Page 16 of Chasing Infinity

“I wish there was something I could do.”

She pauses and looks down at the cushions we’re sitting on. “Doesn’t this couch pull out? Like it’s got a bed inside of it?”

I stare at her warily as I reply, “Yes.”

“Solution found,” Grace says with a wink, and I gape at her.

“You want me to let Noah sleephere?”

“Why not?”

“You know why not! He’s my ex-whatever. I can’t share an apartment with him!” I’m still going back and forth on what to call Noah. My ex-lover, maybe? He was my boyfriend for maybe five minutes before everything went to shit, and he jumped town. It took us a long time to even get to “almost.” I had a hard time letting go of the friendship we had developed, even though every part of me wanted more with him. Noah might’ve been the one for me, but it was just the wrong timing.

“I think that’s all the more reasontooffer him the place to stay,” Grace says compassionately. “You never know what it might lead to.”

I frown at my friend. “Noah was clear when he left me that note in New York. He told me that we couldn’t be together. It couldn’t be him, not yet.”

“Well then, maybe you just need to show him that he was wrong, hm? Or show him that the time is now.”

I get the idea that she’s going to argue about any other point I bring up, so I turn away and take a sip out of my wine glass. “I’ll think about it. It doesn’t seem like a good idea, though.”

“Babes, trust me. I’ve seen how you perk up every time his name comes up in conversation or how your cheeks have been bright red the entire time we’ve discussed him—and no, I don’t think it’s from the wine. You and Noah are supposed to be together. I know it, he knows it, you know it. We just have to get the ball rolling.”

“If I offer him a place to stay, that’s not what my intention is going to be,” I protest. “I’m with Eli, and I’m happy with him.”

“Are you?”

“Grace!” I snap at her. “Please, stop meddling. Listen, if I let myself get attached to Noah again while he’s here—for his mom’s funeral, I might add, nothing permanent—and then he leaves me again, I don’t think I could survive it. So please, justhear mewhen I say I need to keep a safe distance from him.”

“Fine, fine. I hear you. I won’t meddle—too much, at least. I’ve always had to meddle a little bit when it comes to you two.”

I roll my eyes and take another sip.

“You could let him sleep here, though. I’m sure he’d rather sleep on your couch than in a car,” Grace says softly.

“He has other friends, you know. What about Jordan or Caleb? I’m sure they have couches.”

“Maybe, but do you really think Noah would willingly impose himself on his friends? You told meyousawhimsleeping in his car.”

I turn my gaze back to her and purse my lips. “Yeah, that’s true. But to be fair, I’m not sure if I even know Noah anymore.”

“But you did know him once. And I’ve never known you not to help someone who’s important to you and in need.”

She’s right. My best friend has me pegged. Generally speaking, I’m about as hospitable as they come. I guess that’s partly to blame for the homey feeling my diner took on since day one. I love helping people. It’s what I do best. “You’re not going to let this go easily, are you?” I ask her, swirling my wine around in my glass.

“Probably not,” Grace responds with a wink.

I place my wine on the table with a sigh, then cover my face with my hands. “I just really don’t think it’s a good idea. Noah’s probably only going to be in town for the funeral tomorrow, and then he’ll leave again.”

Grace raises one hand in surrender. “Hey, it was just a suggestion. If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.”

“I hate you, you know that?”

My friend throws her head back with a laugh and scoots closer to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder, pulling me into her, and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Well, I love you!”

I laugh under my breath and hug her back, glad that my best friend is home. Grace has been my rock and stronghold through some of the most challenging moments in my life. Despite her pushing and insisting, Willow Heights is always a little darker when Grace is not here.

Chapter 5

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