Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 53: A Mess To Clean
Abby

The sun’s barely peeking over the h o rizon as I pull open the door to the restaurant.

I can already feel the hustle of a new day, the potential for a fresh start. Walking in, I expect the familiar

comfort of an empty space, but I’m met instead with Ethan’s brooding form. His jaw is set tight, his

brow furrowed.

He doesn’t look up as I approach.

“Morning,” I greet cautiously, sensing the tension in the air.

He sighs heavily. “Abby… What the hell happened here last night?”

Confused, I follow his gaze. The kitchen. Oh no. My heart ski ps a beat as memories of last night flood

back. The cooking. The laughter. The… moment with Karl.

“What do you mean?” I manage to ask, feigning ignorance.

Ethan’s eyes fix on me, and I can see his irritation. “I’ll show you.” Without waiting for a reply, he leads

me into the disaster zone that is the kitchen.

Every counter is smeared with remnants of our late-night feast. Pots and pans are sc at tered

everywhere, some still containing leftover food. The sight makes my stomach churn with guilt. How

could I have been so careless?

I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. “I… I was working late last night. Got hungry and…” I trail off, trying to

find a good excuse, but words fail me.

Ethan just raises an eyebrow, his expression demanding more.

“And… I forgot to clean up,” I finish lamely, avoiding his gaze.

A beat of silence. Then, “Forgot?” His tone is sharp, filled with disbelief.

My mind races. If he even catches a hint of what transpired with Karl, rumors would spread like wildfire,

jeopardizing not only my reputation but potentially the restaurant’s as well.

“I was exhausted,” I murmur.

His eyes scan the kitchen, lingering on a particular spot on the counter, and my heart races. That’s

Karl and I… No. I shake my head m

deep breath, I roll up my sleeves.

to annoyance. “Just… be more careful, Abby. This

idea, I think grimly. But all I say

walks away, I’m left with the mess—both the literal one in the kitchen and the tangled

scrub the counters, my mind can’t

To Karl.

I clean, every dish I wash, feels like an echo of

laughter, the touch of his

I need to stop this. Last night was a mistake. An

happened. I shouldn’t be thinking

erase not just the stains of food but the remnants of those

confusion. The longing. The

seem to pass as I’m lost in my thoughts, cleaning up my mess in more ways than

and organized tools. I wish it

sort out my emotions.

the counter, the same one where Karl and I shared that

fresh, the feelings raw. But this is neither the time

away from the counter, reminding myself of my

the

I need to focus on the present, not get lost in

…

sunlight sl ants through the half-drawn blinds, casting soft golden beams onto my

monthly earnings. There’s a particular rhythm to the mornings here, where

activity outside my office gently soothes

there’s a knock, crisp and

in,” I call out, expecting

a tall, commanding figure that I don’t

with an air of

a hand, introducing himself. “You’re Abby, correct?” he

restaurant?”

expecting any health inspectors today. “Yes,”

man smiles. “I’m Calvin

him, I shake his offered hand, slightly taken aback by

don’t believe we had an appointment. How can I

he begins, “I represent the Alpha Gathering Committee. I understand

but your restaurant

about the Alpha gathering. It’s where deals

and

go on that

races, trying to grasp why a representative from the committee would be standing in

modest office.

steady, “Among countless establishments in

we’re considering to cater for