Page 6 of Should Our Stars Collide

“Yup,” Kieran says curtly, having no intention to indulge the fraud further. Except Ash’s words make him do a double-take. “Wait, you guys talk about me?” His accusing glare jumps between Dawson and Ash.

“I can’t discuss my patients,” Ash says haughtily. For some reason, it draws a groan out of Gabe.

Kieran bristles. “Dude, you recognized my name. Obviously, you talk about me.”

“Guess you answered your own question, then.” Ash shrugs, the picture of indifference.

Inhaling sharply, Kieran grips the armrest so he doesn’t punch the fucker in the face. “You?—”

“Kieran…” Dawson says quietly. The pleading tone gives Kieran pause, settling his rage into an uncomfortable burn. He turns towards the screen with a grunt.

“O-kay. Awkward.” Gabe gives a nervous laugh.

Kieran, too, can feel the heaviness in the air, but he couldn’t care less.

By the time the commercials end and the trailers start, he has all but forgotten about what got him so worked up. But then Ash opens his stupid mouth again, and he’s brutally reminded.

“How are you, Dawson?” Ash asks.

What. The. Fuck? Kieran isn’t an expert, but surely there must be protocols about interacting with your patients outside of a clinical setting.

“Good,” Dawson says, practically beaming. “I have a good story for you when I see you next.”

Ash flashes him a smile. It’s just as annoying as the rest of him. “Oh yeah?”

“Yup. It involves painting and cacti.”

“Sounds like an intriguing combination.”

Okay, that’s it. “Dude, seriously? He’s your patient. Are you even allowed to talk to him outside of work?”

“We’re just chatting, Kieran,” Dawson says irritably, as if Kieran is being the unreasonable one.

“You usually pay him for chatting. Pretty sure there are some rules about this.”

“Would you rather I talk to you?” Ash suggests, an infuriating smirk blooming on his lips. “Maybe you should swap seats with Gabe here, so we can get to know each other.”

“No, thanks.” Kieran sniffs. “I don’t have three hundred on me to pay you for achat.”

Ash hums, the sound as irritating as the rest of him. “Shame. You sound like you could use my services.”

Sothisis what it means to see red. Apparently, it’s not an exaggeration. It’s the only color that exists right now, flooding his vision.

Hands balling into fists, Kieran starts to rise from his seat. “The fuck did you just?—”

“Kieran!” Dawson snaps at the same time that Gabe hisses, “Ash!”

It would be easier to calm down if Ash didn’t have that irritating smirk plastered on his irritating face. The fucker totally did it on purpose. He was just trying to get a rise out of Kieran, and Kieran fell for it.

“Oh, hey, the movie is starting!” Gabe announces with enthusiasm that couldn’t be more fake if he tried. It works, though. Kieran turns his attention to the openingMarvelcredits, feeling marginally calmer now.

He falls back into his seat with a huff, tearing into the packet of peanuts. Food. There are few things that work better for his nerves. Food and sex, but he doubts he could get the latter around here.

Dawson leans into his space. “What’s gotten into you? I know you don’t like therapists, but was that necessary?”

“You’re asking me?!” Kieran objects. “The shrink you rave about so much started it.”

Dawson bites his lip, looking conflicted. “Ash can be a bit intense?—”