#Chapter 75: Come Home
Karl

Abby’s face looks apprehensive, which was exactly what I feared.

When my secretary called me last week to come home for a pack meeting, my original plan was to slip

back home on the day of the meeting and come back to the city without uttering a word. I wanted to just

get my duties over with and return to my task of trying to win Abby back, but plans have changed.

After everything that’s happened recently, I want her by my side. And although I won’t admit it, in a

selfish way, I want her to see our old home and remember what we had together. Maybe then we can

move things forward.

“Well?” she asks, narrowing her eyes. “Tell me. What’s the catch?”

I pause, choosing my words carefully. “I have to go back to my pack this weekend for a meeting. It’s

family stuff, council discussions, you know. The usual.” I hesitate, reading her face, which now shows a

mix of curiosity and guardedness.

“And…?”

“And… I’d like you to come with me.”

The sudden stillness in her eyes, the subtle twitch of her lips, tells me this isn’t what she expected.

“Karl, you know I have responsibilities here, right? There’s the restaurant first and foremost, and

beyond that, I have to practice for the cook-off.”

“Yeah, I know. But look, it’s a weekend. We’d be back first thing Sunday morning. The restaurant can

manage without you for two days, and as for the cook-off…” I grin, trying to channel some semblance

of charm into my plea, “you can practice in my kitchen. I’ve got it all set up—really, anything you’d

need.”

Her eyes narrow, but not dismissively. She’s considering it, I can tell. I can still remember how much

she loved our old kitchen; she was the one who designed it, after all.

paradise, complete with two ovens,

entire pantry full of cooking

every day, cooking up some new concoction

while she was living there

some goodie

left, though, it started collecting dust. I’ve hardly used it since

more or less. And recently, I’ve had the place

she decides

head decisively. “It’s not a

us being there again…”

I know what she was about to say: that the two of us

more complicated than they already are. Duh. That was kind of the

reveal that to

the

love that room? Your own private balcony and

as recognition flashes through her eyes. The guest

showing

a fight or when she

Abby’s words are terse, and she ends the sentence

drink.

I chuckle, still

murmurs. “What do

sad. Just like always, she’s onto me. Her

always been top notch. And before I can say anything, she shakes her head

“Karl, we can’t…”

of my whiskey

me back to the present. “I’m not trying to get anything out of you. I

it

my home

Ouch. Her words sting.

both fall silent, our eyes locked in a sort of

bad. What is it that I’m really asking of her? A journey

share a part of my life that’s been so far from

that—a desire to show her off to my

again.”

lie. It’s tempting,” she finally murmurs. “But right now, it’s a big ask. Let

the very least.”

flicker of disappointment that washes over me. “Of course.

be

off her stool and puts on her

warmth and

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