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

We’d argued, voices raised, over her decision

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

up big time,” he says, a growl wrapped in a

reply, my mind a swirl of regret and confusion. “Trust

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

just another chef. She’s someone

as much to me as

in the

that’s been driven between

here?” John asks,

See you tomorrow,” I

way before exiting the

hang it up. My eyes catch Abby’s office door, still closed, a barrier in more

one.

But then, I decide that right now, I think I’d

…

is closed, but the bar always stays open for a

tastes a lot like failure. My eyes catch my reflection in the glass,

I have reacted

that she didn’t have to make things so complicated. This isn’t what

succeeding in life, Karl,” my wolf murmurs, his voice a gravelly echo in

proud. Not territorial.”

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

—”

her,” my wolf retorts. “If you ever

to show support. Show that you care. And not just

care for her,” I shoot back defensively, but my wolf has already withdrawn,

and

of the bartenders, walks over to refill my

disdain she feels for me into the glass

with the look?” I ask, setting down the glass harder than I mean

now instead of

asking, I think I can manage

a touch of indignation. “I’m missing

aren’t I?”

you mean like how you missed being supportive of

Her voice drips

So she knows.

I know what went down

got the nerve

I’ve been slapped. Chloe has always been direct, no-nonsense, but this feels like

wasn’t prepared for right now. For a