Page 11 of Should the Sky Fall

“Oh, shut up, will you?” Kieran sounds almost offended. “As if I’d leave you alone.”

Dawson thumbs the corner of the documents in his hands. “It could get ugly.”

Nocouldabout it. Itisgoing to get ugly. To what extent, Dawson can only guess. Just to cover all bases, he’s packed some essentials and had Kieran load it into his car. He doesn’t think that packing up his shit and leaving it in clear view as people always do in the movies would be wise. There’s no need to taunt Cal on top of everything.

“Another reason for me to be here. I’ve taken Krav Maga classes.” Rolling up his sleeves, Kieran clenches his fists and flexes. Or attempts to. The biceps of his left arm makes a feeble attempt to buff up but ends up twitching instead.

A starlet laugh bursts out of Dawson, and it keeps going when he gets a glimpse of Kieran’s scowl.

“Well, fuck you too.”

Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, Dawson grins.

“I love you.”

Kieran’s eyes narrow further. “Don’t think you can slap that band-aid on everything. I’m hurt.”

“You’re full of shit, is what you are.”

Like magic, the metal vise that’s been closing in around Dawson with each passing second releases its hold. For a moment, he forgets why they’re both here, forgets about that morning nearly two weeks ago that’s driven him here in the first place. It’s not theonlything that’s brought him here, but definitely the one that drove the point home.

“Are you sure Jess won’t bite your head off for letting me stay with you?”

Kieran’s expression darkens. “If she does, she can pack her shit and get the fuck out.”

Dawson’s eyes widen, and Kieran laughs. “Bros before hoes, Dee. Those are the rules.”

Dawson doubts it’s that simple, or that Kieran is as unbothered as he pretends, but the sentiment pulls at his heartstrings. Dawson has received way too many drunken calls from him that resulted in an hour long rant to be convinced otherwise.

“I don’t want you two to fight because of me.”

“Please,” Kieran huffs. “As if she wouldn’t find something to fight over.”

Dawson’s tempted to ask why Kieran stays in a relationship that clearly makes him miserable, but he’s not about to call the kettle black.

Dawson’s phone vibrates on the table, followed by the ringtone.

“Is it him?” Kieran asks, as Dawson reaches for it.

“No, it’s…” Unfamiliar digits stare at him. “I don’t recognize the number.” The code is from NSW. Probably an insurance scam, as usual. He gets one every other day. Under normal circumstances, he’d let it go to voicemail, but a foreboding feeling prompts him to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Dawson?”

He recognizes the voice, but can’t place it. “Yes?”

“It’s Ellis.”

“Oh. Hi?”

Kieran taps his shoulder, showing his palms in awho is it?gesture.

Dawson covers the speaker. “My brother-in-law.”

Kieran frowns, but Dawson isn’t much wiser, so he just shrugs. He could count the number of times he and Ellis talked to each other on one hand. And why does Ellis have his number?

“I just got a call from Cal’s PA,” Ellis says, pausing for a second before he continues. “Are you already at the hospital?”