#Chapter 33: The Aftermath
Abby

Karl walks into the kitchen, and I force myself not to look at him as he strides over. I’m almost done

prepping food for the line cooks, and I don’t have time to get into it with him. There’s only so much

stress one person can handle before they go crazy, and I’m reaching my limit.

We’re booked out again, and one of my waiters called in sick, making us even more understaffed than

usual. If not, I probably would have told Karl to just go home. I need to repost my ad sometime soon.

There must be people out there who want to work in the kitchen, even as a dishwasher. I don’t know if I

can keep working with him after everything.

He stops at my station and hovers for a moment. I wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t. I slide

the pile of carrots off the edge of the blade and give him an arch look. “What do you want, Karl?” “Can

we talk for a moment?”

“No. I’m busy.” I don’t have time to deal with Karl and his b ullsh it.

“We can talk here if it’s easier,” he says.

He knows that’s not going to happen. John is standing two feet away, not to mention Daisy and Freddy

chatting in the corner with Jack. The last thing I need is for everyone to find out we used to be married,

or that Karl is an Alpha.

“Fine,” I snap, putting down the knife. “But I don’t have a lot of time.”

He follows me into my office, closing the door behind him. I turn to face him and cross my arms over

my chest. I can’t imagine what he plans to accomplish in the next few minutes. Continuing our

argument from last night isn’t going to get him anywhere.

He must read those thoughts on my face because he puts his hands up. “I don’t want to argue, Abby. I

just want to talk.”“I have nothing to say to you.”

He takes a step forward but stops when I narrow my eyes. “Please, Abby. You have to know I didn’t

mean to hurt you.”

“Well, if you didn’t mean to, then it must be alright.”

He runs his fingers through his hair, looking slightly flustered. It’s probably the first time I’ve seen him

like this, but I’m too angry to care.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even trust me enough to talk to me about it,” I say.

“Abby–”

I cut him off before he can continue. If he’s going to force me to talk, then I might as well get this off my

chest. “I trusted you. I never would have done something like that to you, but you were so quick to

believe it, anyway. How could you?” My voice breaks a little at the end, and I close my mouth before I

I don’t want

expression crosses his face, and he takes a step closer. “I

did,” I say

visibly winces. “I’m

It’s maybe the first time he’s ever really apologized to me

happened between us. “I’m sorry I ever trusted you in

between us, forcing himself into my space. I take a step

to go. “Don’t say that!” he

so close to me, I can feel his warm breath on my

Karl.

“Abby–”

you.” I mostly say it because of how he reacted last night. I know it’s the

what I want to say. What do I want to say? I

and hurt, and I feel betrayed

least a little.

around my arms before I have the chance to slip away. “Look

his voice makes my spine

might hate it, but he’s still the

his piercing gaze. He squeezes my arms, not enough to

my attention.

as mad at me as

in. If I move even slightly, my lips will brush his. I hold myself still,

maybe I wouldn’t mind if they

you do,” I

angry for as long as you want. But don’t ever

forehead to mine, and I tense even further. “Please,

to move, but something stops me. The sort of

think straight again. I squeeze my eyes shut, and

“Karl, I…”

a loud knock on the door behind us. Karl pulls away,

my cheek and look

“Yes?” I call.

fiancé is asking for you,”

one last look, but he can’t

into a parking space and shuts

breaking the tense silence. “We should talk about what happened the

night.”

the strap of my purse, not wanting to meet his gaze. Especially not after what

earlier.

first time we had this conversion. I didn’t

that it would snowball into this major thing. Maybe

everything that’s gone down with Karl, I’m even more certain that Adam

hope I haven’t

for taking off like that. It was an immature

I’ve calmed down, I realize maybe I overreacted. I

me.”

to face him for the first time. He gives me a sideways glance but looks away when

are slightly red, and he’s tapping his fingers along his leg in a

“Sensitive in what way?”

up with me, she told me it was

s hit, you know? So, when you asked if we lack passion, it kind of reminded

were about to do the

wasn’t going to break up with you,” I say, placing a hand on

I wanted to do was hurt his feelings. “I wasn’t putting the

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