Page 68 of Should Our Stars Collide

17

“Where’s your sissy car?” Kieran asks as they stop in front of a shiny navy blue BMW. He’s back to his usual snarky self after their bumpy landing half an hour ago, no longer green around the gills.

“Parked at home. You refuse to ride in it unless it’s a life or death situation.”

“Sounds accurate.”

Ash dangles the car key. “Catch.”

“What—ah!” Kieran fumbles to catch it, being the dropper he is. Ash laughs softly.

“You want me to drive?”

“It’syourcar.”

Kieran’s eyes nearly pop out of their skull. “No fucking way. Mine?” He jabs a thumb at his chest, flicking a bewildered glance between the car and Ash. “How was I able to afford this?”

Despite the shock, he wastes no time getting behind the wheel, looking like a kid on Christmas Day.

Smiling to himself, Ash dutifully puts their luggage in the boot before sliding into the passenger seat.

“Maybe go easy? You must be jetlagged,” Ash suggests gently.

Kieran rolls his eyes. “Okay,Mum.”

“If we have to do this, I’d preferDaddy.” He loses it at Kieran’s half-horrified, half-disgusted expression. “Joking. Just a joke.” He holds his hands up. Itwasa joke. He tried to play around with daddykink before. Turns out, he’s sensitive about his age, especially given their age-gap. A fact Kieran loves to exploit.Often.

“Unless you want this beautiful car to die a fiery death, never say that again.”

“Yessir.”

Kieran turns on the GPS, his finger hovering. “Where are we going again?”

“I’ll guide you. Just get on the freeway. We’ve got about an hour of bonding time.”

Kieran scrunches his nose.

“Or I can drive if you wanna take a nap,” Ash offers.

“I’m driving my own car, thanks.” With that, Kieran pulls out of the parking spot.

“You didn’t even know this car existed ten minutes ago, but you’re already attached. Should I be jealous?”

“Notice how the car does what it’s supposed to and doesn’t say creepy things? Maybe you should take notes.”

“Sure, it takes you from point A to point B, but does it give you earth-shattering orgas?—”

“La-la-la-la! Can’t hear you!” Kieran scrambles to turn the radio on, dialing the volume way up.

Ash laughs, loving seeing Kieran so flustered and red to the tips of his ears. He makes himself comfortable and keeps quiet, figuring it’s safer to keep the teasing on the down low since they’ll be going 110km/h.

It takes Kieran a while to relax, side-eyeing Ash every now and then, but once he does, it’s on. He sings along with some of his favorite songs, way off-key, of course. Goes over the speed limit when Ash confirms there are no cameras around, grinning from ear to ear. Flips off a red Porsche when the driver isn’t too happy about being overtaken.

Ash watches him while Kieran watches the road, infected by his good mood. Seeing him smiling and happy isn’t a rare occurrence, not anymore, but it never fails to awaken a swarm of butterflies in hisstomach. Kieran’s just…so fucking beautiful when he’s happy. When he’s free to be himself.

“Exit in five hundred,” Ash tells him as they approach State Route 3.

Kieran squints at the exit sign. “Burleigh Heads? Are you kidding? Posh people live there.” He takes pause and gives Ash a judgmental once-over. “Makes sense, actually.”