Page 17 of Asystole

“Well, it’s a damn good thing we’re friends now because you’ve been missing out,” Chase says with a smile as we pull into the crowded lot of the gym.

“Whoa, is it always packed like this?” I ask.

“In the colder months, yes,” Chase says, throwing his Wrangler into park.

He grabs a bag out of the back and locks the SUV as we make our way up the sidewalk.

“I did mention that I’ve never done this before, right?”

Chase slings a heavy arm across my shoulders. He pulls me against him, and the heat from his body warms my own.

“Don’t be nervous. I’ve got you, Buttercup.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” I joke.

Chase pulls the door open and has me fill out the waiver as he pays the fee to use the climbing wall.

“Hey, Chase!” a guy greets as he comes around the corner of the gym into the lobby and slaps hands with Chase, pulling him in for a pat on the back. “It’s been a while, man.”

“Yeah, work, you know?” Chase responds.

“You solo tonight?” the guy asks.

“Nah, brought my buddy with me,” he says, clamping his giant hands down onto my shoulders. I totally mess up my signature, but I don’t really think they look at these things too closely.

“Cam, this is my friend, Logan. Logan, this is Cameron. He’s one of the instructors here.”

I shake hands with the guy as Chase leaves his left hand on my shoulder, basically draping that arm across me.

“Are you just wrapping up?” Chase asks Cameron. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a tone of hopefulness in his voice.

“Nope. Just getting started.”

“Right,” Chase says with a nod. “Well, see you in there.”

Cameron slaps me on the chest, and I swear I feel Chase’s fingers dig into my shoulder.

“Nice to meet you,” he says.

Once we’re in the main gym, I follow Chase to a spot in the corner where he sets his bag down, drops to his knees, and begins taking out two harnesses, a helmet, and what look like bags of chalk.

“You’re free to make your own friends,” he says, laying his gear out. “But that guy always rubs me the wrong way. He’s a know-it-all, and he’s a little too handsy with everybody.”

My eyes widen.

“What? You mean the King of Cuddles does not, in fact, want physical affection from everyone?”

“Not when the affection is directed at my dick without my permission,” he mumbles, making me drop to my knees next to him.

“The fuck? Chase, are you saying that guy assaulted you?” I ask, suddenly more worked up than I’ve been in a long time.

Chase shrugs.

“I’m just saying I’ve done a thousand harness checks over the years, and I’ve never once accidentally touched anyone’s dick, so I’m not sure how his hand ended up around mine.”

“Dude, I’m sorry. Was that recent?”

“Nah, it’s been several months. I stopped coming for a while because work got busy, so I just never made an issue out of it. But enough about that. Just, you know, don’t let him get too close.”