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

argued, voices raised,

felt betrayed; she’d

stirs, restless. “You messed up big time,” he says, a growl wrapped in

I reply, my mind a swirl of regret

down, as the kitchen grows quieter,

this restaurant. She’s not just another chef.

as much to me as my

yet, I let my insecurities, my fears, get in the way. I shake my head, frustrated with myself,

been

You good here?” John asks,

you tomorrow,” I say, forcing

casting a somewhat concerned glance my way before

eyes catch Abby’s office door, still closed,

one.

a moment, I almost knock. But then, I decide that right now, I think

…

stays open for a couple of hours

lot like failure. My

piercing. Should I have reacted the

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

voice

proud. Not territorial.”

whiskey in its glass. “She knew how

—”

her,” my wolf

back, you need to show support. Show that you care. And not just

I shoot back defensively, but my wolf

thoughts and my

if on cue, Chloe, one of the bartenders, walks over to refill my glass, her

trying to pour that disdain she feels for me into the glass

look?” I ask, setting down the glass harder

instead

think I can manage both,” she snaps,

eyebrows shoot up, surprise mingling with a touch

aren’t I?”

mean like how you missed being supportive of Abby

Her voice drips

So she knows.

I know what went down last night, how you made

you’ve got the nerve to get

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

For