Abby As Karl and I head wordlessly back into the pub, I’m torn between relief and a whirlwind of emotions. The warmth of the crowded room envelopes us, a stark contrast to the cold intimacy of the alley. The lively chatter and laughter of the patrons are soothing to my ears, but my mind is still r

Abby Reaching my room, Karl opens the door for me, his movements gentle and caring despite the uncomfortable encounter we just had. I stumble inside, the familiarity of my old bedroom bringing an unexpected sense of relief. He helps me to the edge of the bed, and I sit there, swaying slightly, sti

I nod, understanding her plight. Hangovers are no joke. “Try to eat some toast or something,” I say. “I know it doesn’t seem like it’ll help right now, but it will. You need something in your system to absorb that alcohol.” She nods, a grateful look in her eyes. “I will,” she mutters, her gaze fli

Abby Karl’s sudden appearance in the doorway of the cooking tent is a welcome distraction from the conversation that was bound to occur with Chloe. “Time to go home, everyone,” he says. “I’ve got a surprise for all of you back at the house.” The thought of a surprise gets everyone excited, and

Abby Chloe’s discerning gaze leaves no room for lying. I know that she knows something is going on between me and Karl, and this is just a test at this point to see if I’ll tell her the truth and keep lying. However, my heart pounds in my chest, and my voice falters when I try to tell her the tr