Page 84 of Chasing Infinity

“Better close your mouth, or you might catch flies,” he says to me with a slight smirk and an eyebrow arched.

I snap my mouth shut, unaware that I was gaping at him. “Sorry. I just don’t really know what’s happening right now.”

“Me either, but I’m going with it.”

“Okay.”

We sit together in the empty hallway for a bit longer, then he breaks the silence again. “You were pretty brutal last week, you know, back in the lab? Kinda harsh.”

I look down at my hands. “Yeah, about that. I mean to apologize, but I wasn’t sure if you would—”

“You were right about that, too,” he says with a sigh and leans back. “You always seem to be right. You’re very observant, Parks.”

“I’m sorry.”

He snickers under his breath. “Don’t be. It just is what it is. I broke up with Rose.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Now Noah laughs. “Would you stop apologizing?”

“Sorry, I—” I laugh too and place my palm on my forehead. “I can’t seem to stop.”

“I see that. Overall, I think this will be a good thing. I need to figure some things out.”

I pause, unsure if he wants me to take the bait. “Like what?”

He looks at me, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I brace for his offensive attack. But it doesn’t come. Instead, his expression relaxes, and he exhales. “I just… don’t like the path I’m heading down. And I want to change that.”

Surprise sears through my body. I can’t recall hearing Noah be that open and honest before, with anyone, much less me. “Wow, that’s… that’s great, Noah.”

He snorts. “I guess. Woo-hoo, give me a gold star for not wanting to turn into a shit bag like my father.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know, Parks. But that’s how it is.”

I stare at him, tracing over his features and registering how subdued he is in front of me. “He’s really not a good guy, is he?”

“No, he’s not. I don’t want to be like that, Parks. I won’t.”

I swallow. “Noah, did something happen? You seem upset.”

“Yeah, I looked in a mirror and saw my dad staring back, and it scared the shit out of me,” he surprises me again with his honesty.

“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll always be willing to listen, even given our history. You shouldn’t have to keep everything to yourself, you know? Bottling up what’s bothering you won’t do you any good.”

“I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?”

“Yeah, I guess you are.”

He laughs again, his shoulders shaking. “You’re ridiculous. Don’t push too much, Parks.”

“Sorry—I, shoot, I did it again,” I mimic his movements with a chuckle of my own.

Noah tilts his head towards me and grins, like actually grins at me. He says nothing right away and just looks at me. His expression takes on a more confused state as time passes. “You—you have beautiful eyes, Parks,” he mutters, his silver-blue gaze holding mine steady. “I can’t believe I haven’t noticed them before. They’ve got these golden flares in the middle like—”

He cuts himself off and swallows thickly. My cheeks heat and a flutter of something erupts in my belly. I curse myself. Why is Noah McCoy, of all people, making me blush? It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.

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