Chapter 21

“Clay? That’s the guy I saw you having dinner with, right?” Ryan asked.

“Yes, back when you were stalking me.”

He ignored the stalking comment. “So, your friends invited you over for dinner and you didn’t even think to invite me?”

I actually hadthought about inviting him, but ultimately decided against it. As much as I enjoyed being with Ryan in the privacy of my own home, we hadn’t really been out much as a couple partly because I was still ashamed to be dating someone so young. After being mistaken for being his father, I’d decided it was better to remain behind closed doors with him. Sadly, I was behaving the same way I’d accused Donovan of behaving with me. His shame over being outed as a gay man when we were out together was just as awful as my shame over being seen with Ryan in public.

“I didn’t think you’d be interested in having dinner with my friends,” I lied.

“I don’t know why you thought that. I’d love to have dinner with you and your friends.”