities that you struggled to hide. You looked at him, feeling the nerves tighten in your chest.
"Why would I want to bother with getting dressed up and dealing with other people when I can sit here in a comfy home with my girls in their adorable matching jammies?" he responded, tickling Lucy's belly as she let out a loud giggle, quickly tucking her head under his chin.
A wave of emotion welled up inside you; he truly cherished this simplicity. He loved these quiet, boring evenings filled with the messy joy of spaghetti stains on a one year old and fuzzy matching pajamas. He enjoyed washing the dishes after dinner, tidying up after you, and all the little chores in an apartment that wasn't even his officially.
There wasn't another man out there like Travis. He could've left at any moment, choosing to just ghost you, much like the stories your friends told of men in their lives. But he stayed. He stayed because he truly cared, because he wanted just to be there, as he had said. He had no idea just how lucky you felt that the universe, for some reason, had chosen Travis to come into your life, and that he had chosen you in return.
