Page 76 of Asystole

“No!” I yell again, laughing harder. “Come on, the wedding is in early April. At best it’s going to be in the low-fifties here, and you know it’s going to be raining every day. We’ll make the quick trip to Vermont, say our congratulations, close some doors, get plastered at their open bar, and then get the hell out of the country for a few days.” When Logan finally looks like he’s starting to take me seriously, I really try to paint a picture for him, waving my hands in front of us like I’m magically revealing the image that’s in my head. “Picture it. Crystal-clear water, temps in the eighties, an adults-only resort, piña coladas at a swim-up bar, and some crazy-ass excursions that make us want to kiss U.S. soil by the time we get back home.”

I see the wheels turning in his head and smile when he finally says, “Fuck it. I’m in.”

“Yes!” I drum my hands on his thigh in my excitement, and he catches my wrist, making me go still.

“But you need to do something for me before then,” Logan says.

“Okay,” I agree easily.

“Regardless of your stance on men, you need to figure your shit out with Kendra by the time we leave. If I’m going to commit to closing the chapter with Stone, you need to figure out if you’re all in with her or if that chapter also needs closure.”

I nod, knowing he’s right.

Things haven’t felt right with Kendra for several months now, and it’s time to address it. This state of limbo is brutal, and I need to either shit or get off the pot, as my father says.

“Deal.”

Chapter 29

Logan

My anxiety rises as Stone and Hanlon’s wedding date looms closer. When I sent in my RSVP, I thought I was going to throw up, but dammit, this needs to end.

On a positive note, ever since my over-the-top demonstration highlighting that Chase may not be as straight as he thinks he is, he’s been more aware of his word choice and my physical boundaries, because not only did my little performance confirm that he finds me attractive, but the hard-on I couldn’t hide in my sweats also made him painfully aware that I’m not immune to him, either.

And since he’s still working through his feelings for Kendra and the possibility that maybe his sea of options is larger than he originally thought, he and I have kept things friendly, but not flirtatious.

We’ve found common ground and a respect for one another that could only occur once the hard conversations were had and things were out in the open. Though I can’t help but feel like we’ve grown closer in spite of it all.

I have one more week of night shift before we leave for the wedding and our trip, and then I get to switch back to day shift, so all in all, things are really looking up for me.

It’s two in the afternoon, and Chase is at the hospital, of course, but he took the lunch I packed for him, and he left me another sticky note of gratitude. I’ve decided to avoid asking any questions about where things stand with Kendra until we’re in the car on our way to the wedding. Regardless of Chase’s choice, I need this closure with Stone, but I already know if Chase is choosing to stay with Kendra, it’ll be a double shot straight to the heart, and I’m just not sure that’s survivable.

An image of chumming my wetsuit before jumping in for a shark dive enters my mind, and although I’m not serious, the thought makes me laugh.

It’d be a helluva story, even though I wouldn’t be here to tell it.

I’m humming a new release by Beautiful Deceit, one of my favorite bands, as I move clothes from the washer to the dryer when I’m interrupted by a knock on the front door.

I give it a minute, thinking whoever it is will go away when their knock goes unanswered. Solicitors aren’t common in this complex, but we get them every now and then.

No luck.

The knock comes again, more aggressively this time.

Fine. We’ll do this your way.

I toss the clothes into the dryer before ripping the door open with a rude, “What?”

“Hi. Is Chase here?” the petite blonde with bouncy curls says in a tone as rude as mine.

“Not at the moment,” I reply, not giving her any information.

“Well, can I come in and wait for him? I’ve had a really long day.”

“That depends,” I say. “Who the hell are you?” I ask.

“Oh, geez. I’m sorry. I’m Kendra. His girlfriend. Like I said, really long day. I was hoping to surprise him, but my flight got delayed, and then the airline lost part of my luggage. It’s been an ordeal.”