Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney -- these exciting cities are standard fare in the life of flight attendant Todd Eisenbraun, and he chases a romance with sexy-but-straight Josh through them all. Closer to home, a new neighbor in his San Francisco apartment building has a huge crush on Todd. His friends -- Katie, a flight attendant-turned-small appliance repairwoman, and Marzipan Q. Thespian, a man-dangling local philanthropist -- think Todd should at least give Chris a shot. Sure, he’s overweight, but he’s also handsome, a hilarious playwright, and a great cook ... what’s not to love? Todd and Chris become quick friends, but Todd’s idea of the perfect man is skinny and straight, and Chris is decidedly neither. Josh may have a fiancée and a teenaged son, but Todd just knows he’s “the One.” But if Josh is straight, the road to love is not; Todd is jostled by internalized homophobia, body image issues, exotic locales, the glamorous world of sewing machine repair, and a community theater musical salute to the life of Judy Garland before he arrives at the realization that he’s been looking way too hard for something he may have already found.

Kiss Me, Straight

When I set off the bell pushing into the Button Hole later that afternoon, Katie, Chris, and some pasty-yet-hot young artist type in Buddy Holly glasses and a stocking cap were gathered around the counter, sifting through piles of fabric and pictures of shoes and laughing. All three looked towards the door when the bell sounded. Katie gave me a little wave, and Chris threw me a radiant smile.


“Hey,” Katie threw back casually. “Costume ideas,” she explained needlessly, gesturing to the creative mess on the counter. She then indicated the hottie in the stocking cap. “Todd, meet Ace.”


“Hey,” he said, somewhat suspiciously, offering me a limp hand to shake. Points off for that handshake!


Chapter 26