Page 32 of Should Our Stars Collide

“What was that?”

A waitress appears at their table, holding a tray. “One Piña Colada mocktail?”

“That’d be me,” Ash tells her, adding a wink when she places the glass on the table. “Thanks, love.”

She blushes, tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and, with her head down, all but runs away.

Kieran is pretty sure that the glare he gives Ash could burn a hole in steel.Shameless slut.

“Is that why you blew the twink off? You were in the mood for something different?”

Ash laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I mean, I like variety…” He pauses to bite into the pineapple wedge. “But I stay faithful to the phallus.”

Since he’s not currently drinking, Kieran chokes on air.

“Dude,” he wheezes. “How can you say shit like that with a straight face?”

Another laugh, louder and more obnoxious. “Sorry, darling, but nothing about me is straight.”

“So you just flirt with everything that moves for sport? And don’t call me darling.”

“What should I call you, then?”

“Just my n—” He catches himself. “You know what? We shouldn’t even be talking.”

“Why not? I’m quite enjoying this.”

“Taking the piss?”

“Your company.”

A strange sound catching in his throat, Kieran bares his teeth and orders, “Drink your girly drink and shut up.”

“Not a fan?” Ash obligingly takes a sip. It’s a testament to how drunk Kieran is that his gaze fixes on the way Ash’s lips wrap tightly around the straw, cheeks hollowing. “Pineapple juice is good for you.”

It takes a second for the meaning to land. “First of all, gross.” He makes a face. “Second, our last meeting should’ve told you that’s not something I have to worry about. I’m basically in the Sahara now.” Shit. TMI. And he said that toAshof all people. What the hell is wrong with him?

Ash drags his gaze over him in a painfully slow manner. “I’d be happy to help you out of there.”

Kieran really must be getting used to Ash’s shenanigans. Instead of sending some colorful words his way, he can only muster a tired sigh. “You have a problem.”

“I’d say I have many?—”

“If you’re so horny, you should’ve gone with the twink,” Kieran blurts out, clamping his mouth shut a second too late. Why does the twink bother him so much, anyway? He’s always disliked PDA, but it never got himthisworked up. Or maybe it’s the noticeable age-gap between the two, reminding him all too much of Dawson and Cal. Or maybe, and that’s probably what it is, anything involving Ash is a constant irritant. Yeah, that’d make sense.

“It’s not what I wanted.”

Kieran pauses, a little surprised he got an actual response. Ash has been content ignoring Kieran’s jabs, or answering with sarcastic remarks.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Kieran asks, “Why? He was cute. Ready to bend over backwards. Or forwards.”

Ash chuckles. “True.”

“So what? Easy prey isn’t your type?” Kieran pushes when it seems Ash has reverted back to monosyllabic answers.

“I think you know my type,” Ash drawls in a voice an octave lower than usual. His eyes darken, raking over Kieran’s face.

Something funny is happening to his stomach, reminding him of that unsettling feeling of weightlessness you get before the steep drop on a rollercoaster.