One thing Keith had learned was that most people didn't tend to look too deep beneath the surface. They saw him as a quiet, self-contained guy, and, as such, they tended to look no deeper than that. So it wasn't all that often that he had questions about if he was okay or not, and it startled him a bit. He looked at Tanner for a moment, studying him, and then shook his head. "You're frightened of me, a little, because I'm so much bigger than you. Don't feel bad, I'm used to it, but I don't want to intimidate you. That's all." After all, he had been asked, so why not tell him? Lying very seldom accomplished much of anything.
Keith, however, suddenly laughed and shook his head. "Yes." He knew that a little too well. Despite his own preferences for men, his mother was forever hoping to change his mind by introducing him to the right girl. Though he wished to please his family, that was just something he couldn't handle. It made perfect sense, and, at first, he didn't understand Tanner's stammering and blushing. Then again, maybe it just had something to do with just being inexperienced, or maybe Tanner was worried that Keith thought the younger man was hitting on him. "It's okay." He spoke gently, but solemnly. "I don't mind hearing you speak."
He nodded and mercifully gave the young man a chance to cool down, to get himself a little under control, as he put his bags in the room on the left. He had questions, of course, but as Tanner had said, they could discuss it over dinner. They could take as long as it took to get to know each other. Keith wasn't used to living in such close quarters with someone, which was part of why he wanted to get to know the younger man.
When he came back, Tanner was apparently embarassing himself again. Keith just laughed and shook his head. "Come on, Tanner. We'll go have dinner and talk. Both of us look... good." He emphasized the word just a little, then turned toward the door. "I don't know any restaurants, but if we just walk, I'm sure we'll find something." He looked back at Tanner. "I'm from Prince Rupert, British Columbia. I think we're probably just about in the same position. Neither of us knows the other's hometown."