Page 154 of Should Our Stars Collide

“Hey,” Kieran croaks, his face splitting on a wide grin he’s helpless to stop. His heart is going a hundred miles per minute, his hands twitching with the impulse to reach for Ash, the two timelines clashing in his brain.

“Hey,” Ash says back, side-stepping to make room for a man trying to get inside. “You look better.”

Yeah, let’s not think about how embarrassing he was yesterday.

“I feel better.” He takes a step forward, noting a slight tension in Ash’s shoulders. “Thanks for dragging my ass home.”

“Don’t mention it.” Wow. Aloof much? As if hearing himself, Ash clears his throat, his voice softening. “Did you sleep okay?”

Kieran almost laughs. “I had thecraziestdream.”

“About?”

“Us.”

Instead of coming up with some smartass-y, perverted comment, Ash just stares, blinking owlishly.

Kieran chuckles at his dumbfounded expression and continues. “We lived together in this fancy, expensive apartment, and had a cat named Tequila.”

Ash presses his lips together, his eyes sparkling. Naturally, he thinks Kieran is making a joke. “Some dream.”

Kieran hums in agreement. “Felt like a nightmare at first, but in the end I didn’t wanna wake up.” He watches Ash’s face, which gives him nothing. What the heck is going on? He thought Ash would be all over that dream story, flirting up a storm like the shameless little slut he is.

Kieran decides on a more direct approach. “I thought you’d stay till morning.”

Ash’s lips part, about to say something, then close. After a moment, he says, “I didn’t think you’d appreciate it.”

What a load of?—

Yeah, okay. Makes sense. He has been very back-and-forth. “Fair enough. I realize I’ve been sending ambiguous messages. For future reference, you’re welcome to stay the night.”

“Future reference? How often are you planning on drinking yourself under the table?”

Kieran would argue that it wasn’tthatbad.He was able to walk just fine, and he could still string together a sentence.

But Ash is rocking that disapproving teacher look, his mouth set in a strict line.

Kieran, while mildly chastised and a little intimidated, focuses on directing his blood flow north. Jesus, a few weeks with Ash have turned him into a sex-fiend.

“Not as often as I used to,” he promises. “But that’s not what I meant. I meant, you’re welcome to stay the night…if you ever feel like it.”

He looks at Ash through his eyelashes, maintaining a deceptively innocent expression. Ash is a sucker for that one, seeing through Kieran’s bullshit and yet unable to resist.

Kieran holds his breath, waiting for the answer. Ash will probably try to play it cool so as to not give away what a dork he really is, or how eager he is to become part of Kieran’s life. That’s why he’s taking his time, pretending to mull it over while?—

“Thank you. But I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Kieran’s thoughts come to a screeching halt. “Come again?”

Ash sighs. “I realize I’ve been laying it on thick and that I’ve beenrather relentless with the flirting. You’re just…” A wry smile passes over his lips. “Very captivating.”

Kieran smirks. “You don’t say.”

“But I was wrong.” The smirk slides right off. “I don’t believe we’re a good fit. I’ll keep my distance from now on.”

Kieran lets the words hang in the air, waiting for the moment Ash laughs and says he’s pulling his leg.

Except, he doesn’t.