Page 70 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

Still, I was too curious not to go see for myself. They wouldn’t break out the whips and chains on game night, right?

Cielo gave me the address of an industrial area of the Mission, and I thought I was in the wrong place when I saw a restaurant. A large sign read, “Shepherd’s Kitchen,” and I quickly googled it for added details. The first article was from a San Francisco Magazine I’d done comics for and trusted their reporting. “Shepherd’s Kitchen is a concept restaurant, feeding the unhoused for free, as well as selling pre-made meals.”

A memory of meeting Cielo’s friends, Roman and July, pinged a memory when they talked about their partner, Shepherd. All three lived together over the restaurant and were roommates before hooking up. Sounded convenient to me, but the restaurant was closed…how was I supposed to get in?

“Miles?” Cielo’s voice caught my attention, and I turned to see him leaning around the corner. “Thought that was you down here. Come around to the side door.”

“Thanks for coming to the rescue.” We hugged, and I followed them to a keypad-locked security door, the main door left open for us inside. We made our way up a wide staircase that looked like it was also used as storage. “So, this is where Roman and July live with Shepherd?”

“Yep,” Cielo confirmed, reaching the top landing and pushing open the ajar door at the top. “Welcome to the Factory.”

Revealing a wide-open space with high wooden beams and a large kitchen to the left, I could see how it had been a factory in the past. The wood floors were polished but showed stains and gouges from years of abuse. There were about a dozen people in the main space, some gathered around a sturdy coffee table playing a card game that had them all laughing.

“Let me show you around and introduce you.” Cielo led me to the kitchen for a drink, and I opted for a can of soda over alcohol.

We said hello to July, who was rocking a green, crushed velvet jacket that complimented his small frame and helping a taller person with a hippie vibe plate hors d'oeuvres.

“This is Shepherd. They’re the owner of the building,” Cielo explained with a twinkle in their eyes and a helpful cue for the correct pronouns.

Shepherd raised their eyebrow and sighed, “None of you are going to let me go long without you pointing it out, are you?”

Sensing an inside joke or story I wasn’t privy to, I decided to move on. “I’m Miles. Your restaurant downstairs seems like a cool concept.”

“It is,” July beamed at me before turning a proud eye on them. “Daddy is amazing.”

“Thank you, baby,” Shepherd kissed July’s head, and I felt like I was intruding until he raised his voice. “Brat, where’d you run off to?”

Confusion had me looking around for a pet, until Roman bounded towards us and held his arms out for a hug, which I gladly accepted. Roman was a tall, fit man who also did drag as Gladys. He had pink hair but was otherwise without his usual makeup, which made sense, since he was at home with friends. Still, he must have been dressed by his fashion designer boyfriend, July, since Roman had on designer jeans and a silk vest as a shirt.

“Oh, hey, Miles, glad you could make it.” Roman pulled back to smile at me before going around the kitchen island to give Shepherd puppy-dog eyes. Roman was an over-sharer, so I knew they did actual puppy play. Cielo did too. I didn’t think I was up for seeing that much kink. “Yes, Daddy?”

“Save it for later, brat.” Shepherd swatted his butt playfully and handed him a plate. “Go make sure our guests know there’s food.”

“It’s our place,” Roman rolled his eyes, but moved to do as he was told. “Of course there’s food.”

Two older men I’d met a couple times approached as Roman caused the card game to break up for snacks, and I was glad to see more familiar faces. They were Cielo’s Daddies, Q and A. I never did find out their real names, or if it was just a play on question and answer, since they called my friend C.

After catching up with them, I was introduced to a few others. As it turned out, I was the last to arrive. A big, intense guy who looked like a brick wall turned out to be the boyfriend of a small but somehow imposing person, both with Russian accents. They introduced themselves as Felix and Maksim. Definitely Russian. We shook hands and then I was turned to meet Holly & Charlie, a lesbian couple, and their friends, Sawyer and John. Flowers and Ash were new to me, a married duo with oddly conflicting names. I was getting the impression my assumption there would be all couples and partners was turning out to be true.

We made our way through the space to the couch, where a person my age was sitting between two Asian men. All three were gorgeous, and I was left to my own devices when Roman asked Cielo to help him with the first game.

“Hi,” the fit guy in the middle smiles and waves, “I’m Ant, they-slash-them, and this is Max with two exes.”

“Oh-kay…” This was kind of awkward. “Hi. I’m Miles. He, him or they.”

Looking toward the man they gestured to, who had his arm around Ant possessively. I frowned, trying to work out why I needed to know that Max hadn’t dated much. I glanced toward the other man and my mouth went dry. Great gods of gayness he was sexy. Broad shoulders were straining in a red, long-sleeved shirt, dark hair styled to perfection to highlight his eyes and high cheekbones, but it was his smile that caught me at a loss for speech.

“I was confused too,” he chuckled and stood to hold out his hand, “I’m Shane. Uh, he and him for me.”

Swallowing my lust, I took his hand, and mine was engulfed in Shane’s warm, callused grasp. A tingle raced up my arm like electricity and I snapped out of my daze to break out my flirtation. “Please tell me you're one of the exes and I’m not the only single one here?”

Shane laughed again, his eyes almost closing in mirth, and we still hadn’t dropped our hands. “I’m not one of his exes, since we just met tonight. But I am single.”

Before I could think of a witty reply—maybe something about teaming up for the night so I can sit beside him without the coffee table between us—Roman called out over the assembled guests, “Game time!”

Shane dropped my hand, and I felt cold at the loss. Everyone gathered around the couch area, and I ended up on an ottoman across from him. At least I got to sneak glances at him while we listened to Shepherd introduce the next game.

“As my brat so helpfully announced, we’d like to get the ball officially rolling,” Shepherd smirked at Roman, who preened like he was being such a good boy. “Not all those here know everyone, so we wanted to move from card games to a bit of an icebreaker,” Shepherd paused for dramatic effect, looking us each in the eye. “Truth or Dare.”

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