#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.

and saunters in again,

for you about tomorrow’s delivery schedule,

look like you could use

my feet in an

now. “I’m perfectly fine,” I lie, hoping

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

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

seen in a very long time. And something about

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

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

getting late and the kitchen will close soon anyway,”

“You should go home,

“I’ll be fine. I’ll at least

stops raining?” he asks. I nod, and Karl sighs. “It’s supposed to rain all night. Just let

you home, okay?”

at the rain, listening as

my coat h ook reveals that my umbrella is nowhere to be found, and

nap on my desk didn’t really

fine,” I finally say, turning back to face Karl. He’s got an

it quickly. “Let’s

my office

like fresh leather and a hint

we drive.

signs look on a stormy night;

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

For a moment, the weight of my job—the critics, the health inspectors, the

in

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

and a server

health inspection nightmare. I can’t

sleep.”

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

red brick building with ivy

front door. It’s surrounded by other buildings

I almost

embarrassing.

curb and turns off the engine, then looks at me, his eyes searching my face.

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

and the hot tub, and all of the luxuries of our old home.

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