Page 13 of Chasing Infinity

I nod my head, making a mental note. “Do you need anything from me?”

“No, Noah, I’ve been handling things without you for quite some time, if you’ve forgotten. I just need you to show up and not cause any trouble. I assume you’ll take off again once everything is said and done?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I see. Well, just stay out of my way while you’re here,” my father says, throwing back the rest of his drink and standing. “We both remember what happened the last time you crossed me. I don’t believe you’d like a repeat of events.”

I stand up as well, following his lead. I roll my shoulders back and tilt my head up, pretending that his words do not affect me. “Is that a threat?”

“Oh no, Son.” Slowly, his lips pull up into a sinister smirk that has goosebumps forming on the back of my neck. His expression screams danger and every instinct in me tells me to run far away from him. But I stay steady. “It’s a promise.”

Chapter 4

Addison

Saturday morning kicks off like any other. I stick to my same routine, going for a jog first to get my blood pumping, then cleaning up before heading down to help Jack open the diner up. Weekends are typically busier than weekdays since more people have time to have a leisurely breakfast instead of eating on the go. The regulars come in, happy to see us and receive their breakfasts. Everything runs smoothly, like a well-oiled machine.

It’s a typical morning until it isn’t.

The chime above the diner door rings. I look up initially with a welcoming smile. It leaves my face as soon as I set eyes on my newest patron, my spine straightening and my stomach sinking as he walks closer. “Mr. Mayor,” I say in surprise. “What can I do for you?”

Declan McCoy struts into my diner as if he owns the place, his unmistakable air of confidence following him like a storm cloud. “Ms. Parks, so lovely to see you. It’s been a while since I’ve visited your…quaint little diner. I just thought I’d pop in and say hello.”

“I’m so happy you did,” I say, making sure that outwardly I sound much more thrilled about my newest guest than I do on the inside. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“I’ll take a coffee. Black, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Like your soul, Declan.“Of course, sir. Coming right up.”

I turn on my heel and grab a to-go cup to fill with coffee. No way am I giving this guy a dine-in mug so he can stick around and torment me any longer than he needs to. All of my previous experiences with the mayor have been less than favorable. We have a quiet agreement that I stay out of his way, and he doesn’t bother me. It’s no secret that he’s aware of my history with his son; how could it be? But he has never brought it up in the years that Noah’s been gone. Until he does, I certainly won’t either.

As soon as the cup is full of hot coffee, I find a sleeve, slide it on, and secure a lid on top. I gently push the cup across the counter to the mayor. “Here you are, have a nice day.”

“Actually, Ms. Parks, there was something else I was hoping to discuss with you. Business-related. Is there somewhere we could go that would be more, eh—” he looks around the diner and crinkles his nose in mock disgust. “Professional to talk?”

I can’t help but cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at him, getting a little defensive. This man is something else, walking intomydiner with an arsenal full of back-handed compliments. “This will be fine. What did you want to discuss?”

He purses his lips in displeasure before dipping his chin and sliding into what must be his business mode. Though, to be fair, I wouldn’t know the difference. As I said, I tried to stay far away from him. “As you know, my late wife’s funeral is Monday, and I was—Oh, you didn’t know.”

I must have appeared taken off guard, which I was. I hadn’t heard any of Mrs. McCoy’s funeral arrangement plans yet. I swiftly school my facial expression.

“I thought for sure my son would have told you,” he hums to himself while watching me with slightly amused eyes. This man was a sly fox. “Well, that’s neither here nor there. As I was saying, her funeral is Monday at eleven. I was hoping to speak with you to see if you’d be willing to prepare and serve a meal here afterward.”

“Me?”

Declan raises an eyebrow and looks around the diner. “I don’t see any other small restaurant owner around here. Yes, you have the space and the menu. I thought you might be interested in doing your civic duty and helping your poor, grieving mayor. It certainly would be one less thing I’d have to worry about while burying my wife.”

His words leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I force myself to swallow it away. I’m tempted to inquire what game he’s playing at, but I refrain, fully aware that’s exactly what he wants. Declan McCoy is a snake who enjoys the chase. Instead, I nod my head and plaster on a smile. “I think I can do that. Is there anything, in particular, you’d like me to serve? And are you hoping for a buffet-style or full service?”

“My, my, you are quite the businesswoman, aren’t you?” he observes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll leave the decisions on the menu to your discretion, but I think I would prefer having buffet style. That way, people can come and pay their respects to me, get some food, and then leave.”

“Okay, I can definitely do that.”

“Thank you, Ms. Parks, and thank you for the coffee on the house. It really means a lot to me,” he says snidely, raising his cup in the air at me in a mock toast before turning on his heel and strutting out of my diner.

I scowl in his wake, feeling the aftermath of his presence crawl over my skin. Jack comes up next to me and clicks his tongue. “That man is a real piece of work. I have no idea how he keeps getting reelected.”

“Because the people in this town buy right into his stupid charade. They don’t actually know him or know what he’s capable of,” I mutter as I stomp over to the register and grab a notepad. “Well, now my day just got a lot more hectic. Did you hear everything he said?”

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