Page 98 of Should Our Stars Collide

“What’s wrong?” Cal asks.

“You shouldn’t have told me that,” Ash whines, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It takes everything I have to hold back as it is. I look at him and I just want to throw him on the nearest surface and worship the living crap out of him.”

Cal’s lips press together, a slight flush making its way to his face.

Ash laughs. “TMI, sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I understand.” In a mumble, he adds, “A little too well.”

“Honeymoon phase still going strong with you two?” Ash guesses. In all the time he’s known Dawson, the man just seems to get happier by the day.

Shyly, Cal shakes his head. “I don’t think it will ever end.”

“We are two whipped bastards, aren’t we?”

Cal’s brows furrow and he does a cute little head-tilt. “What’s whipped?”

Ash smothers a smile. Look at that scary entity from beyond. “Have a look at your face in the mirror sometime and you’ll see.”

“…Okay.”

Continuing their conversation on a lighter note, Cal tells him about the exhibition and what everyone was up to while Ash and Kieran were sunbaking in Fiji. Ash tells him about the trips they went on, and how Kieran went overboard on the jetski.

After that, he goes to search for Tequila, spending a good ten minutes trying to get her into her carrier. He ends up with only four scratches.

“Ready to go home?” he asks when Donut comes barreling through to the living-room with Kieran and Dawson in tow. They’d disappeared for almost an hour, but it must’ve done Kieran a world of good. He doesn’t look upset anymore as he chats with Dawson. He does look tired, though.

Kieran nods, then his unimpressed gaze falls to the carrier in Ash’s hand.

“That hair dispenser isn’t going in my car, is she?”

Tequila hisses as if she understood every word.

Kieran gasps, pointing at her. “Did you hear that? She threatened me!”

“Well, you insulted her. And there shouldn’t be any hair. She’s in a carrier.”

“Still.”

“How do you propose I get her home?”

“I don’t know.” He crosses his arms. “Walk. Take an Uber.”

“That’s mean, Kieran,” Dawson chastises, then turns to Ash. “I can drive you, if you’d like.”

“If you don’t mi?—”

“Fine!” Kieran huffs, pouting. “Whatever, just get in the damn car.” Quieter, he says, “At least we know who the favorite is.”

Dawson laughs. “Brings back memories. Cal and Donut were so jealous of each other at first.”

“I wasn’t.” Cal denies it at the same time Kieran yells, “I’m not jealous!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you.” Ash winks.

Kieran’s eyes narrow into two vicious slits. “You better be talking about vacuuming my car.”

“Sure, I’ll throw that in too.”