Page 8 of Should Our Stars Collide

He sputters something unintelligible, meaning to deliver a colorful insult and failing miserably.

“I’m so sorry,” Dawson cries like an ashamed parent. “We’re leaving. Kieran!”

Kieran lets himself be grabbed by the collar and dragged away. It’s a good thing too, because if he stays, he won’t be held responsible for his actions.

“That escalated quickly,” Dawson comments when they’re a safe distance away.

“What the fuck, Dawson?” Kieran rounds on him. “You let that guy dig around in your noggin?! He’s nuts!”

Dawson’s expression twists into a grimace. “He has a strong personality,” he mumbles unconvincingly.

“Are you kidding me? When has anyone ever said that and meant it as a good thing?”

Dawson sighs. “Kieran…”

“You always do this. Why do you always end up defending assholes?”

“Don’t you think you are biased?”

“And you aren’t?” Kieran counters. Dawson’s silence is telling enough. “Whatever. I’m going home.” He trudges to his wreck of a car, fishing out his keys.

Dawson catches up to him. “Kieran, he was just messing with you. He does that, it’s harmless. And he probably gets a kick out of your reactions.”

“Wow. My opinion of him just improved,” he says with as much sarcasm as he can muster. “Can’t believe that guy is allowed to practise.”

“I doubt he comes to the movies as a therapist. He was just being himself.”

“You’re not really helping your case. Or his.” The car unlocks with a familiar clicking sound. Kieran doesn’t waste a second, sliding in and slamming the door shut.

Dawson knocks on the window, stubbornly waiting until Kieran rolls it down an inch. “Drive safe. Text me when you get home.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kieran grumbles, so fucking annoyed that Dawson is able to be so frustrating and caring at the same time. But mostly frustrating.

He drives off, managing not to think about the asshole who ruined his day all the way home. But once his apartment door shuts behind him, he’s reaching for his phone and googling the bastard. He bets his left nut that the internet is full of scathing reviews.

It takes less than a minute to find Ash—Ashley, to be precise. Kieran snorts. What a stupid fucking name. Stupid enough that he doesn’t even need to know Ash’s last name.

Well, now he does.Ashley Cleaver.

He slides into the reviews section with a victorious smile, whichfreezes once the site loads. How the fuck can such a lunatic have a rating of 4.9?! Those reviews must be rigged, there’s no way.

Fuming but curious, he reads a few, starting with the newest ones.

I don’t know how someone can be so professional and unprofessional at the same time, but whatever sorcery it is, it freaking works! Ash doesn’t guide you through the deep dive gently, but I’ve never felt so safe during the therapy process. I’m so grateful for him.

Ash is not only an incredibly skilled therapist, but such a beautiful soul too! I was at the end of my rope when I found him, and he pulled me back to my feet. His methods might be a bit (a lot) outside the box, but that’s probably why they work so well. Keep doing what you’re doing, Ash!

Had my second session today. This is insane. I swear this guy can read minds! Scary sh*t, but awesome! I struggle expressing my emotions with words, which is one of the reasons why my previous therapy experiences yielded zero results, but somehow Ash always knows what I’m trying to say. I’ve never felt so seen in my life.

Kieran rolls his eyes—‘A beautiful soul?’ God, he can’t even take these reviews seriously. They’re all probably written by thirsty women. Ash will say some pretty words, bat his eyelashes, and they’ll all drop their panties. Of course they’re willing to overlook major red flags just because the guy is hot.

Objectively hot. Not thatKieranthinks he’s hot. Just because he’s tall, and shredded, and has a jaw so sharp even his beard couldn’t hide it doesn’t make him special, just conventionally attractive. Boooring.

Okay, moving on. One bad review. There must be at least one bad review from a non-biased person.

Ha!Found it.

The place was hard to find and it was cold inside.