Real As It Gets by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

me?”
    I looked up to see Travis standing over me, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I didn’t say a word and just kept flipping through the magazine. I had a rare day off and I was stretched out across the living room sofa watching our seventy-two-inch TV and reading my magazine.
    Yes, I was still mad at him. And Sheridan. But I’d called her anyway to talk about Alvin and that skank hadn’t even called me back. I guess she was too busy kicking it with my cousin. Well, that was why I didn’t have anything to say to her or to him.
    â€œI’m going to take that as a yes,” Travis said, plopping down on the sofa next to me when I didn’t answer.
    Travis had been here less than three weeks and had already stolen some of my shine and taken over my best friend. Thank God Kennedi was coming here this weekend. Travis and Sheridan could go jump off a bridge for all I cared. I made a memo to myself to keep Kennedi far away from Travis before he stole her, too.
    â€œCome on, Maya. Don’t be like that,” Travis said. “We try to invite you along, but you always trippin’.”
    â€œI told you, I’m not about to be a third wheel,” I huffed. “So go do you.”
    â€œWell, let me fix you up with my boy. Then, we could all go out together.” He smiled like he’d just come up with the most brilliant plan ever.
    â€œBoy, please,” I said. “I don’t need anyone fixing me up with anyone.”
    â€œSeriously, I think you’ll like him. You guys would have a lot of fun together. He’s like me.”
    â€œWhat, a liar?”
    Travis didn’t seem fazed by my insult. “No, he’s fun, and good looking.”
    â€œWhy are you bothering me?” I said, cutting him off. “I’m sure you have a date or something.”
    Travis ignored me as he put his feet up on the table. I looked at him like he was crazy. “Ummm, that’s a twelve-thousand-dollar imported Egyptian marble table. You must want to die a slow and painful death at the hands of my mom,” I said, pointing at his feet.
    He dropped his feet but kept talking. “You know, I figured the best thing to make you feel better about kicking it with us was if you had a date of your own.”
    That actually made me close my magazine. “I don’t know how many ways to tell you this. I don’t need you fixing me up with anyone. Maya Morgan doesn’t do blind dates. You won’t have me sitting up with some dork.”
    â€œNah, this dude is cool people,” Travis said. “I mean, I don’t think you should be getting serious or anything, but he’s someone great to hang out with.”
    â€œWhatever, Travis. Go somewhere with that.”
    He smiled as he stared me up and down.
    â€œWhy are you staring at me like that?”
    â€œI’m just making sure you look together.”
    â€œI always look together,” I told him.
    â€œWell, you know, first impressions are everything so I just wanted to make sure you were tight.”
    I sighed. “What are you talking about, Travis?”
    Just then, the doorbell rang. My cousin jumped up before I could say anything.
    â€œWho is that?” I asked, getting up and following him.
    â€œOh, just a friend.” Travis opened the door. “What’s up, man?” He gave a brotherly hug to the guy standing on the other side of the door. Or should I say the model , because this guy standing on my doorstep looked like he had just stepped off the runway. He looked like a darker, much younger version of that actor Boris Kodjoe. In fact, he looked like he could be Boris’s little brother.
    â€œIt’s all you,” the guy said, walking in. I tried not to stare. I would never tell Travis, but my cousin was handsome. But this guy, he put Travis to shame.
    â€œYo, this is my cousin I was telling you about,” Travis said, pointing at me. “Maya, this is