Page 119 of Should Our Stars Collide

Reality starts to sink in, brutal and unforgiving. His emotions are all over the place, he can’t even tell which one is currently wreaking havoc. Is it anger? Shame? Fear? Whatever it is, it makes him feel like he’s about to die. His breath comes rapidly, yet it’s like he’s suffocating.

The white noise is back, louder, almost painful, but just like before, Ash’s voice brings him back.

“Kieran, look at me. Look at me, firecracker.”

He does, Ash’s gaze pinning him in place like an anchor in the middle of a raging sea.

“It’s okay. You are safe.”

“Something’s wrong. Ash, I don’t like this.” He hates how scared he sounds, like an actual child lost in the woods.

Ash cradles his face in his palms, thumbs stroking over his cheekbones.

“Breathe, baby. You were just flying high and now you’re coming back to Earth fast. I’ll get you there safely, don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

Ash gathers him up bridal style and carries him to their bedroom. The air there is saturated with his scent, and it works like magic on Kieran’s nervous system. His breath begins to even out while his eyelids grow heavy.

Tequila must be around, because Ash says something to her while tucking Kieran under the blankets. He vaguely registers Ashdisappearing briefly, but then he’s back, pressing something to Kieran’s lips. It’s sweet and fruity, a taste he can’t quite place, but he gulps it down.

“Slowly,” Ash instructs, stroking his hair before placing a kiss there. “Good boy. You did amazing, Kieran.”

Kieran smiles to himself, feeling his heart rate settle and his body grow heavy.

When he opens his eyes what he would swear is two seconds later, the room is darker, the sun having moved closer to the horizon. And he’s using Ash’s chest as a pillow which, by the way, has no right being so comfortable.

Feeling an unfamiliar weight around his lower body, he looks down and nearly swallows his tongue. Tequila is perched on his hip, curled into a deceptively innocent ball of orange fluff, snoring happily.

“Ash?”

Ash’s eyes snap open instantly. He must’ve been awake already.

“There you are.” He grins toothily, running his fingertips over Kieran’s arm.

“What happened?” He can’t believe how quickly he was out.

“It’s called a drop. It has to do with endorphins in your body. All’s good now, you just needed a little TLC. And sugar.” With that, he reaches towards the nightstand, uncapping a paper bottle of…something. “Maybe you should have a little more, just in case.”

Kieran scrunches up his nose, but obediently takes a sip, recognizing the taste he couldn’t place before. The bottle says it’s lychee coconut water. Wow. Healthy shit has no business tasting this good.

“Does that always happen?” he asks once the bottle is empty. He’s read about the drop, but didn’t understand it much.

“It depends on the intensity of the scene. And your emotional state. It’s to be expected since it was your first time and you were upset.”

“Thank god, because that sucked. What’s this, by the way?” He nods towards Tequila, who’s now up and licking her paw.

Ash smiles like a parent who’s happy his two children are getting along for once. “Contrary to what you might believe, she doesn’t actually hate you. She’s a softie and recognized your distress.”

“Hmm.” Dubious, but fine.

Tequila stands up and arches her back, then does a slow walk across Kieran’s chest until she’s in his face. She watches him judgmentally for a while, then bumps her forehead against his chin.

“Whoa, did you see that?” Kieran beams. Maybe she really doesn’t hate him. “You were just playing hard to get, huh?” He goes to stroke her back and promptly gets slapped in the face. “Ow! You bitch!” By the time he tries to get back at her, she has jumped off and run away.

Under him, Ash is unsuccessfully trying to suppress a laugh.

“She attacked me!”

“You tried to touch her.”