Page 93 of Should Our Stars Collide

“Hey!” Kieran slaps his arm. “You’re supposed to argue the opposite.”

“Didn’t I tell you I’d never lie to you?”

“You could liea little.” He pouts. “Maybeyouwill be the godfather.”

“No, thanks. I already have one baby, I’m all set.”

Kieran frowns, confused, then glares when the meaning registers. “Screw you. I’m not a baby.”

“You aremybaby, though.”

“Shut up,” he orders, his face resembling a strawberry.

“Aww, is my baby angwy?” Ash coos.

Kieran bares his teeth, but all he achieves is looking like a displeased honey badger. “I swear to god?—”

The door swings open, Dawson’s beaming face greeting them.

“I thought I heard bickering.” He scoops Tequila up before she can bolt. Inside, Cal is wrestling Donut, who waddles over the second he’s released. “Come in, quick. These two are a flight risk.”

“Birds of a feather.” Ash drops into a crouch, scratching behind Donut’s ears before grabbing Tequila from Dawson. “Come here, you little menace. Been a good girl?”

Dawson’s smile twitches. “She has.”

“Well…” Cal starts.

“Shehas.”

Ash scoffs. He loves Tequila, but she’s no angel. Basically, she’s Kieran’s spirit animal.

“What did she do?” He boops her nose. “What did you do, huh?” She answers with a suspiciously innocent meow.

Dawson sighs. “Ate some cookie dough I left on the counter, then threw up on Cal’s side of the bed.”

Cal looks aptly displeased.

Kieran barks out a laugh, then suddenly goes silent. And a little green.

Ash puts Tequila down, reaching for him. “What is it? Are you okay?”

Kieran shivers. “I suddenly got a flashback.”

“Oh right!” Dawson snaps his fingers, face contorting into a grimace. “Second year, was it? But that was brownie batter.”

Now, that finally explains Kieran’s hatred for brownies.

“How much did you eat?” Ash asks. He can’t decide whether to comfort him during his traumatizing flashback or laugh at the imagery.

Dawson speaks first. “It wasn’t regular batter.”

Ooh. Andthatexplains why Kieran gets nauseous whenever he gets an accidental whiff of weed.

How come Ash never knew?

“You never told me that.”

“I didn’t?” Kieran looks just as surprised as him.