Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 43: True Passion
Abby

The antiseptic smell of the hospital surrounds me, a cold, clinical scent that seems to hang in the air. I

glance down at my arm, now wrapped in white gauze, the skin beneath it red and angry. The pain

pulses with every heartbeat, but it’s a dull, manageable ache for now.

“Abby, you should be heading home to rest,” the doctor’s firm voice breaks through my thoughts. He’s

an older man, silver hair and a gentle, fatherly demeanor. “That burn needs time to heal, and you need

time to recover.”

“I understand, doctor,” I reply, doing my best to sound appreciative. “Thank you.”

Karl waits just outside the small cubicle, flipping through a magazine. The fluorescent lights highlight

the worry lines on his forehead. He looks up as I emerge, magazine forgotten.

“All set?”

I nod, reaching for my jacket with my uninjured arm. Karl moves quickly to help, his fingers brushing

against mine. The touch is unintentional, but it sends a rush of warmth through me.

“Thanks,” I murmur, avoiding his gaze.

He just nods, his expression serious. “I’ll drive you home.”

But as I step into the corridor, the weight of unfinished business pulls at me. “Not home. Back to the

restaurant.”

He stops in his tracks, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Are you serious, Abby? After what you’ve just

been through?”

“The night isn’t over,” I reply firmly, pain making my voice sharper than intended. “The restaurant needs

me.”

Karl shakes his head, clearly struggling to comprehend my determination. “Let’s sit for a moment,” he

suggests, guiding me towards a set of chairs in the waiting area. It’s relatively quiet here, a few people

sca ttered about, absorbed in their own world of worry and waiting.

He waits for me to get settled before taking the seat next to me. “Abby, talk to me. Why do you feel the

need to go back there tonight? It’s just one night.”

I turn to face him, biting my lip. “You weren’t there when I opened up the restaurant.”

looks away, his face turning a slight shade

my heart, Karl,” I murmur, my voice soft. “It’s a culmination of every dream

challenge I’ve faced. One disaster isn’t going to keep me away. And

me tonight.”

studies me for a long moment, his brown eyes

harsh lighting casts shadows on his face, making him look older, more

words carefully. “It’s not about your determination

to step back and

of the hospital, the beeping of

of nostalgia. It reminds me of the

when our paths were neatly wound around one another.

all mussed together.

the restaurant is what keeps me going. When I

back down now, even for a night, what message am

myself? To my staff?”

running a hand through his hair. “It’s just that… when I saw that fire, when I

It scared the hell out

through my chest. Without thinking, I reach out, placing a

“I know. And I’m grateful for your concern, truly. But the best way you can support

is to understand.”

a moment, absorbing my words. The m uffled sounds of

he looks up, a determined glint in his

condition.”

raise an eyebrow. “Which

you’re going back to

smile tugs at

the night air greets us, a stark contrast to the

in the distance,

nearby, and he holds the door open

asks,

reply

the restaurant is filled with comfortable silence, the

the window blurs into a cascade of

corner holding

comes into view, I feel

testament to my

parks out front, his gaze

I reply with a

atmosphere is electric. Servers move with purpose, the kitchen hums with

food wafts through the air. I can see

tension in his shoulders.

relief flooding his features.

promised, didn’t I?” I reply with a

watches the exchange, an amused smile on his

would’ve given up,

what happens when you find something that

wonder. “You never cease to amaze