Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 66: Practice Makes Perfect
Abby

My office is silent as I scroll through the new emails that have landed in my inbox. My fingers drum on

the desk, anticipating the one email that I’ve been waiting for the most—the details of the upcoming

cooking competition.

And then, there it is, bolded and marked with high importance: Cook-Off Competition Details.

Taking a deep breath, I click on it.

The email is concise but packed with information. Attached to it is a long list, detailing every possible

dish that might come up during the competition.

My heart rate quickens as I scan the list. Some dishes I recognize, ones I’ve made a thousand times

over in my career, but others are unfamiliar, exotic even, presenting challenges I’ve never faced before.

I won’t know which three dishes I’ll be asked to prepare on the spot. Which means only one thing: I

have to practice all of them. Every single one.

Grabbing a notepad, I jot down a list of ingredients I’ll need for the more exotic dishes, then turn my

attention to the restaurant’s supplier portal, adding item after item to the shopping list. The ingredients

range from the ordinary to the obscure. Each addition of expensive truffles, caviar, and fresh scallops

makes my anxiety spi ke.

How can I perfect so many dishes in such a short time?

Once the orders are placed, I stretch and push back from the desk, glancing at the clock on the wall.

It’s getting late, but there’s no time to waste. Without a second thought, I pull my hair into a messy bun

and prepare to head to the kitchen to get started.

Before I can leave, however, a sudden page over the intercom draws me from my task.

“Abby, can you come up front for a moment? I need help with the register.” It’s Chloe, her voice

strained.

sigh, I head to the bar where Chloe is

“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, striding up to

this damn thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering over the register keys.

evening.”

the system. A few prodded buttons

the machine whirrs back to life, responding as it should. Chloe releases a breath she’s

been holding.

I thought I’d have to do all the

problem,” I reply, giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything else I can help

She hesitates, her eyes flickering

other night… I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Especially

lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Chloe, it’s

her eyes earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby,

to see you get hurt

echoing the fears I keep buried deep down, but I

already married Karl once, remember? Learned my lesson the hard way. It’s

to happen again.”

she says softly, “but it’s just… you deserve so much

him hurting you again.”

her hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe,

don’t need to be monitored or told what

a mix of emotions swirling

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

say, my

way back to my office, Chloe’s words reverberate in my

but another part is frustrated. This entire situation, I

between concern and independence,

my friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more to me than

need—her to trust me, to trust

Abby who fell for Karl’s charms all those years ago, who got lost in a relationship that

and got my heart broken. I’ve grown, learned,

though all of my friends just see me

guy that’s bad

chair, though, a thought comes

taste of his lips. Our intimacy in the

spoken about.

A wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake. And

…

the last employees heading home for the