Twist of Fate (Kings of Chaos 6)

The predictability of the job isn’t dull. It’s a challenge to stay visible, create a buzz, keep up with the demand for food, and deliver top notch customer service. When I’m done for the day, I feel accomplished. I can only imagine how much that feeling will increase when I’m running a truck I’ve helped build from scratch. I can’t wait to see what Tinley comes up with. The final decision will be mine, but I’m not about to pretend I’m good with design. We have enough techy folks to handle that after I come up with a theme.

My life is taking on a deeper meaning. I think that’s what I needed—to feel like part of something again. The time on the road toughened me up and kept me putting one foot in front of the other, but it was only a patch job. I’m happy with Xia, yet I know I’m on borrowed time. Eventually, the truth is going to come out. I won’t worry about it yet. We’re still in our fledgling stage. I have time. Even in my head, the statement sounds like a lie. The darkness I lived in for too long threatens to blot out the happiness I found. Pulling the throttle, I increase the speed, outrunning it on my bike, the way I’ve done a million times before.

I turn into the parking lot of what looks like a warehouse. Smog City Brewery is well disguised. We remove and store our helmets, and I hand Xia her purse. As she climbs off the motorcycle, I see a couple approach. The man is a tall, lanky looking man with shaggy light brown hair, and his curvy wife has black and red hair, an easy smile, and milk-chocolate skin. Andy and Jasmine. This may be my first time meeting them, but I’ve heard plenty.

Jasmine’s smile is huge and brilliant against her dark skin. Her eyes are full of kindness and I can’t help but feel welcome. “Shayne, it is so good to finally meet you.”

“Likewise, Jasmine.” I return her smile.

“Call me, Jas.”

“Will do.”

“This is my husband, Andy. Andy, this is Xia’s mystery man, Shayne.” She gestures with her hands. Constantly in motion, she’s a bundle of energy.

He laughs. “Nice to meet you, Shayne. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“All good things I hope,” I say as we shake hands.

“From what I could understand. There was a lot of giggling going on.”

Jas slaps him playfully. “You are so full of it.”

“Do not believe everything he tells you,” Xia adds.

We exchange a glance, and the humor filling his green gaze leads me to decide I’m going to like him. His shake was firm. Laid back or not, I can see his backbone. It’s a good counter balance to deal with his wife’s upbeat and outgoing personality.

“Have you ever been here before?” I ask.

“No, but we’ve heard good things. I mean, you can’t really go wrong with a local brewery. Even if you don’t like the flavors, they are fresh and plenty of them to try,” Andy replies.

“I like the way you think.”

The girls pair off, whispering back and forth as they walk in front of us. When Xia peers over her shoulder and gives me a shy smile, something inside of me turns upside down. I wink, and she turns back to her friend.

“Are they always like this?” I ask.

“Pretty much the entire time I’ve known them. They met in kindergarten, and that was that. My family moved here in the middle of first grade, and I was sort of absorbed into their dynamic. The whole ‘girls aren’t gross’ thing came far later.”

“Jesus, I can’t imagine having that sort of history with one person I’m not actually related to.”

“It’s rare, especially around here where people are usually transplants.”

We step inside the taproom, and I take in the rustic set up—long, wooden tables with black slabs and bright red chairs, wooden barrels with taps, and a small register. In this room, the beer is definitely the star. As we gather our samples and move to a table, I fall into the conversation. So this is what normal life is about. They talk about their jobs, what they plan to do to their homes, and things they want to do. It’s so normal and yet completely bizarre for me.

I’m getting an education in everyday life, and it’s not the horror show I expected it to be. They like their jobs, and their brand of fun is one I can get into.

“You’re from near San Diego, right?” Andy asks, drawing me back into the conversation.

“Yeah.”

“Have you ever been to Comic-con?”

“The big Comic book show downtown? No.”

“Dude, you have to go with us next year,” Jas says with her dark eyes dancing.

They don’t even know me and yet they’re extending kindness. It’s the opposite of the secretive world I come from.