Strider arrived thirty minutes early for the dinner date. He wandered the spacious lobby of the upscale Chinese restaurant, used the restroom, ambled in front, and sat in the lobby. His nerves unsettled him. He’d been on dates with girls, but never with a guy. Damn, how should he act? Are the rules different? Ryan seemed so nice, and his sister spoke well of him. What’s it like to be rejected by your own father? How would Strider’s family react when he comes out to them?
Ryan strode through the door to Strider, pulling him into a hug. “I’m starved.” He turned to the sexy, slender Chinese hostess in Asian garb. “We’re ready, Julie.”
“Always good to see you, Ryan. New boyfriend? He looks like a keeper.” Her English flowed with precision sans accent.
He smiled. “You said that about the las
