Page 26 of Should Our Stars Collide

“That was Ash being a self-absorbed ass and trying to get into a straight guy’s pants,” Gabe says, sounding very disapproving.

Ash snorts. “Nothing straight going on in there.”

“Don’t you think I’d know? I’ve known him for years.”

Ash slowly arches one brow. “Don’t you thinkIwould know betterthan you?”

Gabe’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t contradict him again.

“Are you talking about your mojo?” Ellis asks. On seeing Ash’s surprised face, he turns to Gabe, all apologetic. “Was I not supposed to tell? I’m sorry.”

“He knows?” Ash grins, folding his arms over his chest and resting his hip against the counter. “Well, would you look at that? Am I hearing wedding bells?” Gabe usually guards the truth about his abilities like a dragon guards its gold. But he’s already spilled the beans?

“Ash…” Gabe growls in warning.

“Got it. Got it,” Ash placates, although not without an eyeroll. “I’ll get my usual and be out of your hair in a jiffy.” His job here is done, anyway.

His drink arrives suspiciously quickly, accompanied by a glare. “Now leave.”

Unbothered, Ash takes his drink and salutes Ellis with it. “Pleasure to have made your acquaintance. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of each other from now on.”

Well, that was fun, though not as fun as seeing Kieran lose his shit again, two days in a row.

What a great start to his day.

7

Fifteen minutes before the end of his shift, Kieran marks the current ticket asresolvedand prays to the IT gods that no more come through. He swears there’s some unwritten rule that only the most annoying, time-consuming requests are generated just as everyone’s about to leave.

There’s a bang from his neighboring cubicle, and he peeks over the top.

“You okay, mate?”

Joe lifts his head from the desk, a small red mark on his forehead where he slammed it against the top.

“Got a ticket from Greg.”

Kieran winces in sympathy. Everyone knows Greg. The guy who will, unfailingly, contact IT with the most ridiculous of tasks.

“What is it today?”

Joe blinks blearily at the screen. “Says his mouse is haunted.”

Kieran snorts. “Sounds like a fun one.”

Joe groans. “Kill me now.”

Just as Kieran’s about to send a small thank you to whatever deity has spared him the headache of dealing with dear Greg, his own computer pings.

Fuck him, why now?!

“I need to find a different job.”

Not a new epiphany, just something he’s been working on, buthasn’t found a solution to yet. What difference would it make to switch companies? It’s probably the same everywhere. Working from home would be ideal, as would doing something different. Building websites, maybe? Something to engage his brain a bit more before it completely rots. Unfortunately, being self-employed doesn’t exactly scream work stability.

He drops into his chair and opens the ticket.

Subject: URGENT. Computer not working. Need fixed ASAP. Possibly hacked???