The arm around my waist squeezes me comfortingly. “It’s okay to be sad sometimes, you know. Do you want your daughter to think she has to hold in any negative emotions? Or do you want her to be able to talk to you when she’s sad?”

“Of course I want her to be able to talk to me,” I say, as his words sink in and I realize he’s right. I want May to have healthy coping mechanisms.

He places a kiss at my nape. “So you should be able to talk to her too. Being a dad doesn’t make you any less human.”

I hum in agreement, feeling foolish that it took me this long to understand that. And maybe it’s weird that someone who’s not a parent, and claims not to even like children, is the one who helped me get here. But maybe not.

Travis might not talk a lot, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t listening, that he doesn’t understand. I’m beginning to think he understands me better than anyone else could, because he pays attention so well.

As we lie here naked together, warm skin to warm skin, the idea of initiating something sexual occurs to me, but I let it pass. Sex with Travis is fantastic. But somehow this form of intimacy is even better. It’s friendship and understanding and contentment and stability and fulfillment. It’s everything all at once.

He holds me as my eyelids grow heavy, as his breathing slows. He holds me like he never intends to let me go.

The two of us may have started out faking this, but as we drift off to sleep together, I’m certain that nothing has ever felt quite so real to me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

TRAVIS

Last night was a lot. I hated seeing Brenden so upset and not being able to do anything about it. But I think it ended up being good for him. Hopefully he realizes now that he doesn’t need to act like everything’s fine and wonderful all the time when it’s not. That he’s allowed to hurt.

And I meant it when I said I’ll be here for every version of him.

He knows I’m not the best with words, but if this is going to work, I’m willing to try for him. I want him to know how I feel.

Right now, as he begins to stir in my arms, it feels like I’m living in a dream. Neither of us moved away from the other while we slept. Not like he could’ve if he wanted to with the way I wrapped myself around him. I’ve even got my leg hooked over his.