Page 146 of Should Our Stars Collide

“What have you got there?”

It’s not until he’s up close and bending down to retrieve it that he recognizes the distinct, square-ish shape of the box. He springs right up, inadvertently mimicking the bend and snap maneuver. The box remains untouched on the floor, unless you count Tequila pushing it around again.

“Calm down, Kieran. Maybe it’s not what you think it is.”

He really should open it to actually check. Before he can do that, his phone pings with a new message.

He pulls it out. No, not a message—an email. A familiar one. No subject this time, just a video attached to it. After weeks of silence, why does it have to be today that his future self has something to say to him.

It can only mean one thing.

“You guessed it. It’s a ring,” future Kieran grins at him from the screen.

Present Kieran’s ass hits the mattress. “Holy shit.” Ash wasn’t joking when he said wedding bells would be heard soon.

Okay, no need to panic. It’s not like Ash is gonna askhim.He’s gonna wait until future Kieran comes back. It’s all good.

“By the way, that wasn’t Ash’s jacket.”

“Huh?” Kieran blinks, the words barely registering. But once they do, he’s back on his feet, yelling at his phone. “What do you mean not his jacket?!”

Sure enough, upon closer inspection it’s clear the thing would never fit Ash’s large frame. That, and it’s definitely not his style. Not pretentious or uncomfortable enough.

“Holy shit,” he repeats.

“Calm down, I’m not expecting you to ask him. In fact, I’d kill you if you took the opportunity from me,”future Kieran threatens, clearly missing the detail that killing the past version of himself would result in his own demise.“Anyways, this is what I was talking about when I wanted you to learn to guard your mind because there was something I needed to tell you. Technically, it wasn’t me telling you anything, but Iknew you’d find the ring, so…”

Right. Makes sense he doesn’t want Ash to know. But this is huge! How is Kieran supposed to keep it from him, especially when he won’t be able to stop thinking about it? One slip up and Ash will find out.

He reaches for the box with a trembling hand, ignoring Tequila’s protest. With a deep breath, he flips the lid open.

The ring is…plain. A silver, maybe even titanium band with no gem or detail. Smooth, simple, unceremonious. Totally Kieran’s taste. And very fitting for Ash. Not that he is any of those things—more like the opposite—but maybe that’s why this would suit him so well. If the ring is supposed to represent a piece of Kieran’s heart, then it’s perfect.

“Look on the inside,”his future self says.

Kieran does, his heart doing a somersault when he reads the engraving.

YOURS

“Oh.” Jesus, one word shouldn’t cause him to have an emotional breakdown, yet here he is.

“This is just a reminder that even when things get bumpy between you two, it doesn’t change anything,”future Kieran says, smiling knowingly.“Ash is still the person I want to wake up next to for the rest of my life. And I know for a fact that you do too.”

“Shut up.” Kieran sniffles. How is he supposed to argue with someone who was in his shoes—literally—two years ago. Someone who was in this exact same place, thinking and feeling the exact same things.

“I know that Ash pulling that stunt with the family lunch might make you second-guess everything. That’s okay. It will take a while, but you’ll get to a point where doubts have no place. I promise you, this is the endgame, Kieran. This is what your life is gonna be, not just with Ash, but with the family you chose.”

“I didn’t choose them. I’m stuck with them,” he corrects. He’s been doomed since the first day he set foot in that cursed coffee shop.

“Family is annoying. Deal with it.”Future Kieran sighs.“Ash was telling the truth when he said he didn't have it allfigured out. Sometimes he needs saving too, whether he can admit it or not. So go get our man.”

Kieran frowns. “What?”

“The lunch is at La Sireni. Thought you might wanna know that.”

Oooh. He does. Very much so.

“And Kieran…”His future self leans closer to the camera lens, as if he’s about to share a secret, and winks.“Don’t hold back.”