#Chapter 78: A Little Vacation
Abby

My eyes snap open to discover that someone, in the span of what feels like five minutes, my office has

grown dark. There’s a hand on my shoulder, and an all-too-familiar face—with a smirk on it, of course—

staring down at me.

“Sleepy?” Karl asks, his lips twitching into a grin.

I shake my head and sit up, trying to regain a sense of reality. The glare of the desk lamp sca tters

across stacks of invoices and order forms, casting a dim amber glow over everything.

“No,” I lie, looking away as Karl crosses the room back to the doorway. “I was just putting my head

down for a few minutes.”

A quick glance at the clock reveals that it’s almost eight o’clock, and considering the fact that it’s a

Wednesday, the restaurant is already mostly quiet. Through my half-open office door, I can just barely

make out the faint sound of sc at tered voices and silverware on plates from the few customers who are

still hanging around, post-dinner rush.

Karl laughs and leans against the doorframe. “Sure. And what looks like drool on your cheek must just

be condensation or something, right?”

Drool? I swipe my cheek with the back of my hand and sure enough, it comes away wet. Great.

“Okay, you go me,” I mutter, smoothing down my messy hair. “This morning was hectic, and I didn’t

sleep too well last night…”

Karl shrugs. “Don’t sweat it,” he assures me. “In fact, you’ll be happy to know that after the health

inspector left, everything else went smoothly. No more food critics, no sick servers, no arguing

employees.”

I force a half-smile. So word really does travel fast; or rather, Karl is more attuned to the drama than I

thought. I never mentioned the sick servers and arguing employees to anyone, but someone must have

noticed.

good,” I sigh, rubbing my

in again, perching on the edge of

delivery schedule, but it’s really not that important,”

could use some rest

my head, pushing myself up to my feet in an

now. “I’m perfectly

that I’m wavering slightly where

few moments, Karl gazes at me without answering. There’s something gentle in

very long time. And something about it

room in a feeble attempt to hide the blush that’s creeping into

stop by the window, peering out into

getting late and the kitchen will close soon anyway,” Karl says after a

“You

be fine. I’ll at least

asks. I nod, and Karl sighs. “It’s supposed to rain all night.

you home, okay?”

stare out the window for another few moments at

my umbrella is nowhere to

nap on my desk didn’t really do much to

face Karl. He’s got an

quickly. “Let’s

of my

car smells like fresh leather and a hint of pine air freshener.

drive. I’ve always loved the city in the rain, especially

look on a stormy night; it’s like something out of a

through the streets, the bright signs of late-night diners

moment, the weight of my job—the

and I find myself lost in the

breaks the silence. “You looked like you were having one hell

a beach, a tropical drink, and a server shortage all

nightmare. I can’t seem to escape the restaurant, even

sleep.”

“Well, dreams are just unpaid labor then, aren’t they? Surely

could get compensation somehow.”

overtime,” I reply, my words tinged with a fatigue

of my apartment complex—a red brick

front door. It’s surrounded by

moved here, I almost walked

embarrassing.

the engine, then looks at

My offer still stands. Remember the pool and the hot

look away. Of course I remember the pool and the hot tub, and all of the luxuries of our

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