The one about Taylor

Because TK is literally her boyfriend and it had to be done

Okay.

If I’m being honest, this would be a very Real Housewives-heavy newsletter. I was going to share a picture of Dorinda holding Snapped, tell you about the Thanksgiving I spent with a Real Housewife of Atlanta, and rave about Miami. But as I sat down at my computer, preparing to pay $19.89 to rent (RENT!!!!!) The Eras Tour, which I already paid to see live and in the theater, I realized we have much more pressing issues than my least favorite former WAG… my favorite newest WAG, Taylor Alison Swift.

If, perhaps, you live under a rock (which would be wild since you’re reading this) and you haven’t yet heard, Taylor Swift has left behind the soft, gentle creatives and has turned to the rough and gruff, hottest of tight ends, Travis Kelce. Travis has a podcast with his brother (omg. book idea?) and said that he made her a friendship bracelet with his number on it, but she didn’t meet people after her concert. Apparently, our girl Taylor thought this was “metal as hell” of him (This is a wild take and we will explore this at a later date) and they began to let their secret romance blossom beneath our noses.

Everyone had opinions on Travis calling her out. My social media alone had too many takes to keep up with it. Some thought he was a chauvinist, entitled asshole for expecting her to be impressed. Others saw his crafty attempt at flirting and subsequent mention on his podcast as a swoony romantic gesture. A few had no idea why Taylor didn’t ditch her concert and meet him in the suite because… well because he’s hot. And while I do love the idea of an NFL player going all out to court a woman—it’s basically what my career was founded on—I didn’t want to put too much thought into something that didn’t seem to be happening.

And then September 24th, 2023 happened.

Taylor sat in that suite with red-painted lips and a perfect swoop adorning her shaggy bangs. She cheered for her man, ate chicken tenders with ketchup and “seemingly ranch,” and caused a tsunami that sent the sports and pop world flying. Kelce jersey sales soared, NFL social media accounts were flooded with new followers, and bitter sports bros still had the audacity to accuse Taylor of using Travis for publicity. In the wise words of Cher Horowitz, “As if!”

The world was enraptured.

People who sneered at my Swiftie ways were suddenly texting me for my favorite Era. My TK-inspired romance was making rounds on social media. I had a freaking interview with the Today Show! Even my husband understood that the most important part of Sunday football was now TS sightings. We couldn’t get enough and while I’m a couple of months late to the party, as a former NFL wife and current romance writer, I have spent more time than the average person trying to decipher the appeal of athletes and love stories like these. And now that my newsletter is back and running, I’d love to toss my opinion in the over-saturated pool of unasked for opinions. Please, thank you, and you’re welcome.

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Taylor and Travis: Alexa’s Version

Reason 1: It’s competence porn

Out of over one million high school football players out there, only about 7% of them will play college football. And out of college football players, only 1.6% of them will make it to the NFL. Math is my weakest subject, so don’t quote me here, but I think that puts the probability of playing professional football at fucking impossible. So for an athlete to suit up for an NFL game at all is mindblowing, but to become the best of the best? That’s something different entirely.

These athletes not only have to possess an incredible amount of natural talent, but they have to have more focus and dedication too. It’s easy to see the appeal. We envision the love, attention, respect, and passion they have for their sport, and picture them transferring that same energy to their partner. Simply put, it’s competence porn. And in the case of Taylor and Travis, it’s competence times two. We have two people, who from the outside looking in, have the entire world to choose from, choosing each other.

Reason 2: He’s a cinnamon roll

When you think of the hero in a football romance, you probably think of some alpha guy who hits guys for a living, thinks he’s hot shit, and is a raging asshole. Now, to be fair, is this an accurate description of Travis Kelce in the past? Possibly. I did try to watch Catching Kelce at the gym, but I almost fell off the treadmill from cringing so hard (if the opportunity presents itself, just say no to dating shows with your name in the title, friends). But the Travis of today doesn’t seem to be that guy. No, this Travis spends his nights making friendship bracelets for his teammates. He founded a charitable organization that aims to empower disadvantaged youth. He’s not ashamed to talk about his love of fashion and he really, really loves his mom.

He’s a big tough guy who not only left his ego at the door to tell the entire world about a girl he thinks is pretty, smart, and talented, but he’s doing it for our girl. Our girl who we’ve grown up with. Our girl who’s given us the words for our broken hearts. Our girl whose catchy lyrics and upbeat tempos have cheered us on as the embers of a new love begin to spark again. She might not know us, but for her fans, her music has been with us during the worst and best moments of our lives. We know she doesn’t need a man, but holy shit do we want to see her get her HEA with a hot football player with a heart of gold.

