Maybe I should go sleep there. There are no available rooms, but my desk chair is comfortable enough.

Yeah, no. Sleeping hunched over my desk would definitely fuck up my back.

I just need to relax and... focus on the other thing I’m stressed about.

Elise and Grant are coming tomorrow evening, and I’ve barely had time to prepare for them because of the retreat. And I haven’t talked to May because I’m a big fat pile of chicken shit, so I haven’t been able to tell Travis whether or not we’re actually doing this, and—

“Dad?”

“What?” I croak.

“You looked weird. Are you breathing?”

“I think so.” I am now, at least. Forcing a smile, I ask May, “Are you excited to see your grandparents?”

She sucks down some of her orange soda, then nods. “Yeah, it’ll be fun.”

Nope. Not the word I’d use.

“How are you?” she asks. “I know sometimes you get uneasy around them.”

Damn, she’s too perceptive and knows me too well. “I’ll be fine,” I lie. This would be the perfect transition into asking her to do the biggest, most absurd favor I’ll hopefully ever have to ask of my daughter. Instead, I steal a fry off her plate and jam it into my mouth.

“Get your own food,” she complains.

I pout at her. “Travis is busy now.”

Most Saturday nights, there’s another server helping him. But tonight he only has Sullivan in the back cooking, and he’s handling everything else alone. I take a glance around the packed diner to locate him. It’s the middle of the dinner rush, and he’s been running around since we got here. I know this because I was sneaking occasional peeks at him while I was on my phone.

Ever since he came out to me, I’ve been looking at him differently. Which might sound messed up, but I don’t mean it in a bad way. Obviously. It’s just that I’ve never looked at him as more than a friend before. Even though I love talking to him and teasing him and letting him give me shit for my unhealthy habits. I love how he complains about all the town events but participates in little things when I ask him to. I love the way he pays attention to May, and cares about her, and is always there whenever she needs anything. And, of course, whenever I need anything.

But I’ve always assumed he was straight, and I make it a point not to fall for straight guys. Now that I know the truth, though?

I don’t know.

Yes, I’m aware that just because we’re both into men, that doesn’t mean we have to be into each other. But damn, Travis is hot.