Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 59: Stay Away
The city lights blur past us as Karl drives, the tension in the car so thick I could slice it with a knife. My

mind is still spinning from the events of the last hour—the creepy guy on the subway, the group of

leering men, and then Karl, showing up like a storm, sweeping everything away.

My eyes shift to him for a moment, taking in his stern profile, the jaw set in a hard line. His knuckles are

white on the steering wheel. It’s clear he’s still riled up.

“Hey… Thanks for picking me up,” I finally manage to say, breaking the oppressive silence.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s the least I could do,” he replies, his eyes never leaving the road. The

words hang in the air, laden with unspoken emotions and thoughts neither of us is willing to navigate

right now.

Soon enough, we pull up in front of my apartment building, and Karl kills the engine. We both sit there

for a moment, contemplating the space between us, both literal and metaphorical.

“Let me walk you up,” he finally says, a subtle softness creeping into his voice.

I hesitate, weighing my options, but then nod. After everything that’s happened so far tonight, some

company up to my apartment door would be appreciated.

“Okay. Thanks, Karl.”

We step out of the car, and as we walk to the building, I can’t help but notice a dark red stain on his

pristine white shirt. It’s blood. My stomach churns at the sight.

“You’re hurt,” I blurt out.

He glances down, a wry smile pulling at his lips. “Don’t worry. It’s not mine.”

Despite the churn of emotions and the image of Karl punching that guy square in the jaw flashing

through my mind, relief washes over me. “Even so, you should get that cleaned before it sets in.”

We reach my apartment door, and I unlock it, pushing it open. The familiar scent of home envelops me,

offering a much-needed sense of normality after what just happened. I gesture inside. “You could come

in for a minute. Let me clean that for you.”

The tension between us is palpable as we stand in the threshold of my apartment. For a moment, it

edge

cliff and daring

sure?” Karl finally asks, breaking the moment, his eyes scanning my face for some

meaning.

soft chuckle, even though the feelings inside of me are rolling around like

me when I really needed someone. The least I could do is help

my voice

just a moment longer, as if weighing his options, before

him inside, closing the door softly behind us. The

as we head toward

a stool out from under the kitchen counter, I gesture for him to sit. “Take

It should help with the

the cupboard under the sink for the bottle. When

I straighten up and grab a clean cloth from the drawer, dousing

closer to him, the atmosphere in the room changes subtly, becoming charged, electric.

to steady my nerves, I reach for his shirt, gently dabbing at the dark

a palpable reminder of the strength that

apple moving as he speaks. His voice is deep and gravelly,

I remember

of his voice, especially when he would first wake up

think about what it would be like to wake up next to him again.

I quickly push those

nothing,” I say. “It’s a nice shirt.

“I could just

my thoughts betray me, drifting to places they

his arms around me, the

deep voice. My heart starts

go tonight?” I ask, my voice a little too casual as I try to steer my

noticed you left the party early tonight without saying goodbye. Everything

mine for just a second before looking away. “I had some things to

about.”

of his answer hangs in the air, like a puzzle missing crucial pieces.

dig deeper, but something in his expression stops me. The mood feels

risk

a heavy silence between us, punctuated only by

by my closeness as I am to his. And for an instant, I can feel my

me to close the

air, the cloth now forgotten as we lock eyes. It’s a

silence that says more than words ever could.

drop to the floor, suddenly aware of how dangerously close we are to crossing lines

complicate everything.

hand. “Wash it when you get home. It should come

lifts to my chin, gently but firmly