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

over me like a dark cloud. We’d argued, voices

felt betrayed; she’d felt cornered.

up big time,” he says, a growl

know,” I reply, my mind a swirl of regret and confusion.

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

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

and desires should mean as

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

been

out. You good here?” John asks, snapping me back to

tomorrow,” I say, forcing

way

it up. My eyes catch Abby’s office door,

one.

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

…

but the bar always stays open for a couple of

tastes a lot like failure. My eyes catch my reflection

I have reacted the way I did to

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

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

proud. Not territorial.”

the whiskey in its glass. “She knew how much that party meant

—”

her,” my wolf retorts. “If you ever

show support. Show that

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

thoughts and

Chloe, one of the bartenders, walks over to refill my glass, her eyes cold, judgmental.

if she’s trying to pour that disdain she feels for me into

the glass harder than

instead

think I can manage both,” she snaps, her eyes

up, surprise mingling with a touch of indignation.

aren’t I?”

mean like how you missed being supportive of Abby when

Her voice drips with

So she knows.

everything, Karl. I know what went down last

you’ve got the nerve

been slapped. Chloe has always been

for right now. For a moment, I almost consider being vindictive