Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 69: Serving Judgments
Karl

“Watch it, you’re massacring those veggies,” John calls out, glancing over from the stove where he’s

sauteeing some garlic and mushrooms.

I chuckle, adjusting my grip on the knife. I’m supposed to be julienning some peppers, but instead I’ve

lost my train of thought and accidentally begun dicing them instead. “Yeah, well, they had it coming.”

John grins, shaking his head. “Y’know, you’re not as unfunny and st upid as I thought you were.”

“Could say the same about you,” I reply, gathering the sliced vegetables into a bowl.

Who would’ve thought? John and I, mortal enemies turned reluctant allies. A couple of weeks ago, we

could barely stand to be in the same room, but time and circumstances—and angry bosses—have a

way of forcing you to reassess your priorities.

“It’s all about collaboration,” John continues, his tone more philosophical than I thought the brute would

be capable of. “You can’t make a great dish with just one ingredient. Same with a kitchen. Everyone’s

got to pull their weight, contribute their flavor for the bigger picture.”

“You should put that on a plaque or something.”

“And have everyone roll their eyes? Nah, I’ll stick to cooking,” he laughs, adding a splash of white wine

to the pan, filling the air with a rich, aromatic scent.

The door to Abby’s office opens, and for a moment, my world narrows. She steps out, her eyes

scanning the room as if looking for something—or someone. When her gaze falls on me, my heart

leaps in anticipation.

But she averts her eyes, quickening her pace as she walks out of the kitchen.

The atmosphere turns brittle around me. John notices, his eyes narrowing. “Hey, snap out of it! You’re

burning the scallops.”

“Sorry,” I mutter.

I refocus on the task at hand, on the sound of the scallops sizzling in the pan, but the weight of last

cloud. We’d argued, voices raised, over her decision to compete

earlier agreement. I’d felt betrayed; she’d felt cornered. And

messed up big time,”

swirl of regret and confusion. “Trust

down, as the kitchen grows quieter, the realization sinks in deeper. Abby

this restaurant. She’s not just another chef. She’s someone I care deeply

desires should mean as much to me as my

in the way. I shake my head, frustrated with myself,

that’s been

here?” John asks, snapping

See you tomorrow,” I say,

my way before exiting the

Abby’s office door, still closed, a barrier in

one.

knock. But then, I decide that right now, I think

…

but the bar always stays open for a couple of hours

that tastes a lot like failure. My eyes catch

I have reacted the way I

wish that she didn’t have to make

life, Karl,” my wolf murmurs, his voice a gravelly echo in my mind. “You

proud. Not territorial.”

almost snort, swirling the whiskey in its glass. “She knew how much

—”

how much this competition means to her,” my wolf retorts. “If you

need to show support. Show that you

defensively, but my wolf has already withdrawn, leaving

thoughts and my

the bartenders, walks

that disdain she feels for me into the glass along with

the look?” I ask, setting down the glass

instead

I can manage both,” she

mingling with a touch of indignation. “I’m missing something

aren’t I?”

like how you missed being supportive of Abby

voice drips

So she knows.

went down last night, how you

her through, you’ve got the nerve

been slapped. Chloe has always been direct, no-nonsense, but this feels

wasn’t prepared for right now. For a moment,