Page 2 of Chasing Infinity

"I'll get that right in for you," she says briskly. She spins on her heel and heads to the back. With her exit, she leaves me to my own devices. As she walks away, I watch her go, a familiar constriction forming around my heart. My hand unconsciously rubs on my sternum to ease some of the ache.

Addison Parks was the greatest thing to happen and not happen to me. We could have had it all together, but it wasn't the right time. I ended up leaving Willow Heights, and she was supposed to pursue her dreams elsewhere. Yet here she is, standing in front of me.

My eyes roam around the quaint little diner, and as I look around, my memory jogs. I remember that this was the exact storefront that used to be Parks' parents' café once upon a time. My deductive skills fill in the blanks, and I determine she must have bought out the space and made it her own.

It's small, but there are enough tables to keep the staff busy. It has that classy hometown atmosphere. The employees look energetic and happy to be there. They greet every customer by name as they walk through the door.

One of the other workers delivers my breakfast a few minutes later. I thank them before digging in, not remembering when I last had a serving of French Toast this delicious. Addison comes over again as I finish up, bracing a black square bucket on her hip that's half full of dirty dishes. I raise an eyebrow at her as she stares at me.

"I was sorry to hear about your mom," Addison says carefully after an awkward moment of ogling at me as if she can't believe I'm truly right in front of her. I can tell she's uncomfortable at how distant we are, not sure how to approach the conversation. Well, that makes two of us, sweetheart. "I didn't even realize that she was…."

"Suicidal?" I fill in for her, chuckling humorlessly under my breath. "Me neither, but I can't say it's out of character, given who she was married to."

Addison's dark eyebrows pull in at the middle as she frowns, unsure how to respond. "But even so, I know your mom means a lot to you."

"She does."

"Charlie told me," she informs me. "He was the one who got called onto the scene first. He said he tried everything to resuscitate her but—"

"Yeah," I reply and shift in my seat, the wooden chair putting uncomfortable pressure on my low back.

Jesus H. Christ, get me out of this conversation.

I glance around the diner, searching for something to comment on to move off this topic. I clear my throat when I find nothing worth talking about. "Well, this has been… I'm not sure. But I need to go. Maybe we can catch up another time."

I don't mean to brush her off, but I know it is likely how my brusque tone translates for her. God, that's the last thing I'd ever want to do, but distance is my friend now. I have to keep my mind on my reason for being here. I can't let myself fall back into old habits. If I did, I'd never leave this diner again—or her.

"Oh," Addison says, the brightness in her eyes dimming slightly.

"I have a meeting with Sullivan to talk about—you know," I inform her, surveying her.

The brightness slowly returns when she realizes that I'm not trying to jump ship on her again. "Are you going to be staying long?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't decided yet." I sigh and rub the back of my neck, meeting her eyes and shrugging a shoulder.

"Okay," she responds, clearly unsure what else to say, her eyes tracking my every movement as I ball up my napkin and drop it on the empty plate. "Can I get you anything else before you go?"

"I'm good, Parks. Thank you, though." I stand up and brush off my jeans, reaching into my back pocket for my wallet. "How much do I owe you?"

Parks is still staring at me with her wide hazel eyes as she waves her hand in a blow-off manner. "It's fine. It's on me today."

"You don't have to do that," I argue.

"We're friends, Noah. And this is my diner. I can do what I want."

"Thank you," I shoot her a grin as I head toward the door. I raise my hand in her direction before I leave. "I'll see you around, yeah?"

Addison presses her lips together, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head at me. "Yeah, I'll see you around. Bye, Noah."

* * *

"Sully!" I shout as I throw open the front door to the Sheriff's department. "Get your ass out here."

I hear a scuffle in the other room. Charlie fucking Sullivan walks out holding—and I'm not even making this shit up—a glazed chocolate doughnut and a to-go cup of what I'm assuming was coffee. The coffee has theSunny Side Up Dinerlogo pasted on the side, and I realize he got it from Addison's diner. I try to school my features as best as possible, remaining impassive. Still, despite my best efforts, I'm sure my upper lip curls into the signature sneer I reserve just for Charlie Sullivan.

Sullivan raises his eyebrows in surprise and struggles to gulp down his massive bite of doughnut. "Lockwood, you're here."

I hold up the folded business card in my hand. "You rang?"

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