Page 15 of Should Our Stars Collide

“Hey!”

“What about Gabe? Does he know you come here on your day off?”

“He comes here more often than me to do the pastry prep when he’s too lazy to get here early before his shift.” The grinder whirs to life as Zeke prepares the shots, filling the air with a delicious, earthy aroma. “Not that he’s been with the flow lately.”

“Gabe? Not with the flow? In what universe?”

“Yeah, well…” While the shots are being extracted, Zeke starts frothing the milk. He has to speak a little louder over the high-pitched sound of the steaming wand. “It’s been a while since he got a hard-on for anyone. I suppose he’s pent up, so I can’t really blame him.”

Kieran does a double-take. “What?” Gabe?TheirGabe? Lusting after somebody? “He has a crush? Who is she?”

“He. And he’s a customer.”

“Right. I forgot Gabe’s an equal opportunist.” Maybe Kieran should play both teams too. It’d double his chances at scoring.

Multiplying zero still equals zero, mate.

Scowling at his inner voice, he says, “So, a customer, huh? Is he a regular? That must behardfor Gabe.” He giggles at his own pun.

Zeke gives him an unimpressed look. “You’re a child.”

“Don’t call the kettle black.”

Zeke sticks his tongue out, proving Kieran’s point. “It all worked out in the end. He’s got a date. Today, actually.”

Of course he does. Everyone can get a date except Kieran. “Hope he has better taste than some people I know,” he grumbles.

Zeke’s sharp gaze roams over his face. “That didn’t sound bitter at all. Here.” He pushes a paper cup towards Kieran. “Go take a seat, I’ll be right there.”

“Cheers.” He picks a table by the wall so there’s less chance of someone seeing them and thinking the café is open. By the time Zeke joins him, Kieran’s already inhaled half the cup. Fuck, he needed this.

“So—”

“Why do people turn so fucking stupid when they fall in love?” Kieran blurts out. He planned on being more aloof and mysterious, but honestly, talking to someone doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Zeke’s eyebrows slowly climb up. “Are you talking about yourself?”

“Fuck you, and no.” That would never be him. At least he doesn’t have to worry about it, since he’s never been in love anyway. And hopefully never will be. He’d much rather do stupid shit on his own than as a result of his feelings for someone else. “It’s Dawson. He went back to Cal.Again.” He lets go of the cup in case he crumples it in a fit of rage. “He always goes back to him.”

“Ah. I see,” Zeke says. “He was staying with you recently, right?”

“Yeah. Because he was being gaslit to hell and back. But voila.” Kieran spreads his arms wide. “Three days later he got over it and forgave that asshole.”

Strangely enough, Zeke looks unsure. His fingers drum against the tabletop.

“Have you talked to him? Maybe he’d be able to explain why he did that.”

“Oh yeah. He said it wascomplicated.” He adds little air quotes, in case the sarcastic tone wasn’t sharp enough. “Complicated, my ass. Seems pretty fucking clear to me.” He takes another large gulp of his coffee. Over the lid of the cup, he sees Zeke’s face do something strange. “What’s with that face? Why are you making that face? I don’t like the face.”

“Hm? Oh, nothing. Sometimes I get stuck in my head.” Zekescratches himself behind the ear, letting out a sigh. “Look, I get that Dawson is your best friend and you worry, especially given…well, his history with Cal.” His expression becomes pinched. “But chances are things are different now. That Cal is different.”

If Kieran wasn’t already sitting, he’d fall on his ass. “Are you for real?!”

“I’m just saying we shouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Zeke placates, holding his hands up like he’s afraid Kieran will leap across the table to strangle him. Which he actually might. “Sometimes things are not what they seem.”

“Things areexactlywhat they seem,” Kieran growls. “Dawson is being manipulated like a fucking puppet, and everyone’s acting like it’s all nice and dandy. Just because Cal got brain damage doesn’t change what a bastard he is. He might act nice for a while, but he’ll always show his true colors. He’ll hurt him again and one day it will be too much, and Dawson will never come back from it.” The last few words make his voice crack. He covers it up by taking another sip.

“I don’t think that will happen,” Zeke says in an unusually gentle voice. “But even if it did, he’d be alright because he has you.”