Real As It Gets Read Free Page B

patted Travis on the back. “Travis here is going to come stay with us for a while.”
    â€œWhat?” I exclaimed. “What do you mean, coming to stay with us?” I didn’t know how I felt about that. Don’t get me wrong. I loved Travis. He was definitely cool, but I hadn’t shared my home—or my parents—with anyone, like ever.
    â€œJust what he said,” Travis replied. “I’m staying with you guys.”
    â€œStaying with us for what?”
    â€œOh, so you don’t want me here?” he asked, a huge grin across his face. Travis had been a charmer for as long as I could remember, and it was that dimpled smile that usually did it.
    â€œI’m just trying to find out what’s going on,” I replied.
    â€œOh, that’s right. You’re like a reporter. You go digging for answers.”
    â€œThat’s right,” I replied. “And I’m not a reporter. I’m the star, baby.”
    Travis laughed as he plopped down on the sofa. “Yeah, I caught the show once or twice. I told everyone in Brooklyn you were my peeps. Nobody believed me though. I tried to call you, but your secretary wouldn’t let me through.”
    â€œWhatever. You didn’t try to call me,” I said.
    He smiled.
    â€œIn fact, I haven’t heard from your janky behind except for your texts.”
    â€œYeah, I just been a little busy.”
    My father cut his eyes at him. “Umm-hmmm, busy staying in trouble. But all that’s about to change, right, son?”
    â€œYeah, Unc. I’m gonna be a regular Boy Scout.” Travis held up his hand like he was taking some kind of oath.
    â€œWhat kind of trouble you been getting into?”
    â€œSee, what had happened was ...” He laughed. “Seriously, it wasn’t even me. It was my boys. And Moms was tripping, talkin’ about she can’t handle me since my dad left.”
    â€œYeah, but Uncle Myles can handle you. So don’t get out of line,” my dad said, pointing a warning finger at Travis.
    Travis saluted him. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œI’m going to get back to work. You get settled in. Sui will show you to your room and get you situated. I have a friend who’s giving me a great deal on a 2010 Camaro for you, so you’ll have your own transportation.”
    At the mention of a car, Travis beamed. I couldn’t help but frown. So, now we were buying him a car? But I decided not to trip. It wasn’t like it was some luxurious car anyway.
    â€œWho is Sui?” Travis asked.
    â€œThe maid,” I replied. “Remember?”
    â€œDang, I forgot y’all were rolling like that. So what time is the chef preparing dinner?” He stood and walked back over to me.
    â€œThat’s what I’m talking about,” I said, laughing. “I’ve been trying to tell Dad that we need a personal chef.”
    â€œSui cooks just fine,” my dad called out as he headed into his study.
    Travis stared at me a minute. I was used to that since I was all that, but it was creeping me out coming from a family member.
    â€œWould you stop looking at me like that?”
    â€œI’m just trippin’ off you. You look like a little woman now.”
    â€œWhatever, boy.”
    He walked around the living room. My mom had actually remodeled since the last time he had been here. It had already been nice then, but she had gotten bored of the place we’d lived in since I was two. She’d knocked out a wall in the living room. Now, when you entered the foyer, it opened into a big rotunda and the living room sat to the left in a large, spacious area. Travis used to always say our living room looked like one of those homes in the magazines his mom drooled over. Whenever Aunt Bev used to visit, I remember she would get all teary-eyed like she was sad. My mom had told me it was because she was envious of her brother. Envious, but not jealous, my mother