Page 74 of Should Our Stars Collide

Kieran quietly bolts the door and flips the sign toCLOSED.

Zeke manages to get out a confused, “What are you doing?” before Kieran has him by the collar. “Eep!”

“You…” Kieran seethes. “You fucking menace. This is all your fault! Your stupid fucking cards and witchy shit. Reverse it. Reverse it now!” He tries to shake him like a magic 8-ball, but Zeke’s annoyingly solid, six-foot-something frame doesn’t budge. Kieran might as well be trying to shake a fridge. Zeke looks down at him like a Golden Retriever watching a pissed of Chihuahua. Fuck, Kieran hates being short.

Zeke’s gaze flicks behind Kieran, probably to where Ash is standing. Standing and doing nothing!

“You eat some mushrooms in Fiji? Do an ayahuasca trip?”

“Is this funny to you?” Kieran shakes him again, without effect. “Is it?”

“Of course not,” Zeke says, tone drenched in sarcasm. “Ash, please control your unhinged little wife.”

Bristling, Kieran draws his arm back, curling his fingers. “You’re fucking dead.”

The punch doesn’t land. Ash catches him mid-swing, trapping him in a bear hug. “Okay, Kieran, that’s enough.”

Kieran thrashes like a beached shark. “Fuck off! I’m not done here! Not until he fixes this!”

“Fix what? Hey!” Zeke jumps back when Kieran’s flailing leg nearlyconnects with his groin. “That's a national treasure right there.”

The kitchen door swings open. Gabe strolls out, drying his hands. “What’s with all the screaming, guys? You’re gonna scare away the custo—” He comes to a halt. “Wow. You’re pissed.”

“You think?!”

Whatever Gabe is about to say next gets cut short by a knock on the door. Everyone stills, expecting a horrified customer who nearly witnessed an attempted murder, but it’s just Ellis; granted, appropriately concerned.

Kieran is almost surprised that he recognized him so quickly, given he’s in the middle of a rage fest, and that it’s the first time he’s seen Ellis wearing something other than a suit. He looks shockingly normal and less like a high-handed prick in his dark blue joggers and an oversized black shirt, hair flat on one side like he just rolled out of bed.

There’s also a fluffy orange rat next to his leg. On a leash.

“Did you lock the door?” Gabe asks, already moving to open it.

“Better keep civilians out of the crime scene,” Ash says.

“Crime scene?!” Zeke squeals, just as Gabe lets Ellis in.

“Hey, honey,” he greets him with a sickeningly sweet smile, leaning in for a peck.

The rat jumps on his leg and…barks. Okay, there’s a chance it’s a dog. A dog on drugs if the way it shakes on its short legs is any indication.

Gabe crouches to give it a few pets. “Hey, Lo. Miss me already?” In response, the rat-dog licks his hand.

“Bad time?” Ellis observes.

“Weird time,” Gabe says and stands up. “Not sure what’s going on.”

Graciously, Ash offers an explanation. “Long story short, Zeke was pretending to be a long-lost Halliwell sister and sent Kieran two years into the future. As in, to now.”

Funny how something so utterly life-wrecking can be summarized in one sentence.

“What?”

Four pairs of eyes turn to Zeke, who’s been trying to sneak back behind the counter, to safety.

“You did what?” Ellis asks.

“I didn’t do anything! I didn’t!” He pauses, head cocked like a confused bird. “Or…did I?”