#Chapter 73: A Feeling
Abby

My hand freezes on the spreadsheet I’m working on when I hear a knock on my door. A soft, hesitant

one that’s almost drowned out by the evening chatter of the restaurant. My heart instantly jumps to my

throat. Is it Karl? Has he decided to make another appearance?

But when I open the door, it’s Chloe standing there, her eyes hesitant but earnest.

We’ve kept our distance today, partially because of the insane lunch and dinner rush, but I think also

partially to cool off. I’m not sure if Karl’s conversation with her was successful, but the knot in my chest

loosens when I see her.

“Hey,” I manage to say.

“Hey,” she replies softly.

Neither of us says anything for a moment. The silence is thick, full of the words we’d both hurled at

each other this morning. Finally, she breaks it. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I step aside, letting her enter.

The door clicks shut behind her, sealing us into this tiny bubble of a moment. I feel her arms wrap

around me, almost tentatively, as if she’s afraid I might pull away. But I don’t. I hug her back, tightly,

grateful for the chance to mend this fragile piece of our relationship.

“I’m sorry, Abby,” Chloe says into my shoulder. “I was out of line.”

“I’m sorry too,” I reply, feeling a twinge of guilt for the things I’d said earlier. “We both got carried away.”

We pull away and Chloe takes a seat, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for something—

perhaps a sign of residual anger or a lingering grudge. But she won’t find any. At the end of the day,

Chloe is like a sister to me, and that’s one thing you never turn your back on.

“So, you and Karl, huh?” Chloe finally says, her tone cautious.

my head quickly, dispelling the thought before it even has a

and Karl.’ We’re just figuring things

She looks at me, her

would make everything simple

I admit. “Maybe. He says he wants to be better. Shouldn’t

redemption?”

sighs, looking down at her hands. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve been too hard on

words warm me, but I know that there’s something lingering at the

she’s trying to leave

back together with him. You know

statement doesn’t escape me. “I promise, I’m not planning on it,” I reassure

to be single for a

much to offer, Abby. Don’t

when you have so

to the kitchen

seemed to draw us together no

me just at the thought, a low growl

brush the thoughts

the present. “Your friendship means

says, standing up. “Yours

of our friendship seeping through the c racks of our

whole. Chloe leaves, and I’m left standing there,

confusion swirling

against it, exhaling deeply. The night is still young; the restaurant

Life goes on,

my mind

out of my thoughts. It’s a

that you two got in a

laugh. Leah’s knack for impeccable timing has always astounded me. But I’m glad to

her whenever I can.

soft smile

each other. You know

fight.”

actually escapes my lips. Slipping my phone into

rounds to check on

then, my eyes catch movement from across the room—Karl, stepping

for a split

a spark that lights up the dark recesses of my heart, where feelings I

ago suddenly

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