#Chapter 71: Turning Back
Abby

Chloe leaving sends me into a spiral.

Hot tears begin to p rick at the backs of my eyes as I watch her fading form. Some of my other

employees are starting to trickle in, with Daisy at the helm, who nearly ran face-first into the slamming

door as Chloe brushed past her without so much as a greeting.

“Geez,” Daisy says, swinging the door open with a confused look on her face. Her ankle is all wrapped

up in an Ace bandage, but she seems much better after she rolled it. Ethan comes in behind her. I’ve

noticed recently that the two of them seem thick as thieves, but I pretend not to notice. It’s sweet, but

it’s not my business.

Daisy jerks her head toward Chloe as she approaches the bar. “What’s her problem?”

I shake my head and try to steady myself over my coffee. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Daisy, picking up what I’m implying, scurries past to the back room without a word. Ethan, however,

doesn’t take the hint. Typical men.

“You good, Abby?” he asks, limping behind the bar and pouring himself a cup of coffee from the

machine. “You look like—”

“Just… Don’t,” I interrupt, unable to hide my annoyance any longer. Ethan shoots me a confused look,

but I don’t care at this point.

Still reeling from my argument with my best friend, I storm into my office, my heels clicking angrily

against the floor. The door slams behind me before anyone can so much as utter a word, leaving me

alone at last.

I’m overwhelmed, hurt, and furious all at once. Chloe was supposed to be my rock, my confidante, my

could she just turn her back on me like

when he’s clearly

staying away from him. Maybe this will

does, I want it to be

chair, my hands shaking as I grip the edge of my desk.

about the spectacle that just unfolded. What’s worse

kind to air my dirty laundry

press my palms against my eyes, trying to hold back the

my cheeks as I let

not long before there’s a hesitant knock at

voice breaking. I’m in no mood to deal with anyone

coming back to apologize.

the door creaks open anyway, and I look

epicenter of all of this,

I hiss, narrowing my eyes. “I said to go

talk.” His voice is soft as he lingers in the doorway. I don’t know what to

him,

“Talk about what?”

closes the door gently behind

There’s a genuine warmth

little. It’s just like

up whenever I refused to talk

insane, he always pushed me to tell him what was going on. Now

one of those times.

it Chloe?”

quakes my body, my lips pressing into a quivering line. And before I know it,

me in a hug

I should push him away, but I don’t.

they offer. Karl doesn’t speak, doesn’t question. He just

understanding that sometimes silence

away slightly, my eyes still damp. “Why did Chloe turn on me? She was supposed

my best friend. It’s

gently. “You two

turn away, wiping my

Not over…” My voice trails off, the implication

over you, Karl, is what I almost say.

genuine concern and understanding. “I’ll make it right,

would you say that? This isn’t your mess to clean

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