Page 29 of No Mane, No Gain

As the night wound down and people began to leave, Chef Stefano approached their table, a warm smile on his face.

“I hope you all enjoyed yourselves tonight,” he said. “But the evening isn’t quite over yet. As part of our commitment to giving back to the community, we’ve prepared extra portions of everything you’ve made tonight. If you’re willing, we’d love for you to help us serve these meals at a local shelter.”

Olive’s heart swelled at the suggestion. She turned to Chaos, ready to express her enthusiasm, only to find him already looking at her with a soft smile.

“What do you say?” he asked. “Feel like spreading some culinary joy?”

Olive beamed at him. “Absolutely. Lead the way, Chef.”

The group made their way to a nearby shelter, their arms laden with containers of food. As they began serving, Olive was struck by the genuine warmth and compassion she saw in Chaos. He chatted easily with the shelter residents, listening to their stories with genuine interest and offering words of encouragement.

FIFTEEN

Olive was so engrossed in her task and in watching Chaos that she didn’t notice the new arrival until a familiar, grating voice cut through the din.

“Well, well. Isn’t this quaint?”

Olive turned to see Tia standing there, her designer outfit looking comically out of place in the shelter’s humble surroundings. The younger woman’s hazel eyes, so similar to Chaos’s, swept over Olive with thinly veiled disdain.

“Tia,” Chaos said, his voice tight with barely concealed irritation. “What are you doing here?”

Tia pouted, a practiced expression that Olive was sure worked wonders on most men. “Can’t a girl surprise her big brother at work? Though I have to say, Chaos, this isn’t quite what I expected when I tracked your phone.”

Olive bristled at the implied insult in Tia’s tone. Before she could stop herself, she found herself speaking up.

“You know, Tia, some people actually enjoy helping others. It’s this crazy thing called ‘having a heart.’ You might want to try it sometime.”

Tia’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are, you little-”

“That’s enough, Tia,” Chaos cut in, his voice hard. He moved to stand beside Olive, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back in a gesture that was both protective and possessive. “Olive is my guest, and I won’t have you insulting her.”

Tia’s mouth opened and closed a few times, reminding Olive of a particularly indignant goldfish. Finally, she huffed, tossing her long dark hair over her shoulder.

“Fine. I can see when I’m not wanted. Enjoy your little... charity project.”

As Tia stormed out, Olive let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She turned to Chaos, apology already forming on her lips, but he beat her to it.

“I’m so sorry about that,” he said, his expression a mixture of embarrassment and concern. “Tia is young. She can be... difficult.”

Olive shook her head, offering him a small smile. “It’s not your fault. Though I have to say, if that’s what you deal with on a regular basis, I’m impressed you haven’t gone gray yet.”

Chaos chuckled. “Give it time. I’m sure it’s coming.”

They shared a laugh, the awkward moment passing. As they returned to their tasks, Olive couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth in her chest. Chaos had stood up for her and put her first even in the face of his sister’s disapproval. It was a small thing, perhaps, but to Olive, it meant the world.

The rest of the evening passed without incident, and soon they were bidding farewell to the shelter staff and residents. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Baxter clapped his hands together.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink after all that excitement. Anyone up for hitting a bar?”

There was a general murmur of agreement from the group. Olive glanced at Chaos, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“I know just the place,” he said. “It’s a little hole-in-the-wall not far from here. Best whiskey in the city.”

As they walked, Olive fell into step beside Chaos, their hands brushing with each stride. After a moment’s hesitation, she slipped her hand into his, her heart skipping a beat when he immediately interlaced their fingers.

The bar Chaos led them to was quaint, tucked away on a quiet side street. But as soon as they stepped inside, Olive fell in love with the place. The atmosphere was cozy and intimate with warm wood paneling, soft lighting, and the gentle strains of jazz playing in the background.

They settled into a large booth, Olive nestled comfortably against Chaos’s side. As conversations flowed around them, punctuated by laughter and the clink of glasses, Olive found herself relaxing completely for the first time in ages.

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