Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#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 eyes. “Did you need

saunters in again, perching on

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

could use

in

than I really feel right now. “I’m perfectly fine,” I

that I’m wavering slightly where I’m standing. “What’s

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

in a very long time.

weak. I cross the room in a feeble attempt to hide

peering out into the dimly lit city street. It’s pouring

it’s getting late and the kitchen will close soon anyway,” Karl says

reality. “You

shrug. “I’ll be fine. I’ll at least wait

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

you home, okay?”

the window for another few moments at the rain,

my coat h ook reveals that my umbrella is

desk didn’t really

turning back to face Karl. He’s got an almost

it quickly.

…

space of my

a hint of pine air freshener. The city

the windshield as we drive. I’ve always loved the city in the

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

through the streets, the bright signs of late-night diners and convenience stores flashing

the weight of my

in the rhythmic hum of the

like you were having one hell of a dream back there.

drink, and a server shortage all at

chuckle. “More like a health inspection nightmare. I can’t seem

sleep.”

over at me with a smirk. “Well, dreams are just unpaid labor then, aren’t they? Surely

could get compensation somehow.”

My subconscious is working overtime,” I reply, my

complex—a red brick

to the front door. It’s surrounded by other

moved here, I almost walked into

embarrassing.

to the curb and turns off the engine, then looks at me,

offer still stands.

away. Of course I remember the pool and the hot tub,