Page 124 of Should Our Stars Collide

Zeke’s arm shoots up. “I’ll be your date, Carrie.”

Carrie cheers, hugging Zeke, who seems to be the only one without the need for lungs, or bones, meanwhile Gabe mutters something that sounds like, “Traitors.”

Watching the scene with half-horror, half-fascination, Kieran leans into Ash. “Is this the dreaded triple date?”

“Quadruple, it seems.”

“Great.”

By some miracle, they survive through the chaos. They even manage to get their coffee and the Danish roll for Kieran, before swiftly retreating to safety.

“Did you know Carrie was Gabe’s mum?” Ash asks on the way to the car. Kieran seemed more shocked by the attention he got than by meeting a virtual stranger.

Munching on the Danish roll, Kieran nods. “The resemblance is uncanny. And I remember seeing her picture on your home screen.”

“That’s not my—Ah. Two years ago, you mean?”

“Yeah, when you gave me a ride home in your sissy car.” He licks the crumbs off his lips. “What is it now?”

Ash opens his phone and hands it to him. He’s not sure what Kieran expected to see, but it clearly wasn’t himself. Well, himself and Ash, in their bed, wrapped in Ash’s arms and drooling on his shoulder, fast asleep, while Ash grins at the camera.

“Lame,” he grumbles, cheeks aflame, and thrusts the phone at Ash.

“Why?”

“Everyone uses a pic of their SO. It’s predictable. I expected better from you.”

“What’s wrong about wanting to see the person you love as often as you can?”

Kieran’s mood just seems to sour more.

“Doesn’t mean you should forget about your friends, just because you’re getting some action.”

Ash locks his phone, then presses the button to make it light up soKieran can see his lockscreen.

“Oh.”

It’s not the exact same picture from two years ago. It’s a birthday party, but not Gabe’s. This time it’s Kieran’s, and everyone is there, including Carrie, Cal, and Dawson. They’re all a little drunk (or a lot, in Carrie’s case), and happy as hell.

“I didn’t forget. My heart is big enough to fit all of you,” Ash tells him. He never wants to make Kieran feel like he’s choosing between him and his family and friends. “But you’re right. Finding a partner, or even starting a family, isn’t an excuse to forget about the people who have been with you through thick and thin. That’s a dick move.”

Kieran swallows, eyes getting glassy as he clearly remembers something he doesn’t want to. “Yeah. A huge one.”

Ash steps into his space until Kieran has no choice but to look at him. He keeps blinking rapidly, trying to push the tears back. Ash reaches for his face, wiping away one single drop that has gathered in the corner of his eye.

“Dawson didn’t want to leave you behind, he just had no other choice. Not a safe one, anyway.”

Kieran sniffles. “Yeah, I know. Still sucked.”

“I bet it did.” Ash strokes his ear, then his neck. “Everything is okay now.”

Kieran’s smile is slow and shaky, but real and full of relief. “Yeah, it is.”

Ash drops a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll give you one hour to digest, then we go running.”

“Everything isnotokay.”

In spite of all the grumbling and whining, Kieran starts singing a different tune once they reach the beach.