“Sit,” Travis instructs, pointing at one of the two chairs on either side of a tiny table. The whole porch has spaced out seating meant for the guests, but I’ve spent plenty of peaceful moments myself out here, enjoying the view of the grounds.

This moment isn’t so peaceful, but again, I do what he tells me to, because having someone else be in charge for a minute feels good. He takes the other chair, setting the plate down on the table between us. When he pushes it closer to me with a pointed look, I reach for the nearer of the two muffins and pull off a chunk of the top to shove in my mouth. It tastes good, I guess, but I’m barely aware of what I’m eating. My mind is still spinning, and the only thing I can focus on that settles me a bit is Travis’s deep brown eyes.

“Now,” he says after I’ve finished chewing, “can you explain what’s happening without losing it again?”

“I already told you, I’m an idiot loser who couldn’t keep my mouth shut and lied about being in a relationship. So I guess now I have to find a fake boyfriend. That’s what they do in movies, right?” I force a laugh, but it comes out manic. Girrrl, get it together.

Travis rolls his eyes. “Yes, that must be the only practical solution. Rather than simply telling them the truth.”

He doesn’t understand. And of course he doesn’t. Since May and I moved to Mayweather, I haven’t made it a habit to go around sharing the finer details about her adoption and the extended family dynamic.

But he’s sitting here watching me internally freak out, and he’s tilting his head like he wants to understand. Like he cares. And he’s... Travis. I’m hesitant to call him my best friend, only because if I did, he’d probably scoff and stop speaking to me. He likes to pretend he’s allergic to people, but he always manages to be there for me when I need him.

And something about his uncomplicated, steady presence helps tone down my energetic, sometimes over-the-top personality. Right now being a prime example.

It’s also nice that he puts up with my antics though. Sometimes I like to be a pain in his ass just for the fun of it, to see how much he can take before I drive him crazy. Surprisingly, I’ve yet to find the threshold.

Because of all this, he’s kind of my favorite person. Other than May, of course.