Page 63 of Chasing Infinity

“Okay, well…I guess I’ll try and come by at a better time so we can talk. I’m really sorry about the other day. I don’t know what came over me.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “You were acting like a jealous idiot. That’s what came over you. I don’t care about the history between you and Noah, but I won’t have you coming into my home and attacking him. Is that clear?”

“Yes, I messed up, I know. I just want things to go back to how they were.”

“That’s impossible, Eli. I’m with Noah now.”

“I mean as friends. I want to be your friend again.”

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “We’ll talk later, okay? Maybe we should get Charlie to mediate, but I promise we’ll duke it out at some point.”

“I guess that’s all I can ask for.”

“That’s all youbetterask for right now, Eli,” I tell him warningly. He’s still my best friend, but I’ve had it up to here with him for the time being.

“Okay, I got it. We’ll talk soon,” he scoots out of his chair and heads towards the door, throwing me one last glance over his shoulder. His expression falls when he notices I haven’t moved from my position, then he tosses me an awkward wave and leaves.

I nearly slump with exhaustion as soon as he’s gone. I’m going to need a big glass of wine and a hot bubble bath at the end of this ridiculous day. Rubbing at my forehead, I turn away from the front, deciding I need to spend the rest of the day in my office after all. I give a brisk nod at one of my workers, who’s staring at me like I’ve grown two heads.

Just another day.

When I walk towards the back, I hear a pair of voices discussing something back and forth. I step closer, catching sight of Jack talking to one of our other newer employees. I stop before I get too close, my mind darting to my thought process from earlier as I listen and gauge how he’s handling whatever he’s handling.

“Maybe next time, just try it how I just taught you. I promise you’ll have better results, okay?”

“Okay,” the young girl says sheepishly. “Thanks, Jack.”

“Anytime. Now get back to work,” he teases. She scurries off, and then Jack turns around, startling when he sees me standing there. A wry grin settles on his face. “Were you spying on me, boss?”

“Maybe a little,” I say with a laugh. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Is it about Grace?” he beats me to the punch.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Yes, I guess she told you?” He nods his head, and I exhale sharply. “Well, then I guess you know what kind of pickle we’re in. I need a new assistant manager.”

“Do you want me to write up an ad that we can put out?”

“Actually, I was wondering if you would want it?”

Jack pauses as if he’s registering my words, and then his eyes light up as he grins widely at me. “I’ll take it. No need to ask twice. When do I start?”

“How about ten minutes ago? I know you basically know everything already but get together with Grace a few times over the next few weeks and make sure we’re not missing anything. I’ll get your raise in for you as of today.”

“A raise?” he asks hopefully.

I step up and put my hand on his arm. “Of course, Jack. You’ve saved my ass more times than I can count, and this is a huge step up for you. You deserve it.”

My new assistant manager wraps me in a tight hug. “Thank you, Addie. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to the back and bang my head against the wall.”

* * *

The rest of the day passes in a chaotic blur. I spend hours putting out the subsequent fires that come with my partner leaving. In some consolation, it’s helpful knowing that I still have two weeks left with her to smooth out the rest of the kinks.

But still, my heart feels heavy as I leave the diner for the day. Jack offers to close for me tonight, and I take him up on the offer immediately, knowing that I need to go home and decompress before Noah gets home. The apartment is quiet when I step in. I glance at the clock on the microwave and see that it’s just past six-thirty. I’ve probably just missed him. It’s almost too quiet with him not here.

Now that Noah’s been living here with me, I’m not used to being alone. I’ll admit that it’s nice knowing that there’s someone else in the house. Especially now that he’s been sleeping with me in my room for the last few nights, the sense of loneliness that I had grown so accustomed to is long gone, and I hope it stays that way.

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