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

contest despite our earlier agreement. I’d felt betrayed; she’d felt cornered.

inside me stirs, restless. “You messed up big time,” he says, a growl

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

quieter, the realization

She’s not just another chef. She’s someone

mean as much to me as

the way. I shake my head, frustrated with

been driven

here?” John

tomorrow,” I say, forcing a

way before exiting the

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

one.

But then, I decide that

…

the bar always stays open for a couple of hours longer. I sit at

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

unanswered, piercing. Should I have reacted the way I did to

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 my

proud. Not territorial.”

its glass. “She knew how much that party

—”

much this competition means to her,” my wolf retorts. “If you ever plan on

show support. Show

her,” I shoot back defensively, but my wolf has already withdrawn, leaving me

and

walks over to refill my

pour that disdain she feels for me into the glass along with the

down the glass

now instead of

I think I can manage both,” she snaps,

shoot up, surprise mingling with a touch of indignation.

aren’t I?”

mean like how you missed being supportive of

Her voice

So she knows.

everything, Karl. I know what went down last night, how

the nerve to get

been slapped. Chloe has always been direct, no-nonsense,

wasn’t prepared for right now. For a moment, I almost consider being vindictive