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.”

his face turning a slight shade of

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

going to keep me away. And

me tonight.”

moment, his brown eyes filled with a mix of admiration

on his face, making him look older,

“It’s not about your determination or passion. No

need to step back and take care of

familiar hum of the hospital, the beeping

I feel a pang of nostalgia. It reminds me of

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

all mussed together.

keeps me going. When I face challenges, when things get

back down now, even for a night, what

myself? To my staff?”

hair. “It’s just that… when

It scared the hell out of me,

my chest. Without thinking, I reach out,

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

is to understand.”

absorbing my words. The m uffled sounds of footsteps

looks up, a determined glint in

condition.”

an

If you’re going back to that

tugs at my lips.

greets us, a stark contrast to

is alive, lights glittering in the distance, the

and he holds the door open for me, ever the

he asks,

I reply

with comfortable silence, the kind that comes with

outside the window blurs into a cascade of lights and shadows,

corner holding a

into view, I feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

testament

his gaze fixed on the entrance.

I reply with a

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

air. I can see Jake orchestrating the dance, but

tension in his shoulders.

I enter, relief flooding his features. “Boss!

I?” I reply with a

the exchange, an amused smile on his lips. “You truly

would’ve given up, you

you find something that really

head in wonder.