Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 76: All Buttered Up
Abby

My apartment door shuts behind me with a satisfying click after a long day of being away from home.

With a sigh, I throw my bag on the couch, and flop down beside it.

But it’s not long before I’m on my feet again, pacing my apartment floor as I chew on my lower lip.

Karl’s proposition still lingers in my mind: going with him to the pack? To our old home?

My first instinct screams at me to not go, of course. To return to our old home together? How is that not

a recipe for disaster?

As I finally decide to pour myself a glass of wine to calm my frayed nerves, I think to myself that right

now, I really do have it all. A successful career, friends who love me, and the cook-off coming up. Why

throw a wrench into it by letting Karl back into my life in that way? We’re doing just fine as friends,

keeping everything at arm’s length between us. There’s no need for it to become more than that.

But then, there’s still a tiny sliver of myself that almost considers going with him. My life was once

entwined with his, after all. The long talks in our garden at sunset, the joy of cooking in a kitchen I had

designed myself.

But that was a lifetime ago.

I take a sip of wine, letting the bitter flavor linger on my tongue before swallowing. “Tomorrow,” I

resolve, “I’ll tell him I can’t go. It’s for the best.”

…

The scent of freshly brewed coffee greets me the moment I walk into the restaurant. It’s comforting and

slightly bittersweet, but also unexpected. I should be the only one here right now, and I didn’t see

Ethan’s car on the way in; but I’ve hardly made it halfway through the door when Karl suddenly steps

line of sight, a coffee

greets, his eyes searching

reassurance.

reply cautiously. “You’re here

holding the cup out to me. “Wanted to get

light, just the way I like it. But I can sense Karl’s

to butter me

and surprisingly endearing sound. “Is it

serious tone take over my

with you. It’s not

eyes is subtle but

simply nods. “I

second attempt to change my mind.

amount of times I’ve heard Karl utter those

I’m surprised. “That’s it?” I find myself saying. “You’re not gonna try to convince

anyway?”

a step back. “It’s your decision whether you go or not. I just

little time off. But if you don’t

here, coffee cup

that he had ulterior motives behind inviting me back to

now, I’m starting to wonder if that was

…

again—2:37 p.m., the

brief moment before the chaos of dinner

or crises to deal with, I

I do, I notice Karl talking

by the kitchen, chatting amicably. My first instinct is to approach them, maybe crack a

lighten the mood as I suspect that the conversation will go south, but something holds

stand here, just out of their line of sight but close enough

food do you like?” Karl asks. His voice is

when talking to a pretty young

a little basic, but I honestly just love

day for the rest of my life and

my own heart. Have you tried the fettuccine

“It’s the best dish on the menu, in my opinion! I kind of wish

dishes like that.”

I can hear the

about it makes my heart