Page 4 of Should Our Stars Collide

When Kieran makes no move to do so, Dawson’s eyes narrow into slits. “You did use your picture in the profile, right?”

“…I did.”

The slits narrow further. “Show me.”

“What? Why?”

“I wanna see.” Dawson turns his hand palm up, waiting.

Grumbling under his breath, Kieran tentatively pulls out his phone, giving it a few swipes until hisprofile comes up. He turns the screen towards Dawson. “I just tweaked it a little.”

“How little are we tal—” Dawson’s eyes widen comically. “Kieran! What the fuck?! This isn’t a little!”

Heat floods Kieran’s face. “It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?! You look like a different person! This is the very definition of catfishing. You wanna be on the news as the next murder suspect?”

“Calm down, would you? Everyone touches up their photos.”

“Clearly, the meaning of atouch upis lost on you.” He shakes his head, pointing at the picture. “A six-pack? Really? You don’t even have a two-pack.”

“I could if I went to the gym more often!”

“But you don’t. Do you even have a membership?”

“Well…”

His naturally slim stature makes it easy not to gain weight even if he eats junk all day, but it also makes it nearly impossible to grow muscles without destroying himself five days a week, or pumping himself full of ‘roids.

“And what’s with the beard?” Dawson brings the phone closer for inspection. “It looks like you stole it off Chris Hemsworth and put it on your face.”

That’s exactly what he did, but he’s not about to admit that. “You know I can’t grow a real beard! It turns out all scraggly and patchy when I try.” Which is a tragedy because his face is annoyingly oval, his jawline invisible. On multiple occasions, he’s been tempted to shave off his jaw bone. He wasthisclose to buying tickets to South Korea.

In general, his looks are pretty unremarkable. He has no interesting features, apart from his brows that seem to have a life of their own. His hair is an unattractive mousy color, his eyes plain brown. He wore braces as a teenager, but due to phoning it in with his retainer, his teeth had regained some of their crookedness. Dawson thinks it’s cute. He’s the only one who does.

Kieran snatches his phone back. “I don’t have a choice, alright?! If I put a real pic on there, I’d never get any matches.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“It is. I had my actual picture there for two weeks without a single match.”

Dawson purses his lips. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but have you thought of swiping right on someone who doesn’t look like a model?”

“What makes you think I only swipe on the ones who look like models?”

“Because I know you and I know your type.”

Kieran pouts. “There’s nothing wrong with having a type.”

“You do realize how hypocritical you sound, right?”

“Give me a break, will you? I had a harsh breakup recently. I’m heartbroken.”

Dawson bites back a smile. “You’re so full of shit.”

“But you love me.”

“Unfortunately.”