Page 8 of Chasing Infinity

I nod once and step over to the glass display where the muffins are. “Cinnamon Apple or blueberry?”

“Apple, definitely,” he says, his steely silver eyes watching as I reach for the muffin from the tray.

“I should have known,” I reply, fighting off a grin. Apples always were his favorite.

Noah watches me, resting his chin on his fist and smiling slyly. “You should have.”

“Eli was just in here gossiping about your return,” I tell him. “You just missed him.”

Noah looks down at the muffin that I place in front of him. “I bet Monty is all hot and bothered that I’m back in his town.”

“Oh, he is,” I say with a laugh at Noah’s old nickname for Eli—a play off his last name—but I sober up right after. I’m not sure what possesses me to say the following sentence that comes from my mouth. Maybe it’s the fact that Noah’s just sitting there, joking with me, as if no time has passed at all. Or how the broadness of his shoulders makes me yearn for him to wrap me in his arms in a strong hug. Regardless, it’s like word vomit when I blurt out as if I’m admitting a heinous crime, “I’m dating Eli.”

The best part is that it’s not even really true. Yes, Eli Montgomery and I do go on dates every week. Yes, he might someday be my husband, for lack of other contenders. But for now? I have no significant complaints about our arranged Friday night dinners and convenient hookups. But for whatever reason, I am interested in how Noah will respond.

Noah eyes me curiously, and then he plucks a piece of muffin and pops it into his mouth. He continues to watch me as he chews, collecting his thoughts. I twist my fingers nervously, waiting for him to say something,anything.

It’s not that I care what he thinks. Really.

“Sully informed me of your ah…current relationship status,” he says after a drawn-out pause to finish chewing. “It sounds like it’s serious.”

I shrug my shoulder noncommittally. “Well, I don’t know about that, but—”

“I’m happy for you, Parks. What? Don’t look at me like that. I am,” he says with a laugh under his breath when my face displays the surprise that I’m feeling internally. I do my best to dampen the twinge of disappointment to prevent it from making an appearance.

“Thank you. That means—well, just thank you,” I stutter out, unsure how to respond. I might be going into shock, my heart is palpitating, and my palms are sweaty.

Noah would take every chance he could to irritate Eli when we were growing up and vice versa. It only became worse when Noah and I took our friendship into more romantic territory. When Noah left, he said he wanted me to move on, but I never imagined he would be so…complacent about it if he returned to find that I had taken his advice.

“Do you know when your mom’s funeral will be?” I ask carefully, wanting to switch the subject off me. I’m aware this isn’t the most fun topic to bring up, but my curiosity for the details is getting the best of me.

Noah’s long fingers run across the plate’s edge in front of him before moving his hand to run it down his face. “I don’t know, actually. I planned to talk to my father about it today.”

“Oh,” I respond, stunned. “I bet you’re looking forward to that.”

Noah hits me with such a doleful stare that I can’t help but giggle under my breath. “You have no idea, Parks. I’m leaping with joy.”

I shake my head in exasperation at the man sitting in front of me. “You’ll have to tell me what he tells you, though. I’d like to attend…if that’s okay with you.”

Noah’s silver-blue eyes scour my face, the heaviness of his gaze crushing down on me. “Of course, Parks. It would mean a lot to me if you were there.”

A bubble of warmth blooms in my chest, though I suspect it’s from my coffee, and not something else. “Good.”

“What’s on your agenda for today?” he asks me, taking me off guard at his attempt at small talk.

I motion with my hand around the diner. “This is it.”

“That sounds…invigorating.”

“I have no complaints. I’m happy with how my life has turned out.”

His eyes narrow slightly, his lips pulling at the corner on one side. “I’m glad to hear that.”

I’m sure we look like a straight-up riot, the two of us having an intense stare-down in the middle of my diner. Still, I can’t pull my eyes away from him, and he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to look elsewhere, either.

“Noah,” I start softly. His pupils flare at my name on his lips, but he doesn’t respond, waiting for me to continue. I lose my train of thought, the intensity of his blue eyes distracting me. I make a fool of myself, staring at him for another moment, trying to come up with something…anything I can say to him.

“Yes, Parks?” he verbally nudges me, looking like he’s anticipating whatever I’m about to say. Noah leans towards me across the counter as he waits for me to speak my mind.

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