#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.

my eyes. “Did you

the doorframe and saunters in again, perching on the

about tomorrow’s delivery schedule,

could use

to my feet in

feel right now. “I’m perfectly

wavering slightly where I’m standing.

moments, Karl gazes at me

seen in a very long time. And something about it

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

into the dimly lit city street.

it’s getting late and the kitchen will close

“You should go home,

shrug. “I’ll be fine. I’ll

Karl sighs. “It’s supposed to rain all night. Just let

you home, okay?”

few moments at the rain, listening as it

h ook reveals that my umbrella

nap on my desk didn’t really

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

quickly.

the dim, cramped space of my office to Karl’s sleek,

and a hint of pine air freshener. The city lights, made blurry

we drive. I’ve

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

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

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

I find myself lost in the rhythmic hum of

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

a beach, a tropical drink, and a

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

sleep.”

at me with a smirk. “Well, dreams are

could get compensation somehow.”

reply, my words tinged with a fatigue

brick

the front door. It’s surrounded by other buildings that look just like

I first moved here, I almost

embarrassing.

the engine,

a vacation? My offer still stands. Remember

pool and the hot tub, and all of the luxuries of

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