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.

a sigh, I head to the bar where Chloe is standing. Frustration

what’s going on?” I ask, striding

damn thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering over the register keys. “It’s been

evening.”

beside her and start navigating through the system. A few prodded buttons and

life, responding as

been holding.

I thought I’d have to do all the transactions

a reassuring smile. “Anything else

it. But…” She hesitates, her eyes

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

against the counter, crossing

not,” she insists, her eyes earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby, and I’m just… I’m worried

get hurt again, fall into another toxic

fears I keep buried deep

Learned my lesson the hard way. It’s not

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

out, gently squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but I’m not a

don’t need to be monitored

mix of

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

you,” I say, my voice soft, before

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

is frustrated. This entire situation,

between concern and

strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond

need—her to trust me, to trust my judgments

for Karl’s charms all those

my heart broken. I’ve grown,

though all of my friends just see me

guy that’s bad

sink back down into my office chair, though, a thought comes to mind. A memory,

me, the taste of his lips. Our

spoken about.

horrible, delicious mistake. And it

…

the last employees heading home for the night. I’m