Page 20 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Ash smirks. “Looking forward to ourchat.” Then the fucker winks, his smirk growing when he gets a reaction out of Kieran, who looks like he’s about to lose his shit. Dawson better be ready to pay bail.

Before Ash can do any more damage, Gabe gathers his frustration into a small ball of energy and flings it at him.

Ash jerks like getting electrocuted, a noise of surprise escaping him. His attention snaps to Gabe, and he glares.

“You okay there, Ash?” Dawson asks with concern.

“I’m fine. Just a cramp,” Ash says without taking his eyes off Gabe, who juts his chin out defiantly.

“Okay, well…we better go,” Dawson says with a nervous laugh. He frowns at his phone. “I just noticed I have, like, twenty missed calls from my obsessive sister. I should call her back before she sends out the cavalry.”

“Of course,” Ash says easily, smiling again. “From what I’ve heard of her, she actually might.”

Dawson’s eyes grow a little wide. “She totally might. Anyways, see you!”

“Have a good night,” Ash says, then looks at Kieran with an unreadable expression. “You too, Kieran.”

Kieran’s eyes narrow. “Kiss my ass.”

“Kieran!” Dawson chastises, horrified.

Ash grins predatorily. “Only if you ask nicely.”

Kieran pales, then turns crimson, sputtering something that was probably meant to be an insult but comes out a jumbled mess.

“I’m so sorry. We’re leaving. Kieran!” Dawson barks, grabbing his best friend by the collar and dragging him away.

Gabe stands rooted to the spot, fighting the urge to cry. Is it possible to die of sexual frustration that’s not even your own?

“Damn, I’d love to spank that attitude out of him,” Ash groans and, to Gabe’s absolute horror, reaches down to adjust his dick through his pants.

Gabe turns on his heel, striding away to grab his scooter. “I’m going home.”

“Ah-ah-ah, not so fast.” Ash blocks his way. “We haven’t finished our chat.”

Nowhe wants to talk about Ellis? Hell no. It would make everything feel tainted.

Gabe opens his arms. “There’s nothing to say. I fucked up. I’ve met the guy twice and now I’m attached.”

Ash rolls his eyes. He’s always told Gabe he tends to get dramatic. “Does he have a name?”

“Ellis,” Gabe tells him reluctantly. He points a threatening finger. “Don’t you dare go digging around in my head.”

Ash scoffs. “I don’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”

“What is?”

“That it’s too late for you to back out. Trying to cut yourself off never works, it just leaves you miserable,” Ash says solemnly. Ugh, how did the tables turn so quickly?

“So you’re saying I should run with it?” Gabe asks with disbelief. He thought Ash would be the first in line to discourage him from it.

“Always the better option than runningawayfrom it.”

Gabe folds his arms on his chest. “Am I talking to my cousin or a therapist?”

“They’re the same person.”

Gabe’s not sure how to feel about that.