Page 96 of Should Our Stars Collide

That finally gets Kieran’s attention, making him take a break from demolishing the rest of the tiramisu.

“I’m gonna kick his motherfucking ass if he does.”

Dawson lets out a grunt that could be either a disapproval or agreement. “Do you know how to get back?”

“Apparently, I need to reach enlightenment. Easy peasy.”

“Sounds…fun.” Dawson grimaces. “Oh. I get it now.”

“Get what?”

“All the weird things that didn’t make sense at first.” He starts talking quickly, excitedly. “When we first told you about Cal, you didn’t freak out nearly as much as we’d expected, because you already knew. And the lottery!” He jumps up, hands on his hips. “You didn’t dream about the winning numbers, did you?”

Kieran pulls out his phone. “You just reminded me I need to check those out. Thanks!”

Dawson doesn’t seem pleased. “Are you sure that’s okay, though? Isn’t it dangerous to do these things for personal gain.”

Kieran throws his hands up. “My god, you’re such a goody two shoes.”

“But—”

“Dawson, it’s fine,” Ash intervenes. “After all he’s been through, he’s entitled to take advantage.”

Dawson purses his lips, not very happy with that reasoning. It’s clear his moral compass is in direct opposition to the pity he feels about Kieran’s predicament.

A huge, radiant smile on his face, Kieran looks at Ash. “I could almost kiss you right now.”

Ash’s gaze goes instinctively to his mouth. He can imagine exactly what the kiss would taste like; partly sweet, partly bitter from the tiramisu. Kissing Kieran is always like that. A constant swing between the two extremes.

“That can be arranged.”

Kieran’s eyes go wide. His tongue peeks out, licking his lips.

Dawson clears his throat. “Could you two behave?”

Kieran’s whole body jolts, like he’s snapping out of a trance, and he goes red. So. Damn. Cute.

Ash crosses his legs to hide just how cute he finds it.

“So, from whenexactlydid you travel here from?” Dawson asks Kieran. “Jesus. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth.”

“Never thought I’d be asked that question either,” Kieran points out. “It happened around the time you came to stay with me for a couple of days before going back tohim.” He eyes Cal with contempt.

Cal doesn’t seem bothered by the blatant display of hostility.

“That must have been a very hard time for you, thinking that your friend went back to the horrible person who hurt him,” he says. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. And thank you for being there for Dawson. He’s very lucky to have you.”

“I am,” Dawson agrees, a big, smitten smile on his face as he reaches for Cal’s hand. While the two engage in a besotted staring contest, Kieran looks like he can’t remember his own name.

Leaning in close, Ash whispers, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just…hearing him talklike thatalmost makes me like him, and I’m not ready to like him yet!”

“It’s okay, Kieran. I understand,” Cal assures him. While Ash cannot access his mind, he can still tell every word out of his mouth is genuine.

Kieran’s frustration only grows the nicer Cal gets. It would almost be funny, if it weren’t for the fact that Kieran’s watched his best friend’s life be ruined by the man who shares Cal’s face.

“Maybe you can find comfort in knowing the hostility willeventually go away,” Cal reassures him. “I like to think that you consider me a friend now.” He looks so earnest, it must be messing with Kieran’s head.