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

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

felt betrayed; she’d

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

mind a swirl

as the kitchen grows quieter, the realization sinks

restaurant. She’s not just another

dreams and desires should mean as much

in the way.

been

You good here?” John asks, snapping me back

See you tomorrow,” I say,

way before exiting the

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

one.

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

…

stays open for a couple of hours longer. I sit

that tastes a lot like failure. My eyes catch my

piercing. Should I have reacted the way I

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

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

proud. Not territorial.”

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

—”

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

Show

care for her,” I shoot back defensively, but my wolf has already withdrawn, leaving

thoughts and

one of the bartenders, walks over to refill my glass, her eyes

disdain she feels

the look?” I ask, setting down the glass harder than I mean to. “You’re

now instead

I can manage both,” she snaps,

shoot up, surprise mingling with a touch of

aren’t I?”

you mean like how you

voice drips with

So she knows.

I know what went down last night, how you made her feel. After

you’ve got the nerve to get angry about

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

for right now. For