Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 43: True Passion

Abby

The antiseptic smell of the hospital surrounds me, a cold, clinical scent that seems to hang in the air. I

glance down at my arm, now wrapped in white gauze, the skin beneath it red and angry. The pain

pulses with every heartbeat, but it’s a dull, manageable ache for now.

“Abby, you should be heading home to rest,” the doctor’s firm voice breaks through my thoughts. He’s

an older man, silver hair and a gentle, fatherly demeanor. “That burn needs time to heal, and you need

time to recover.”

“I understand, doctor,” I reply, doing my best to sound appreciative. “Thank you.”

Karl waits just outside the small cubicle, flipping through a magazine. The fluorescent lights highlight

the worry lines on his forehead. He looks up as I emerge, magazine forgotten.

“All set?”

I nod, reaching for my jacket with my uninjured arm. Karl moves quickly to help, his fingers brushing

against mine. The touch is unintentional, but it sends a rush of warmth through me.

“Thanks,” I murmur, avoiding his gaze.

He just nods, his expression serious. “I’ll drive you home.”

But as I step into the corridor, the weight of unfinished business pulls at me. “Not home. Back to the

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restaurant.”

He stops in his tracks, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Are you serious, Abby? After what you’ve just

been through?”

“The night isn’t over,” I reply firmly, pain making my voice sharper than intended. “The restaurant needs

me.”

Karl shakes his head, clearly struggling to comprehend my determination. “Let’s sit for a moment,” he

suggests, guiding me towards a set of chairs in the waiting area. It’s relatively quiet here, a few people

sca ttered about, absorbed in their own world of worry and waiting.

He waits for me to get settled before taking the seat next to me. “Abby, talk to me. Why do you feel the

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need to go back there tonight? It’s just one night.”

I turn to face him, biting my lip. “You weren’t there when I opened up the restaurant.”

Karl looks away, his face turning a slight shade of red. “No. I wasn’t.”

“That restaurant is my heart, Karl,” I murmur, my voice soft. “It’s a culmination of every dream I’ve ever

had, every challenge I’ve faced. One disaster isn’t going to keep me away. And my employees need

me tonight.”

He studies me for a long moment, his brown eyes filled with a mix of admiration and concern. The

waiting room’s harsh lighting casts shadows on his face, making him look older, more weary.

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“Abby,” he starts, choosing his words carefully. “It’s not about your determination or passion. No one

doubts that. But sometimes, you need to step back and take care of yourself.”

The familiar hum of the hospital, the beeping of machines and hushed conversations, provides a

backdrop to our conversation. I feel a pang of nostalgia. It reminds me of the times when life was

simpler, when our paths were neatly wound around one another. Now, it feels like a tangle, like cords

all mussed together.

“Karl, the restaurant is what keeps me going. When I face challenges, when things get tough, it’s that

passion that pulls me through. If I back down now, even for a night, what message am I sending to

myself? To my staff?”

Karl sighs, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just that… when I saw that fire, when I saw you get

hurt… It scared the hell out of me, Abby.”

Karl’s kind words send a pang through my chest. Without thinking, I reach out, placing a reassuring

hand on his. “I know. And I’m grateful for your concern, truly. But the best way you can support me now

is to understand.”

He’s silent for a moment, absorbing my words. The m uffled sounds of footsteps and distant

conversations surround us. Finally, he looks up, a determined glint in his eyes. “Fine, but on one

condition.”

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I raise an eyebrow. “Which is?”

“I’m going with you. If you’re going back to that restaurant, I’m staying by your side.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “Deal.”

As we leave the hospital, the night air greets us, a stark contrast to the sterile environment inside. The

city is alive, lights glittering in the distance, the gentle hum of traffic a constant companion.

Karl’s car is parked nearby, and he holds the door open for me, ever the gentleman. “You sure about

this?” he asks, one last time.

“Absolutely,” I reply with newfound determination.

The drive back to the restaurant is filled with comfortable silence, the kind that comes with shared

history. The cityscape outside the window blurs into a cascade of lights and shadows, each building

and street corner holding a memory.

As the familiar outline of my restaurant comes into view, I feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement. It’s

still bustling, a testament to my team’s dedication.

Karl parks out front, his gaze fixed on the entrance. “Ready?”

“Always,” I reply with a smirk.

Inside, the atmosphere is electric. Servers move with purpose, the kitchen hums with activity, and the

scent of delicious food wafts through the air. I can see Jake orchestrating the dance, but there’s a

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tension in his shoulders.

He spots me as I enter, relief flooding his features. “Boss! You’re back!”

“I promised, didn’t I?” I reply with a grin.

Karl watches the exchange, an amused smile on his lips. “You truly are something else, Abby. When

others would’ve given up, you push forward.”

I chuckle. “That’s what happens when you find something that really matters to you.”

He shakes his head in wonder. “You never cease to amaze me.”

…

The familiar buzz of the restaurant starts to die down as the night progresses. Customers shuffle out,

their conversations and laughter echoing in the now-emptying space.

I make my way to the office at the back, my feet heavy and fatigue starting to sink in. The burn on my

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arm throbs gently, reminding me of the ordeal I’ve been through.

Switching on the dim overhead light, I sit down at my cluttered desk, papers and bills sca t tered

haphazardly. My computer screen blinks to life, displaying the endless emails and reservations. Despite

the exhaustion, there’s a small, triumphant smile on my face. We made it through another night.

The soft creak of the door interrupts my thoughts. Karl steps in, looking just as weary but with a hint of

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concern in his eyes. “You okay?”

“I’ve been better,” I admit, rolling my shoulders. “But I’m still here, still pushing through.”

He lingers by the door, seemingly debating something. “Let me drive you home, Abby. It’s late, and you

need rest.”

I look up, meeting his gaze. There’s more behind those words, an unspoken desire. Our history is

complicated, filled with ups and downs, and right now, it feels as if he’s on the precipice of opening that

chapter again.

But tonight was about my resilience, my passion. And after all that’s happened, I yearn for solitude, a

moment of reflection, free from any entanglements.

“Karl,” I start, choosing my words carefully, “I appreciate it, I really do. But after tonight, I just… I need

to be alone.”

His expression shifts, the disappointment evident. It’s as if he had hoped that tonight’s events, our

shared moments of worry and relief, would bridge the gap that still lingers between us. But I won’t let

that happen. I can’t let it happen. Karl and I need to keep our distance.

“You sure?” he asks, voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah,” I reply, holding his gaze. “I need some time, some space.”

For a moment, we sit in silence, the weight of our history pressing down on us. I can tell he’s searching

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for the right words, wanting to convey something, but ultimately, he just nods.

“Alright,” he murmurs, taking a step back. “See ya.”

“See ya.”

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