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,

felt betrayed; she’d felt cornered. And now,

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

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

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

not just another chef. She’s someone I care

and desires should mean as much to me

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

been driven between

good here?” John asks, snapping me

See you tomorrow,” I say, forcing a

glance my way before exiting the kitchen. Alone

my apron and hang it up. My eyes catch Abby’s office door, still closed, a barrier

one.

then, I decide that right

…

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

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

Should I have reacted the way

just wish that she didn’t have to make

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

proud. Not territorial.”

in its glass. “She knew how much

—”

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

back, you need to show support. Show that

I shoot back defensively, but my

and my

one of the bartenders, walks

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

down the

instead of

can manage

surprise mingling with a touch of indignation. “I’m missing something

aren’t I?”

something? Oh, you mean like how you missed being supportive of

voice drips

So she knows.

down last night, how you

her through, you’ve got the nerve

Chloe has always

prepared for right now. For a moment,