Reason 3: Real recognises real

He treats Taylor Swift like she’s Taylor fucking Swift.

As an outsider looking in, it seems like some of Taylor’s exes like to act like it’s “no big deal” that they are dating Taylor Swift. They aren’t really that into her music and no, you can’t ask. They aren’t talking about her during this interview.

But not Travis.

Sure, he respects her privacy and isn’t throwing out details willy-nilly (underused term) but ask him his favorite Taylor Swift song and he’s got an answer—Blank Space if you missed it. Smart, hilarious, and genius… just a few adjectives he’s used to describe his new girlfriend. He’s obsessed. As he should be.

She’s finally met someone so secure with himself, so accomplished in his field, that he doesn’t have to put her down to make himself feel better. He’s just proud AF to have someone like her by his side.

Reason 4: Bedroom candy

Assuming you’re here because you’ve read my romance books and the open-door, spicy scenes inside of them, I’m going to consider this a safe space. However, if you stumbled across this and are under 18, please leave. I would hate to be canceled over my Tayvis take.

Unlike me, Taylor is a tall girl. When she’s been photographed with previous partners, it’s easy to see her height. Even without heels, they’re often eye-to-eye. But not with Travis. No, with Travis she’s an itty-bitty girlie, just casually wearing her highest heels on date nights and burrowing into his side as he blocks her from the paps.

*insert dreamy sigh here*

While we’ve already covered Travis' cinnamon roll insides, this says nothing of his rock-hard outsides. He has spent his entire adult life training his body to run like a machine. His career and well-being quite literally depend on his physical strength. Now, nothing against the actors and artists she dated before, but as a fellow WAG, it must be said, sex with athletes is just different.

Sorry, not sorry.

It’s true.

And though I have no idea about anything happening in their bedroom, I have to imagine—in the least creepy way possible—that he can ease her post-tour stress like none of her previous boyfriends could do. And you know what? THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DESERVES.

Love, respect, and blow-your-back-out and see-the-stars fantastic fucking sex. I don’t know about you, but in my humble, very professional opinion, that sounds like the perfect love story to me.

Taylor, cheers to you, keep writing bops and doing you. We salute you.

And Travis, on behalf of Swifties everywhere, do not fuck this up.

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Bookish Things

Suddenly in the mood for a football romance, The Playbook Series is the perfect way to treat yourself or your favorite Swiftie this holiday season! Check it out HERE!

Next-Door Nemesis was released last month and it takes place in Travis’ home state of Ohio. It’s a laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers, rom-com and if you don’t believe me, you can listen to Sarah Adams (Practice Makes Perfect) who said it’s a “hilariously fun rollercoaster of laughs and passion! Collins and Nathaniel have explosive chemistry and take suburban warfare to outrageously fun heights! Next-Door Nemesis is hate to love at its finest.” Check it out HERE!

If you’re in the UK, Better Than Fiction is on sale for 99p until December 24th. And if you follow the laws of girl math, you know that’s basically free! Order HERE!

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Weekly Wrap-Up

Song I’m obsessing over

No shocker here, but Taylor Swift has been in heavy rotation. This week You’re Losing Me (From The Vault) has been playing on repeat.

Must watch tv

It’s not new, but I’ve spent the better part of the last four months trying to convince everyone I know to watch Shrinking on AppleTV. It’s dark, funny, and emotional. It’s perfect television.

What I’m reading

Now that Next-Door Nemesis is out and the release madness has calmed down, I’m catching up on some of the books I’ve purchased. I just started Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno- Garcia and so far, so fantastic.

Podcast I can’t stop listening to

As the year wraps up and I look into 2024, I’ve been catching up on the EXPANDED Podcast by To Be Magnetic. If you’re not into the woo and witchy things, this might not be your cup of tea, but I love it!

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Meet Me at Midnight Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients (1 serving)

1/2 tbsp blue curaçao liqueur (not syrup)

1/2 tbsp grenadine

4 ounces champagne

corn syrup

gold sprinkles

Directions

1. Lightly dip champagne glasses in corn syrup and then dip into gold sprinkles

2. Combine blue curaçao liqueur, grenadine, and champagne.

3. Enjoy!

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