Alex looked away momentarily. He might be a doctor, but he had never been a fan of seeing needles stuck into himself. "I'm just looking for contentment," he admitted wryly. "But that seems about as manageable as finding the Holy Grail. I know it takes a lot of balls and courage to stay friends with someone you used to love. But it helps you cherish them even more that they could still stay in your life."

He raised his eyebrows a little. Chase had always just been known as Chase. Of course everyone knew his full name, it was plastered on the door of his office, but Alex had never heard him correct anyone from addressing him by his surname before and there was something that told him that meant a lot. "Rob," he repeated in a murmur. "Why me, though? You could have anyone. Within reason, of course. Anyone you felt could handle all your baggage, which you've told me yourself."