Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 82: My Alpha Sous Chef
Abby

The warm afternoon sunlight casts dappled patterns on the ground as we walk through the park,

holding cardboard coffee cups in our hands. The warmth seeps through the cup, mingling with the crisp

air. It’s a nice moment, bordering on something that feels almost normal.

And then we stop in front of it—the old oak tree.

Its massive trunk and sprawling branches are as iconic as they come. It’s always been a sort of

landmark in this small town, here long before the town was ever built. But to me, it’s more than just a

tree. It’s a bitter reminder of another life, of another version of us.

We took our wedding photos under this tree.

“Do you remember?” Karl asks, his eyes meeting mine as if he’s searching for something—recognition,

perhaps.

“Of course I remember,” I snap, maybe a little too quickly. “How could I forget?”

He looks taken aback, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Then, as though sensing he’s

wandered into a minefield, he falls silent.

We stand there for another minute, neither of us able to speak. Then I can’t hold back any longer.

“Did you ever tell the staff the truth?” I ask, my voice edged with more tension than I’d intended. “That I

never actually cheated on you with the gardener? That it was a terrible mistake?””

Karl goes silent, the creases on his forehead deepening. I wait for what feels like an eternity, my

patience waning with each passing second.

“Karl?”

He sighs. “No, Abby, I didn’t make an official announcement.”

Anger and hurt surge within me, mingling with a heavy dose of disbelief. And yet, somehow, I expected

this. It’s just like Karl, isn’t it? “That must be why Gerald was giving me dirty looks from the window

earlier.”

“Gerald did what?” Karl’s eyes flash, a ripple of anger surfacing before he reins it in.

I blanch, regretting that I let that slip. “It’s nothing, really. I just caught him giving me an odd look. And

he seemed… perturbed when I arrived.”

moment, it looks like he might explode. Then he exhales deeply,

calm. “I’ll speak

about setting the record straight?” I press, my voice

falls silent again, and my annoyance flares

Why didn’t you clear

look incompetent,” he finally admits, avoiding my

my personal matters

reputation gets

need to man up

meeting mine without evasion this

Abby.”

I’m a bit shocked. Karl is so willingly offering to make things right. I

somehow, he’s exceeding my

I can say anything else, he changes the subject. “Where do you want to go for

tonight?”

a moment, I consider naming one of the

set of memories. But then

I say. “I’d rather just

lingering between us, but easing somewhat. “Alright, I can

want. Just say the

hesitate, but then the thought solidifies as a soft smile

to cook. In my old

…

through an onion, its layers falling apart under my knife.

the aroma of garlic and

cooking in my old kitchen. The sleek stainless steel

amber glow from the overhead light, reminding me of old days.

watching the crystals dissolve into

from the hallway.

as he walks in, his eyes meeting mine for

the pot. “Whatcha

once more.

grins, moving closer. “Need

caught off guard. It would be

perfectly. But I hesitate,

cleared my name. But at the same time, I can’t bring myself to be too mad at

to set the record straight. And not when

is taking

you chop those mushrooms

his movements as fluid as they always

kitchen feels like it used to—full of life, laughter, and the smell

work side by side, I can’t help but marvel at how well we function

find myself imagining what it would

side at the

be the perfect sous chef—steady, reliable,

part, prepared to ask him if he would join me for the competition. But at the

my head to

am I thinking? This is just dinner, nothing