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.

the bar where

what’s

hovering over the register keys. “It’s been acting up

evening.”

beside her and start navigating through the

to life, responding as it

been holding.

I thought I’d have to do all

giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything else I can help

her head. “No, that’s it. But…” She hesitates, her eyes flickering with an unspoken

other night… I shouldn’t have snapped at

lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Chloe,

insists, her eyes earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby, and I’m just… I’m

get hurt

the fears I keep buried deep

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

to happen again.”

you deserve so much better,

him hurting you again.”

gently squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but

make my own decisions, and I don’t

my gaze for a beat, a mix of emotions swirling in her eyes, before she gives

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

my voice soft, before turning

way back to my office, Chloe’s words reverberate in my head. A part of

but another part is frustrated. This entire situation, I realize, is like

between concern and independence, friendship

to strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more

to trust me, to

charms all those years ago, who got lost

my heart broken. I’ve grown, learned,

Why does it feel as though all of my friends just see me as a fool who would so easily fall

that’s

office chair, though, a thought comes to

taste of his lips. Our

spoken about.

horrible, delicious mistake. And it can’t happen

…

quiet, with the last employees heading home for