Page 114 of Should Our Stars Collide

Kieran is gearing up for an earful, some very serious lecture on the topic. He can’t wait to watch Ash lose his shit over the thought of hisboyfriendbeing a flat-Earther while Kieran calmly continues to hold his ground.

“That’s true. I guess anything is possible.”

Kieran shoots up so fast he almost gives himself whiplash. “Dude, what the fuck?!”

“Hm?”

“Are you for real? You think the Earth is flat?”

“You clearly do.”

“No, I don’t! I just made that up for kicks! I can’t believe you’d just let me get away with it!” His arms flail wildly in all directions.

“Is it really that important?”

“Is it—” Kieran gapes at him. “How can you be with someone who thinks we live on a levitating pancake?! Have you no standards?”

Ash shrugs. “It’s either that or a levitating donut.”

“Still!”

“I can’t be 100% sure either way,” Ash carries on. “I’ve never been to space, never seen Earth from above with my own eyes.”

Kieran turns towards the shore and stares into the distance. “Oh. My. God.”

It’s the quiet laughing behind him that snaps him out of hislife-contemplating trance.

“You fucker. You knew I was trying to prank you!”

“Obviously. Points for effort, though. That was a good one.”

Kieran sighs. “I thought I was getting better at this mind-reading buffer thing.”

“I wasn’t trying to look,” Ash says. “Don’t you think I’d know if my boyfriend of two years believed in the flat-Earth theory?”

A relieved smile grows on Kieran’s face. “I knew it. You wouldn’t actually date someone who did, right?”

The smile drops when Ash just shrugs.

“What difference does it make? My life wouldn’t change either way. I’d still go to work and pay taxes. I’d still go to the beach, eat good food and drink good coffee.” Kieran can feel his gaze on him even through the sunnies. “I would still love you. None of it would change, no matter what type of pastry we live on.”

Look at him trying to be all romantic while defending his appalling lack of standards and critical thinking. Kieran won’t be swayed. He will not.

“I can’t believe I’m dating a semi-flat-Earther.” He goes back to distance staring, then gets up and stretches. “I’m going in.”

Ash’s fingers wrap around his ankle. “Not so fast. You need a touch up.”

“Ugh, again?” He swears, Ash is just looking for an excuse to touch him.

“The UV index is nine. Yes, again.”

Kieran rolls his eyes, but plops back down, offering his back. He hates to admit it, but Ash’s lotion-applying skills are off the charts. It feels pretty good, kinda relaxing.

His dick gives an interested twitch.

Maybe a little too relaxing.

“Okay, all do?—”