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.”

and for a moment, it looks like he might explode. Then he

himself to calm. “I’ll speak with

I press, my voice filled with

and my

didn’t you clear

me look incompetent,” he

handle my personal

retort, incredulous. “So my reputation gets tarnished because you’re worried

need to man up and do something about

mine without evasion this time. “You’re right. I’ll handle it.

Abby.”

shocked. Karl is so willingly offering to make things right. I was so

yet somehow, he’s exceeding

else, he changes the subject. “Where do you want

tonight?”

I consider naming one of the countless restaurants we used to frequent,

set of memories. But then a different

actually,” I say. “I’d rather just

tension still lingering between us, but easing somewhat. “Alright, I

Just

thought solidifies as a soft smile works its way across

to cook. In

…

onion, its layers falling apart under my

the aroma of

be cooking in my

amber glow from the overhead light, reminding me of

of salt to the pot, watching the crystals dissolve

from the hallway.

here,” Karl says as he walks in, his eyes

the pot. “Whatcha

the pot once more. “I remember it

grins, moving closer. “Need

off guard. It would be so easy to say yes, to let him

once played so perfectly. But I hesitate, unsure. I’m still upset about earlier, about

at the same time, I

agreed to set the record straight. And not when we’re in our old

nostalgia is taking

nod. “Could you chop those mushrooms for

and starts slicing, his movements as fluid as they always

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

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

anything. I find myself imagining what it would be

side at

the perfect sous

ask him if he would join

my head

This is