Starstruck
The beginning of forever…
take a glimpse of Asher and Keira’s lives when they aren’t tucked away in the comfort of Woodgate.
(please note that this update occurs between the final chapter of Written in the Stars and its epilogue.)
Keira
“Shit,” Keira heard Asher’s voice as he finally emerged from his bedroom. They’d been in Brighton Heights for three days, and as he’d promised, between press conferences, football practice, and getting up to speed with everything pertaining to his club, she’d barely gotten a glimpse of him during the day. Most of her time was split between catching up with her cousin, Kaelyn, or working on the foundation of her hospitality group in the making, Love’s Kourse.
Crossing her legs at the ankle, Keira peeked up at him from her spot on the floor. “Rough day?”
“You have no fuckin’ idea.”
Collapsing next to her, Asher dropped his head on Keira’s lap. She barely had enough time to move the papers she’d been scouring so he wouldn’t wrinkle them. Giggling, Keira mushed him.
“Excuse you, sir.”
“My bad, babe,” Asher delivered a sheepish grin. “But this week is kicking my ass. I need you.”
And just like that, Keira’s heart melted. “Awe, honey. Tell me all about it.”
“I—”
Keira’s phone vibrated, capturing their attention. A mile-wide grin split her face when she saw the number attached to the iPad belonging to her son, Devon. She didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Hi, Bud,” Keira sang, filled with warmth the minute his face came into view.
“Mama, I miss you!”
“I miss you too, love. What chu doin’?”
“Helpin’ Pa and Uncle Theo with the chickens. I want to see Asher.”
Keira frowned as Asher chuckled. “So you don’t care about your poor ole’ mama, huh?”
“I just talked to you,” Devon pointed out.
“You giving big hater energy right now, Ke,” Asher grinned, taking the phone and holding it at an angle so Devon could see him clearly.
“Shut up.”
He ignored her, keeping his attention on the phone. “What’s up, Bud?”
“When are you and my mommy coming back?” Devon demanded.
Asher smiled warmly. “We talked about this before I left, remember? Your mama will be back soon, but I can’t come until work slows down for me.” His stomach churned at the crestfallen look on Devon’s face. “But you’ll get to visit with your mom for Christmas and come back if we get to the Superbowl.”
“But that’s too far,” Devon pouted.
“I agree. I miss kickin’ it with you every day I’m away, and you know you can always call me whenever you want. If I’m at practice and can’t answer, I’ll call back when I’m free.”
“Okay, I guess,” Devon agreed begrudgingly. “But hurry up. I told everybody my other daddy is a football player, and they don’t believe me.”
Keira gasped, and Asher’s throat tightened. A surge of emotions he couldn’t quite describe surged through him, nearly bringing tears to his eyes.
“Wait,” he cleared his throat, trying to pull himself together. “What’d you tell them?”
“And I told them you said I was good at football too, so we have to show them—”
“Devon,” Asher interrupted gently. “Hold on for a second. Who did you tell them I was?”
Devon sighed as if he were annoyed to revisit that part of the conversation. “My other daddy. Paw said I should call you Pop, so people don’t get confused. When are you going to be here?”
The fact that Roderick, Keira’s dad, had also encouraged Devon to view Asher as a father figure nearly had him undone. For as long as Asher could remember, it’d just been him and his dad, Maxwell. Then his best friend, Quentin, had come along, and now he had a girlfriend, a son, and everyone they came with. Asher had a family. His family.
“I’ll be there soon,” Asher managed to deliver his response without his voice cracking. “I promise, okay?”
“Okayyy,” Devon sang as if he were unsure, and Asher knew it was because Devon’s biological father, Blaine, had made many promises he didn’t hold up.
“Hey,” Asher said gently. “Don’t I always come through for you?”
Devon nodded.
“And have I ever told you I would do something and haven’t done it?”
Devon shook his head.
“A’ight then. So when I say I’ll be there, I’ll be there. I just have to finish out my season first.”
“Okay,” Devon agreed with more confidence. “Where’s my mama?”
Asher handed Keira the phone robotically, lost in his thoughts. He remained that way for the remainder of the conversation until it was time to say their goodbyes.
“I’ll see you in a couple of days, baby. Behave for your Paw and Mimi. I love you.”
“Love you too, mama. Love you, Pop.”
“Love you too, lil’ man,” Asher replied, wondering how he’d gotten through the conversation without dissolving into a puddle of tears.
“Asher,” Keira began cautiously. “I had no idea that Devon was tellin’ people you were also his father. I know we’ve never talked about this, and I understand if you’re uncomfortable with it. I can tell him—”
Asher sat up slowly, turning so they were facing each other. Lifting Keira’s legs, he placed them over his.
“I have a son,” he murmured. “Like, I already knew it, but this—I have a fuckin’ son.”
Biting her lip, Keira studied him intensely, trying to determine which direction the conversation would go. “Ash—”
Her words were drowned as Asher delivered one of the most passionate kisses Keira had ever experienced.
“You ain’t gotta talk to him about shit,” he whispered against her lips. “That’s my kid. And I need another one.”
“The hell you preach,” Keira swatted him away as her phone buzzed.
Giggling, she reached for it, quickly scanning a text from her cousin. “Kael wants to know if we’re comin’ over for dinner.”
One of Asher’s brows raised. “That depends. Is she the one cooking?”
“You gon quit talkin’ shit ‘bout my cousin!”
“Aye, that’s a very valid question. She ain’t finna fuck my stomach up.”
“Just for that, we’re going whether she cooked or not. Go put some clothes on.”
Gently moving her legs, Asher stood, extending a hand to her. Keira took it, allowing him to help her up. Once she was on her feet, Asher swept her into his arms, tossing her over his shoulder and slapping her ass.
“Ash!”
“I’ll put some clothes on,” he said, starting for the bedroom. “Right after we finish practicing making kid number two.”
“Asher.”
“You think we can get Devon’s last name changed?”
“Asher!”
If you’re unfamiliar with these characters, Keira and Asher’s story, Written in the Stars, is now available on Amazon.