Abby
My cheeks flush a deep shade of scarlet as Karl’s question hangs in the air, an unspoken tension filling the room.
I suddenly feel very aware of every minute detail: the way the soft glow from the desk lamp casts a shadow on his face, the almost-empty wine glasses on the edge of my cluttered desk, the nervous drumming of my own fingers against my thigh.
“Um… Wow,” I stammer with a wry chuckle, my tongue suddenly feeling thick in my mouth. “That’s quite a loaded question, Karl. I’ll admit I haven’t even thought about it. I’m sorry.”
I half expect him to get upset again like he did the last time, but much to my surprise, Karl’s lips curl into a slight grin, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Oh, come on, Abby. I was just teasing you. You know, putting you on t
