#Chapter 98: One or the Other
Abby

The restaurant is buzzing with activity as we prepare for the lunch rush.

Karl’s returned to work today, and surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as awkward as I thought it would. In fact,

there’s a sense of normalcy that I didn’t expect to find. John, especially, is elated to see Karl back.

“Karl!” he exclaims, throwing his hands up in the air. “Thanks go ds! Get behind this line right now and

give me a hand, will you?”

Karl smirks and tugs his apron on, nodding. “Sure thing,” he says, crossing the kitchen to the line.

“Missed me, huh?”

“Don’t make me admit it.”

For a fleeting moment, I think to myself, maybe this won’t be so bad after all. But before the thought

even has a chance to settle in, the person I was truly dreading the most arrives.

Chloe.

Almost as though she sensed that something is off, Chloe bursts in through the front door. Her eyes

roam around the restaurant, taking in the staff, the prep work, and then they finally land on Karl. Her

expression shifts so quickly, it’s like watching a storm cloud eclipse the sun.

“Abby, can I talk to you? Now?” The temperature in her voice plunges several degrees. I motion her

toward my office. The door barely clicks shut behind us before she explodes.

“What the hell is he doing here?”

Taking a deep breath, I choose my words carefully. “Look, I know it sounds incredibly dumb of me, but

he came clean about a lot of things, Chloe. And he seemed genuinely remorseful.”

“So you just let him back after you just told me that you were done?”

I sigh, passing a hand over my face. “I know. I know it’s st upid. But he wanted to help, and trust me, I’m

keeping my distance. I swear.”

She stares at me, her face a mask of incredulity. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Listen, we really need the extra help right now, Chloe,” I plead, my voice tinged with desperation. “I

can’t spend my entire day working the line with John while there are managerial duties I need to attend

a new cook right now. I’m

upid, but what choice

air between us thickens, electrified by the tension. Chloe’s eyes narrow, and her lips press into

thin line.

You always do. And if

not work here any longer. Especially not with a man who’s

can’t change.” Her voice trembles, making her

palpable.

the gap between us, but Chloe steps back. “Please, don’t go,” I

whispering. “It’ll be

me when you come to your senses,” she says, her voice thick

unshed tears.

word, she turns on her heels and storms out, leaving me standing in

too large and

restaurant is in full swing by the time Leah walks in. The sight of her usually brings a wave

of chaos. But today, it just serves as a reminder of

sure that Chloe sent her, without a doubt. She catches my eye

talk?” she

to take over the

Leah dives right

me

unable to meet her eyes. Of course she did. “She

blame her? After everything Karl

my head, frustrated. “No, of course I don’t

all hands

a good worker.”

her water, looking thoughtful. “Abby,

best friends who have stood by you, or the

over again.”

I say, my voice tinged with a

mistakes, right?”

locking onto mine. “You

more chances are you going to give him? And at what

if it’s being gripped by an invisible hand. I know where this

my head as tears threaten to spill out. “Don’t leave me

her watch and starts to get up. I can see that her

got to go. But Abby, you need to decide. It’s either

can’t have

that, she’s gone, leaving me alone in a restaurant full of people. The irony isn’t

surrounded by a team that relies on my guidance, patrons who

never

front door behind them, flipping the sign to

the sanctuary that is my office, a small room crammed with cookbooks, invoices, and

that has seen better days. My phone’s screen glows accusingly

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