Page 184 of Should Our Stars Collide

Rolling his eyes, Ash pushes Kieran onto his back, bracketing him. “I have a lot to look forward to with you, huh?”

The sound that Kieran makes could almost pass for a giggle, it’s so fucking cute. “You have no idea.”

Ash hums and runs his thumb over Kieran’s parted mouth. The very mouth which he knows with a 100% certainty will be the death of him. But what a way to go.

“I have some idea.”

“And?” Kieran’s chest stills with a suspended breath, longing written on his face.

Ash leans in and replaces his thumb with his lips. Between one kiss and the next, he whispers, “And I can’t wait.”

EPILOGUE

2years and a few weeks later

Kieran wakes to warmth, the scent of roasted almonds, and a rough tongue licking his ankle.

“Tequila, quit it.”

“Meow.”

Ugh, goodbye, sleep. If Tequila’s awake, it means she’s hungry, and she will start screaming bloody murder any second.

Wait.

Why is Tequila here?

Kieran shoots up, the covers pooling around his waist. His bleary eyes sweep around the room and land on the orange menace, who seems very displeased. She usually is when she looks at him.

He’s home. Not in Fiji, which is where he remembers falling asleep.Home.

Making a hasty grab for his phone, he checks the date. “Holy shit.”

It happened. It really, actually happened. He knew it would, but knowing and experiencing are two vastly different things. Even more so when it comes to freaking time travel.

“Holy shit,” he repeats. Tequila meows again, as if in agreement.

Kieran chuckles. “Come here, you little devil.” Ignoring her protest, he scoops her up, cuddling her to his chest. “You have no idea how great it is to see you.” He smooches her furry cheek.

“Meow!”

“Okay, okay. Off you go.” He releases her, and she wastes no time in bolting, throwing a look of utter disdain at him from the doorway.

Kieran giggles, falling back onto the mattress. Next to him, Ash shifts from his side onto his back with a groan.

Ash.He’s here. He’s still here, sleeping soundly, in the same bed. In their apartment.

Because they made it.They made it.

God, Kieran was scared, so fucking scared he was about to lose everything he’d worked so hard for, waited so long for. There were so many potentials for screwing up—for past Kieran to screw up.

What if his younger self panicked too hard and left before Ash could talk to him properly? What if he didn’t watch the videos? What if he decided he didn’t want this life, preferring his comfort zone that was lonely and sad but familiar?

What if he acted out so much that Ash couldn’t take being pushed away anymore and gave up?

But he didn’t screw up. He listened. He tried. He fought.

He wasbrave.