#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

her back on me like that? All because

when he’s clearly trying to be

I should be staying

I want it

the edge of my desk. I hear the distant chatter of

doubt gossiping about the spectacle that just

kind to air my dirty laundry

hold back the tears. But it’s

cheeks as I let

a hesitant

mood to deal with anyone right now, even

coming back to apologize.

and I look up, fully prepared

epicenter of all of this, in

do you want?” I hiss, narrowing my eyes.

to talk.” His voice is soft as he lingers in the doorway.

is stare unblinkingly up at him, praying that

“Talk about what?”

behind him. For

with me. There’s a genuine warmth in his

a little. It’s just like when we were together, and he

whenever I

to tell him what was going

one of those times.

it Chloe?” he

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

a hug before

push him away, but I don’t.

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

if understanding that sometimes

“Why did Chloe turn on me? She was supposed

friend. It’s just not fair,

gently. “You two

take a deep breath and turn away, wiping my damp eyes with

this serious. Not over…”

is what I almost say.

of genuine concern and understanding. “I’ll make

I blink up at him, caught off guard. “Why would you say

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