Kismet by Beth D. Carter

I say without a trace of wonderment or satisfaction. It’s a simple statement.
    “Yes, I believe you. Your vision will save all these people, because there was no way that Kris or I could have found this. That’s a pretty cool superpower to have.”
    I scowl. “I do not have a superpower.”
    “A little touchy I see.”
    I blow a stray piece of hair out of my eyes. “You have no idea.” I can feel him looking at me, so I turn my head and catch his gaze. “Kris didn’t believe me, not at first, not until I saved that little girl. Then he called me an angel, and I am soooo not that.”
    “He did? Called you an angel?”
    “Yes.” My mind wanders a moment, away from Hyde. I see Kris in my mind’s eye, the way he looked just before he told me good-bye. “He doesn’t let many people see the real him, the true him. But I did. I felt his heart.”
    The memory of that last moment with Kris warms me all over. I smile. And then I look over at Hyde, and for a brief second, I think I see fury in his green eyes. I blink, and the look is gone.
    “Kris is a hard man,” Hyde replies in a calm, thoughtful tone, making me believe I must have imagined the anger. “He doesn’t allow many people to get close to him or to touch him.”
    I want to scream, It’s because he was molested ! But of course, I don’t. I can’t. So I try to hedge around it. “Kris is hard on the outside,” I say, enunciating carefully. “But inside I think he’s got so much emotion that he doesn’t know how to express it.”
    “You’ve slept with him,” Hyde said, and it wasn’t a question.
    “That’s hardly any of your business.”
    “Hm. I see.”
    “What does that mean?” I demand.
    “I’m a bit surprised, though. He doesn’t usually get involved with women.”
    “You noticed?”
    “It’s hard not to notice that your partner is always alone. Kris was the one who woke me up in time to drag me back to base before inspection came.”
    I don’t say anything.
    “I always wondered why,” he continues. “He’s had lots of opportunities. I can’t tell you how many girls wanted to ride that monster cock of his.”
    I purse my lips at his crudeness but say nothing.
    “Maybe a man that feels as deeply as Kris isn’t content with meaningless sex,” I finally say.
    Hyde shakes his head. “I’ve often wondered if he was in love with me.”
    I sputter in shock.
    “I take it by your reaction that’s not it, but you do know what it is. He told you, but he didn’t tell me.”
    I can see he’s confused, hurt maybe. But I promised, so I don’t say anything. After a moment Hyde turns away, dropping the subject. At least for now. But something shifted between us, I can tell, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

Chapter Nine
     
    One minute we’re sitting around, psychoanalyzing, and the next minute there is a loud bang as the world starts shaking itself to death. Everyone is flung to the ground, and it’s impossible to stand.
    I hear screaming; I hear debris crashing, but I can’t lift my head. I’m almost to the point of being scared when the violent shaking abruptly ends, and I’m left feeling as if I’ve just gotten off a terrifying roller coaster.
    I push myself up onto my knees and look around. Was that an earthquake ? I once heard that the epicenter tends to feel like being trapped in a sonic boom, and this definitely has that qualification.
    “Evie,” Hyde says from next to me, grabbing my arm.
    I swivel my head to blink at him, trying to clear the daze from my vision.
    Hyde shakes me a little. “Evie, listen to me. That wasn’t an earthquake.”
    I snap to attention. “What?”
    “That was some type of bomb,” he tells me, keeping his voice low. “I’m going to go check it out. Will you be all right?”
    I nod, breathing hard. “Yes. Be careful.”
    He gives me a nod and then jumps to his feet. I watch him for only a moment before I push myself to stand, immediately turning to help people who still lie