Page 14 of Should Our Stars Collide

Nothing about this is okay. But then again, it never has been.

Nothing ever really changes, does it? He would know.

On Sunday morning, Kieran drags his uncaffeinated ass intoLost and Groundin desperate need of a pick-me-up. He doesn’t know what Gabe and Zeke put in the coffee, whether it’s some overhyped mushroom shit or cocaine, but he needs it. Now.

“Fuck me.” TheCLOSEDsign stares at him mockingly. “Fuck me.”

“This isn’t that kind of establishment.”

A mightily undignified sound leaves Kieran’s mouth. He spins around to glare at whoever snuck up on him like that.

“You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Zeke regards him with amusement. “It’s more likely you’re gonna get one from all the junk you eat.”

“Look who’s talking. I thought you were the one they call bin chicken.” From what Kieran’s heard, no one ever has to worry about leftovers when Zeke is around.

“Hey!” Zeke objects indignantly. “That’s different.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah! I just hate wasting food.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Anyways, what are you doing snooping around here?”

Right. He desperately needs coffee. “I forgot you’re closed today. This whole week has been a fucking nightmare, I don’t even know what month it is.”

Something flashes in Zeke’s eyes, a kind of recognition that Kieran can’t even hope to analyze this early in the morning.

“Well, it’s your lucky day.” Zeke dangles a set of keys in front of him. “Come on in and tell Uncle Zeke all about your woes.”

“I’ll just have coffee, thanks.”

“Nuh-uh. You want coffee, you have to pay for it.”

“I have money, you know?”

Zeke waves a hand. “Not that kind of payment. You need to use your mouth.”

“I thought this isn’t that kind of establishment.”

Barking out a laugh, Zeke steps behind the coffee machine and does whatever it is that makes it hiss and sputter. “I need to flush it first, it won’t be long.”

“Take your time.” It’s not like he has anything better to do today. He moves to the end of the counter to watch Zeke work. “Why areyouhere, by the way?”

Zeke looks at him like he’s stupid. “Why do you think? Same reason as you.”

“Contemplating the point of life?”

“That, and because my blood pressure drops to a corpse’s if I don’t caffeinate myself before noon.”

“Don’t you have a coffee machine at home?”

Zeke purses his lips, hesitating. “There are also some croissants from yesterday that didn’t sell, and I forgot to take them with me.”

Kieran snickers. “Bin chicken.”