#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.

I sigh, rubbing my

and saunters in again, perching on the edge

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

look like you could use some

pushing myself up to my feet in an attempt to make myself look more

owner than I really feel right now. “I’m perfectly fine,” I lie, hoping that he won’t notice

slightly where

moments, Karl gazes at me without answering.

time. And something about it makes

in a feeble attempt

into the dimly lit

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

reality. “You should

“I’ll be fine. I’ll at least wait

sighs. “It’s supposed

you home, okay?”

few moments at the rain, listening as it patters against

coat h ook reveals that my umbrella is nowhere to be

nap on my desk didn’t really do much to cure my

finally say, turning back to face Karl. He’s got an almost triumphant look on his face,

quickly.

dim, cramped space of my office to Karl’s sleek, black sedan is an

The car smells like fresh leather and a hint of pine air freshener. The city lights, made blurry

off of the windshield as we drive. I’ve always loved the

the neon signs look on a stormy night; it’s like

the bright signs of late-night diners and

a blur. For a moment, the weight of

I find myself lost in

were having one hell of a

and a server shortage

“More like a health inspection nightmare. I can’t seem to escape the restaurant,

sleep.”

a smirk. “Well, dreams are just unpaid labor

could get compensation somehow.”

my words

brick building with ivy crawling

front door. It’s surrounded by other buildings

first moved here, I almost walked into someone else’s

embarrassing.

pulls up to the curb and turns off the engine, then looks at me, his eyes searching my

need a vacation? My offer still stands. Remember

course I remember the pool and the hot tub, and all of

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