Page 29 of Chasing Infinity

I let out an exasperated sigh. “It will always be Noah. And that’s the problem. It’s like when he left, he blew a hole in my heart, and it’s still a gaping wound that has never closed. It’s always there as if a piece of me is missing at all times.”

“Even now? After he’s been gone for so long?”

“Yes. Even more now, honestly. I’d be lying if I said otherwise.” I laugh humorlessly, running my finger over the rim of my glass of iced tea.

“Well, I guess some love never dies, you know?” Grace says gently.

“What do I do?” I plead with her, hoping that she’ll be able to give me the answer to this question that’s been burning in my mind ever since I ran into Noah for the first time at the diner. I’ve been trying my hardest to keep everything in order. But whenever Noah’s around, all my plans get blown to bits.

“What do you want to do?” she tosses back at me. I note the sparkle in her eye, proving that she had some sort of inkling that we’d be having this conversation eventually.

“I don’t know. I think that’s part of the problem. Noah doesn’t know what he wants either,” I laugh humorlessly. “Eli knows what he wants, though, so at least I always have that option.”

“Do you have a date with him tonight?” Grace asks. It’s Friday, and she knows Fridays I typically spend hanging out with Eli.

I lean my head down on the counter and groan. “Yes.” She chuckles and stands next to me, rubbing her hand over my back.

“I’m sure you’ll figure out the best way to handle things. You always do.”

“I’m glad you believe that,” I say and check the time on my phone. “We should probably get back to the diner to let the others have a break.”

We pay our checks and head back, taking our time strolling down the sidewalk. We arrive just as the lunch rush is winding down. The diner has only a few customers seated at tables. Jack is behind the counter, showing Noah how to use the milkshake machine. I can’t help the amused grin that takes over my face as I watch Noah listening intently to Jack’s instructions. Noah’s got his hands on his waist with his head bent slightly towards the machine, where Jack points out the different buttons and contraptions, teaching him the process.

“Am I going to have to put you on the payroll?” Grace asks Noah as we walk up to the counter. Noah turns his head and glances between me and Grace, an amused grin forming.

“I’m not sure how valuable an employee I’d be. I don’t think I’ll ever figure out how to work this thing.”

“It’s okay; none of us really know how to do it,” I tell him. Noah darts his gaze back over to me, his lips press into a thin line, and he nods his head at me but doesn’t say anything else. A sick feeling settles in my stomach at the distance that is still so apparent between us.

Grace raises her eyebrows at me, questioning the apparent snub from Noah. I grind my teeth together but leave it. If Noah wants to be crabby, then that’s on him. When he’s ready to talk, I’ll be waiting.

Deciding that I will not waste any more energy on this situation, I go into the back and grab my apron. I plan to focus on work to pass the time until my date with Eli this evening. I keep my head down and fall into the routine of my job.

Before I know it, the clock above the door reads five o’clock, and my date is arriving. The chimes ring as Eli walks in, exclaiming, “Hey, beautiful! Ready to go?”

I look up and smile at him, feeling Noah’s heavy gaze from across the room. He’s ignored me all day, but now his full attention is on me.

“Yes, just give me a moment!” I say as I untie my apron around my waist and rush it back to the stock room. When I turn around, Noah stands right in front of me, arms crossed. I mirror his positioning and glower at him. “You’re in my way.”

“You’ve barely talked to me in days, Parks. That’s what you’re going to start with?”

“I’ve barely talked toyou? I’ve been here all day with you, and you haven’t said a word. You’re the one who’s been treating me like a stranger!” I huff at him and mentally decide I’m not doing this right now. “I’m kind of in a hurry, Noah. Could you please move?”

He frowns at me. “No, we need to clear things up from our disagreement the other day.”

“Not now,” I mutter as I try and push past him, but he’s too big for me to manhandle.

“Parks,” he says my name in his deep voice, his hands grabbing hold of my arms and stopping me in my tracks. Electricity travels through my body from the point of contact. “Would you just look at me?”

With a notable sigh, I do as he asks. “What?”

Noah traces my face with his gaze as he restrains me in front of him. His eyes hold something behind them that I just don’t have the time to decipher. “Don’t go with him. We need to talk.”

“So now you want to talk? When I’m trying to leave? No, we can talk tomorrow, though I’m not sure we even have anything to talk about anymore.”

“I didn’t mean to ruin everything,” he says, and I’m shocked at the brutal honesty coming from him. Of all the times he could have chosen to be honest with me, it’s when I’m supposed to be out the door on a date with another man. “Is there a way we can just rewind and forget what happened after the apple orchard? So we can be friends again?”

I wiggle out of his grasp and take a step back. “What if I don’t want to do that? We’ve never been that good at being friends.”

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