#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.

rubbing my eyes. “Did you need

saunters in again, perching

for you about tomorrow’s delivery schedule, but it’s really

could use some

my feet in an

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

where

at me without answering. There’s something

long time. And something about it

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

peering out into

close soon anyway,” Karl

reality. “You should go home,

shrug. “I’ll be fine. I’ll at

sighs. “It’s supposed to rain

you home, okay?”

out the window for another few moments at the rain, listening as it patters against the

reveals that my umbrella is nowhere to be found,

on my desk didn’t really do much

back to face Karl. He’s got an almost triumphant look on his

it quickly.

from the dim, cramped space of my office to

hint of pine air freshener. The city

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

look on a stormy night;

the streets, the bright signs

weight of

myself lost in the

silence. “You looked like you were having one hell of a dream

drink, and a server shortage all

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

sleep.”

me with a smirk. “Well, dreams

could get compensation somehow.”

subconscious is working overtime,” I reply, my words tinged with

my apartment complex—a red brick building with

steps leading to the front door. It’s surrounded by other buildings that look just like it.

I almost walked into

embarrassing.

pulls up to the curb and turns off the engine,

you sure you don’t need a vacation? My offer still stands. Remember

and the hot tub, and all of the luxuries of

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255