Page 145 of Chasing Infinity

Everything will be fine. Right?

It’s going to be fine.

“Hey,” I hear a deep voice say, pulling me out of my spiral, then a big hand rests on my shoulder. I glance at Charlie standing over me, his azure eyes concerned as he looks me over. He’s wearing a dark blue polo with khaki pants. His black duty belt is slung across his hips. “Maybe you should go home and get some rest.”

I shake my head vehemently. “I want to be here when he wakes up.”

“Addie—” Charlie starts and then pauses. “Look, you’ve had a long few hours and an even longer night before this. Just go home, take a hot shower and relax a little bit.”

“I can’t.”

Charlie doesn’t like that answer, apparently. Before I know what’s happening, he’s got his hand hooked under my armpit and is dragging me away from Noah’s bedside. I squirm against him as he leads me closer to the doorway.

“Charlie!” I protest.

“Just calm down. You’re fine,” he tells me. Something in his tone has me believing him, and I stop my struggle. When I peer up at him, he’s frowning at me, the expression causing deep lines to form on his forehead. “Listen to me, Addison. I want you to take an hour or so and get out of here. I think you need a break.”

I shake my head again. “I don’t want to.”

Charlie exhales heavily and extends his arm to pull me into a hug. I rest my cheek against his chest, feeling the thick material of the bulletproof vest he’s wearing underneath his polo.

“I promise I’ll call you as soon as anything happens, but you really need to take some time for yourself. Get a coffee or whatever, please. You’ve been here all night, and I’m worried about you.”

With my cheek resting against him, I let his words sink in. Maybe he’s right. I don’t want to leave Noah’s side, but a part of me can recognize that Charlie is coming from a place of love and concern for me.

“The nurses said he should be waking up soon.”

“Fine,” Charlie says with a sigh, his hand rubbing my back. “Head down to the cafeteria for a few minutes at least.” His hand’s gentle movement and pressure suddenly bring to light the reminder that Ihavebeen up all night. My body aches with all the stress I’ve put it under the last few hours, and my eyes feel like they’re being held open with strips of Scotch tape.

“Okay, coffee does sound like a good idea,” I say. “You’ll call me if he wakes up?”

“I promise,” Charlie responds.

I give Noah one last lingering look before excusing myself into the hallway. A nurse passes by me and gives me a small wave.

My shoes echo through the hallways as I walk toward the elevator. As soon as it dings and the doors open, I step inside and lean against the side of the car, taking a few deep breaths. There’s a pressure against my chest that I just can’t get rid of. My nerves have been on edge ever since my phone call with Noah last night, and I just haven’t been able to settle them. I’m hoping Charlie was right, and a few minutes away from Noah’s room might help me get a grip.

The cafeteria is slim pickings, but I finally settle on a banana and a cup of hot black coffee. I grab a few small cups of creamer and a sweetener package and then find a table off to the side. The cafeteria eating area is bare, with only a few groups lingering about. I sit by myself and pull out my phone to check my messages.

I see one from Eli asking if everything’s going okay and to let him know if I need anything. Same from Grace, though hers has a bunch of heart emojis attached to the message. After taking a bite of my banana, I type out a response to both of them. Then I lean back in my chair, taking a few sips of my coffee and trying not to grimace at the bitter taste.

And I thoughtImade lousy coffee.

The break is helpful, and I feel the unease settle slightly. I focus on people watching, seeing families come, grab their snacks, and then return to go see their loved ones. I’m only down there for half an hour before my phone buzzes incessantly on the table.

As soon as I see Charlie’s name pop across the screen, I reach for it, swiping to answer the call immediately. “Charlie?”

“Addie, you should get back up here. Noah’s awake.”

Relief crashes through my entire body, and it’s as if the world’s weight is finally off my shoulders. I tell Charlie I’ll be right up and return to the elevators. My heart rate increases the closer I get to his room, and I think I might pass out from happiness when I make it back and see Noah sitting up in bed, talking to Charlie.

“Hey, Parks,” Noah croaks as soon as I enter the door frame. The sound of his pet name in his gruff voice reduces me to tears once more. Closing the distance between us, I throw myself at him—gently—and wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face into his skin. Noah repeatedly rubs his good hand up and down my back, murmuring, “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here,” to me until I manage to get ahold of myself.

When I finally blink away my tears, I pull back and shoot a glare over at Charlie. “I can’t believe you made me leave.”

My best friend holds his hands up in surrender. “Yeah, I’ll admit I shouldn’t have pushed you. I didn’t realize he would be waking up that soon.”

“I actually liked it,” Noah chimes in. His voice is scratchy, but when I look at him, I notice the mischievous gleam in his eye that is soNoah. “Want to come home with us and be my nurse, Sully? You might have missed your calling. We could even get you one of those cute white dresses they wear in the movies.”

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