Page 61 of Chasing Infinity

When enough time has passed that I can justify getting ready, I drag myself off the couch and into the shower, turning it as high as I can tolerate it. I let the hot water cascade over me in an attempt to soothe some of the pent-up tension in my shoulders, but it’s no use. I can’t fight off this feeling that something will happen tonight.

There’s no going back now.

When I’m ready, I go downstairs, not bothering to check in with Addison. I told her I’d see her right after, and I don’t want to worry her with my apparent nerves. Instead, I go straight to my car, taking a deep breath before starting it up and driving off towards my father’s house. I’m not sure what I will be walking into tonight, but I’ll be on guard. He won’t get one over on me that easily. This showdown has been coming for years, and if he wants to up the ante, I’ll be ready.

Chapter 16

Addison

Aknock on my office door has me looking up from the inventory reports I’m going over. I’ve been trying my best to distract myself from thinking about Noah today. He was visibly shaken before he left the diner this morning, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.

Grace standing in front of me, a sheepish smile on her face. Her knuckles are poised to knock on the door again.

“Sorry, am I interrupting anything? I was hoping I could talk to you about something, but if you’re busy—”

I blink at her and then set the report down on my desk. “Of course not, come in.” Grace steps into the office and closes the door behind her. I frown, immediately picking up on the vibe that this isn’t going to be one of our girly chats—this is business. “Is everything okay?”

“Well, I guess that depends on how you take what I’m about to tell you.” Grace sits down in the spare chair I have and pulls it closer towards my desk, so we’re facing one another.

“Is it your grandma? Or someone else?”

“No, nothing like that. I um—” Grace pauses and presses her lips together as if she’s trying to think of the best words.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me, Grace. You know I’ll always be here for you.”

“You might hate me after this,” she says hesitantly. “But I’ll just get it over with, like ripping a bandaid off.”

I purse my lips together, waiting for her to continue. She takes a deep breath and then squares her shoulders, looking me straight in the eyes.

“Addison, I want to start my own business, which means I’m leaving.”

I’m not sure what I expected to come out of my best friend’s mouth, but it certainly wasn’t that. I blink at her once, twice, then nod my head slipping my business woman mask on. “How soon will you leave?” I ask her, my heart constricting at the thought of not getting to see my best friend at work every day.

Grace’s eyes hold mine as she hesitates for a moment but then chalks up the courage to drop the bomb. “This is my two-week notice.”

I’m struck speechless for a moment. I was hoping for more time. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry, Addie.”

“Don’t be. You need to do what’s best for you. I’m just surprised, is all,” I say, looking down, shuffling the papers on my desk, and trying to reign in all my emotions. I need to be the boss right now, not just Addison.

“I’m sorry,” she says again. “I’ve just had this dream for a while now, and I’ve been trying to squash it and convince myself that I’m in the best place possible—which I am, don’t get me wrong, I love working with you.”

“I’m sensing abutcoming….” I say softly.

Grace’s face falls, and she looks down at her lap. “But I want to be successful in my own right. I want to build something like you have, something to be proud of. And the opportunity just kind of fell in my lap.”

“How so?”

She looks up at me again, her warm brown eyes sad. “There’s a little shop a few blocks down that just went up for lease. Newly renovated, exactly what I wanted, so I jumped on it. Signed the papers last night.”

“Well, congratulations,” I tell her, forcing a smile on my face. I’m happy for her, really, but sad at the same time that I’m losing my partner. “What kind of business are you going to open?”

“I want to make it into a cozy coffee shop, but more than that. It will have a variety of other drinks like herbal teas and specialty coffees. And I might add in a little sales part that’s more homemade goods.”

“That sounds lovely, Grace,” I say, and I mean it.

“You think?”

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