Page 10 of Asystole

“It’s not really my news to share,” I tell him, suddenly feeling awkward as I take a sip of my beer. But Logan doesn’t let it go.

“Look, I can show you the missed call. Just tell me what they wanted.”

He sounds almost desperate.

“Stone proposed. They’re getting married.”

Chapter 5

Logan

It’s a good damn thing I’m sitting down. I wish I could hide my reaction better, but just coming off seven days on, I don’t have any energy left to pretend.

“Hey, are you okay?” Chase asks, the concern in his voice almost breaking me.

“I’m gonna need more beer,” I reply, draining the glass in front of me.

“What’s going on? You’ve gone totally pale.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I deadpan, hating that Chase is on the receiving end of my instant bad mood.

“Maybe to someone who knows you, but I’ve only talked to you twice before now,” he reminds me.

“Right.” That actually makes this worse. I had zero plans to dump my personal baggage on Chase tonight. Flagging down our waiter, I ask for another beer before turning my attention back to Chase. “I’m in love with Stone. Have been for a long-ass time. It’s why I left Ricochet when he and Hanlon got together.” Saying the words out loud tears a new hole through my heart.

The poor thing has taken a beating lately.

Chase’s eyes grow wide.

“Oh, fuck.”

My lips roll in as I try to breathe through my pain before managing to whisper, “Yeah.”

Chase is a big dude. He’s several inches taller than me and broad-shouldered with a stocky, muscular build. He covers half my forearm with one of his giant hands, attempting to console me.

“Bro, I’m so sorry. If I had known, I wouldn’t have just blurted it out like an idiot.”

I shake my head.

“It’s not your fault. It isn’t like I advertised. Except to Stone,” I quickly correct with a snort. “Who knew, and still wouldn’t give me the time of day, even though he relied on me for literally every aspect of our lives out there. We made a great team.” The bitterness in my voice is unmistakable.

Silence descends over our table while Chase tries to find the right words, though there aren’t any.

“That just means your guy is still out there,” Chase finally says. It’s clear my being gay doesn’t upset him in the slightest. Why would it? I ask myself. He’s Hanlon’s best friend. “You’re too young and too hot to give up,” he continues.

I decide my only course of action is to deflect with a joke—something that once came so easily to me.

“Are you suggesting you find me attractive, Chase?” I ask half-heartedly.

Chase actually leans back, letting his eyes rake over me before cocking his head to the side.

“You’re not half bad…for a tatted, bad-ass pilot,” he says with a perfectly straight, brilliantly white smile.

I scoff and shake my head, feeling childish for the egotistical statement I made earlier. But the smile that crosses my lips is genuine for the first time in a long time, so I don’t feel too bad for baiting him.

“That was a stupid thing for me to say, since you’re right. I’m clearly not everyone’s type,” I concede.

Chase downs another loaded potato skin, making the most obscene groan before dunking a fried pickle in dressing and handing it to me.