Page 111 of Asystole

Hanlon looks at me over Chase’s shoulder with narrowed eyes.

“Logan, I hope you’ll forgive me, but I’ve gotta ask. Is this payback for Stone? Because I’ll kick your ass even in this tux I’m wearing.”

Anger flashes through me, but it’s quickly replaced with understanding. Hanlon is concerned for his best friend, and this all happened so recently that I don’t think Chase has even had a chance to tell him about Kendra, let alone our new relationship status. Not to mention, Hanlon did catch me kissing Stone once, and my intentions were certainly not honorable.

“Absolutely not,” I say, my words full of confidence. “Chase can catch you up later, but don’t you have some vows to say?”

Hanlon’s eyes shine with tears of joy as he nods.

Chase comes back and gives me a quick peck on the lips.

“I’ll see you at the reception.”

Chase follows Hanlon from the room, and I make my way to my seat.

Stone and Hanlon look great together, but neither holds a candle to my boyfriend.

Chapter 40

Chase

Watching Logan face Stone without flinching, stand up to my dad, and own his shit in front of Hanlon has been the hottest, most inspiring thing I’ve ever witnessed… well, besides every time I get to watch him land the helicopter.

As I stand behind Hanlon on the platform, in full support of his love for Stone, and hear them commit themselves to each other, something unlocks in my chest.

The realization that, come what may, I’m doing it. I’m making my own way. My parents, their rules, their opinions, and their money be damned.

I don’t want to be a trauma surgeon, and if it means I have to start residency over next year, so be it. Better than trying to make the switch four years in, or worse, suffering through thirty-five years of practice in a field I don’t even enjoy.

Logan was right.

Trauma makes me dead inside.

Surgery takes more out of me than I have to offer. My heart is with those kids. The kids who need physicians who have hope for them and are passionate about not only their survival but their ability to enjoy childhood. I want to focus on making them better so they can focus on being a kid.

It’s time I make my own decisions. Including who I want to be with and what that looks like. I want to share my life with Logan. I want to fall asleep next to him every night. I want him to distract me from my bad days and celebrate with me on the good ones.

I don’t want my life to revolve around being a surgeon.

I want to have fun again; I want to love; I want passion and excitement in all areas of my life, and I can’t believe it took me until now to realize all of that has been missing.

As soon as we’re done with pictures following the ceremony, I race toward the main ballroom. It’s not extremely large, but it suits the venue perfectly.

Logan is seated at a table with a couple guys I recognize from that terrifying night in Ricochet, and my heart leaps into my throat, thinking about how close I came to losing him before I even had him.

Reaching the table, I realize I have no idea what I’m doing, but I can’t stop.

Grabbing his hand, I pull him to stand.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to you. Now.”

“Yeah, sure. What’s wrong?” Logan says, following me from the table.

I don’t even take him somewhere private. We’re just standing along the back wall as people fill plates, grab drinks from the bar, and eagerly await the arrival of the newlyweds.

“Chase? What’s going on?” Logan asks again, concern flaring in his voice.

Crowding him with my body, as my right shoulder and his left are braced against the wall, I let the truth fly freely.