Page 93 of Chasing Infinity

“Good,” Eli scowls, and I glare back at him. “What? I don’t mean anything by it. I think you could do better than that scumbag. He’s such a freaking jerk. I can’t understand how anyone would want to be friends with him.”

Eli’s words unsettle me, and I spear a piece of pasta with my fork. I don’t bother telling him I consider Noah one of my friends now. Heaven forbid I do that, and he turns on me too. Not to mention the fact that Eli and I are not together anymore. He shouldn’t have any say in who I date. Or who I don’t date, for that matter. I certainly have said nothing to him about who he’s making out with in between classes.

I somehow manage to keep my cool for the rest of the day after the intervention at lunch. My friends continue to make brief comments here and there about me hanging out with Noah, ‘the enemy,’ but I don’t let it phase me. Grace is all aboard the Noah/Addison train, but Charlie and Eli both greatly oppose the notion.

I stick to my guns, saying the idea is ridiculous, and leave it at that.

After a day like today, relief courses through my muscles when the last bell rings, releasing us for the afternoon. I pack up my things and say a quick goodbye to my friends before leaving campus and going directly to my parents’ café.

“Hey, Dad!” I call out when I enter the café through the back.

“Hey, Sweet Pea!” he answers back. “I’m in the front.”

I wander from the back storeroom to the front counter where my dad is restocking the coffee cups and lids. A grin lights up his face when he sees me and sets everything down to wrap me in a hug. My arms tighten around his waist, and I breathe him in—he smells like coffee and caramel, the perfect blend.

“How was school?” he asks, letting me go to resume his task.

I hop up onto the counter and watch him. “It was fine, just another school day. I only have a little homework to do tonight.”

My dad looks up at me and smiles again. His eyes crinkle at the corners, proof of a life full of laughter. “Well, you better get to it then, chop-chop!”

I laugh at him and then get down off the counter, grabbing my backpack and walking over to one table near the counter so I can still be close if he needs my help.

The café is quiet today. There aren’t any customers, which makes it the perfect time to knock out the rest of my assignments. I settle into my seat and get to work. Almost thirty minutes pass without interruption, but it’s short-lived.

“Addison, maybe you should go in the back,” my dad’s deep voice pulls me from the chapter I’m reading. I look up at him and find his attention on something out the window. Following his gaze, I notice the powerful figure of the mayor walking towards our café. Before I can rebut my father’s request, he orders, “Now.”

I gather up my homework and run behind the counter towards the back room. Confusion takes over because I’ve had my fair share of interactions with the mayor before. I don’t know why today is so different that I can’t be around. I set my stuff on the counter in the back and then tiptoe towards the doorframe so I can peek around and hear the conversation.

The bell above the door jingles, and I hear heavy footsteps on the wooden floor. “Mr. Mayor,” my father’s voice greets. “What can I get for you today?”

“Pretty quiet in here, Parks. I would have expected more of a crowd,” the mayor responds with a snide undertone, noting the lack of customers in the café. “How is business going?”

“Just fine, sir. Is there anything I can get started for you?” my dad asks again.

I peer around the door frame and see the mayor standing in front of the counter, his hands folded behind his back as he peruses the menu. “I’m actually here to speak with you. It appears I couldn’t have timed it any better as this is somewhat of a private matter.”

I look at my dad, and he stiffens. “A private matter?”

The mayor reaches for a business card from the register and runs his finger over the edge. “I’ve heard from a little birdie that you’re not the humble café owner you claim to be. I say we cut all the pleasantries and get to the point, Agent.”

“Those records are private,” my father growls at the mayor.

“Well, when you’re a man of my level of influence, red tape is a mere nuisance more than anything. You’ll understand when I say that I have men invery high places, Mr. Parks.”

My dad responds, but I can’t hear him over the blood pounding in my ears. My fight-or-flight response kicks in, and I choose to fly. I sprint towards the back door, passing through it into the alley behind the café. My feet pound against the cement as I run around the building toward the park. In the back of my mind, I remember my conversation with Noah from earlier and recall that he said he’d be at the bridge this afternoon. As I get closer, I can see his posse of three sitting on their bridge like they do almost every day and a slight sense of relief floods me. I barely register that this might be the first time I’ve ever felt grateful that Noah’s right in front of me.

Noah sees me running towards them and stands up right away, Jordan and Caleb following his lead. I recognize the concern written across his face. “Noah!” I gasp as I close the distance between us. His arms outstretch on instinct, and he clasps his hands on my shoulders when I stop in front of him.

His alarmed eyes scan my body, checking for any injury. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

“Your father—” I gasp and bend over, trying to catch my breath from running so fast. I’m so out of shape.

Noah’s hands tighten on my arms, and a thunderous expression crosses his face. “What did he do?”

“He’s talking to my dad. He knows—”

“Knows what Parks?”

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