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.”

a

murmur, my voice soft. “It’s

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

me tonight.”

studies me for a long moment, his brown eyes

on his face, making him look older, more

choosing his words carefully. “It’s not about your determination or passion.

need to step

the hospital, the beeping of machines and hushed

conversation. I feel a pang of nostalgia. It reminds me of the

our paths were neatly wound around one another. Now, it feels like

all mussed together.

going. When

that pulls me through. If I back down now, even for a night, what message am I sending

myself? To my staff?”

“It’s just that…

the hell

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

his. “I know. And I’m grateful for your concern, truly.

is to understand.”

a moment, absorbing my words. The m uffled

a determined glint in his

condition.”

an eyebrow.

going with you. If you’re going back

at my

air greets us, a

in the distance, the gentle hum

is parked nearby, and he holds the door open for me, ever the gentleman.

asks, one

reply with newfound

back to the restaurant is filled with comfortable silence, the kind that comes with

outside the window blurs into a cascade of lights and

street corner

familiar outline of my restaurant comes into view, I feel a mixture

a testament to my team’s

gaze fixed on the entrance.

I reply

move with purpose, the kitchen

delicious food wafts through the air. I can see Jake orchestrating the dance, but there’s

tension in his shoulders.

spots me as I enter, relief flooding his

I?” I

exchange, an amused smile on his lips. “You truly are something else,

up, you push

you find something

his head in wonder. “You never cease to amaze