Page 62 of Chasing Infinity

“Definitely. Is there anything I can do to help with this?”

My friend presses her lips together. “No, I think I’ve got almost everything covered. I took out a business loan, so now I just need to get things moving. That’s why I’m here. I’ll still see out the two weeks while you find someone to replace me.”

I offer her a resigned smile. “You know I couldneverreplace you.”

Grace reaches her hand across my desk, an offering. I take it, squeezing her fingers with mine. “I love you, Addie.”

“I love you too, Grace. I’m not sure what I’m going to do without you, but I’ll find a way.”

“You always do,” she says fondly. “I’ll get out of your hair. Let me know if I can do anything to help with the transition. If you need me to train or whatever or do reports while you interview.”

My stomach sinks with the thought of everything that I’m going to have to do to find a replacement. It’s been a long time since I’ve done hiring for management—not since I hired Jack five years ago when I first opened the place.

Jack.

Maybe I can move him up into Grace’s position and find someone to take his spot. That might be a solution.

I smile at Grace and wave her off with that thought in mind. “We’ll be fine, Grace. Focus on being excited for this new chapter of yours. I know you’ll be amazing at it. And please,let meknow if I can do anything to help you.”

My friend grins at me. “I will. Thanks, Addie.”

Then she walks out of the office, leaving me alone. I groan and drop my head into my hands, dreading the shit storm that just landed on my plate. I take a few minutes and let myself be upset and frustrated at this new development. When my few minutes are over, I tuck it into the back of my mind and start focusing on the next task.

After a while, I start to feel a little claustrophobic sitting in my office, so I head back out to the floor. As soon as I step out, I see Eli seated at the counter, staring expectantly at me like he’s a stray waiting for handouts. I nearly turn around as soon as I see him.

“Addie,” Eli pleads with me the moment he catches me trying to walk away.

I squeeze my eyes shut, not entirely sure I can handle this today. With the stress of whatever’s going on with Noah and Grace leaving me, I can’t deal with Eli’s shenanigans. Not right now. But I turn towards him anyway and plant my hands on my hips.

“Please don’t, Eli. I can’t deal with this today,” I tell him, my voice cracking.

Eli frowns, pauses for a second, and then rushes towards me, his hands resting on my shoulders so he can hold me and look me over. “What did he do?”

“What? Who?”

“Fucking McCoy, what did he do to you?” Eli growls at me.

I rip myself out of his grip and glared at him. “Noahdidn’t do anything. And last I checked, I’m still mad at you, so what the hell do you think you’re doing, barging in here and acting all high and mighty?”

“I wanted to talk to you. You said we’d talk, but it’s been days since—”

“Since you lost your mind and attacked my boyfriend?” I nearly snarl at him.

Eli glowers at me, the accidental endearment not slipping past him. I feel my cheeks heat up, but I hold my ground. “Yeah, that.”

I let out a frustrated groan and squeeze my eyes shut. “Look, I really can’t deal with this right now.”

“Will you just tell me what happened that’s got you all wrecked, Addie? You’re worrying me.”

I sigh, drop the rag on the counter, and glance to make sure Grace isn’t around. “Grace turned in her two weeks today.”

Eli rears back in shock. “What? Why?”

“She’s starting up her own business. I’m happy for her, but it’s just put a lot onto my plate all of a sudden, so when I say that I don’t have time to deal with your hissy fits, I actually mean it.”

Eli raises his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll back off. Just…let me know if I can do anything to help. I know Grace pulls a lot of weight around here, so if you need me to step in or anything, just say the word.”

“Thank you,” I tell him quietly, though, on the inside, I’m confirming with myself that that will never happen. Eli might be good at working at his father’s market, but he wouldn’t know the first thing about how I run things here. That would just be a recipe for disaster.

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