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.”

a moment, it looks like he

forcing himself to calm.

straight?” I press,

my annoyance

you clear my

me look incompetent,” he finally admits, avoiding my eyes. “That I

handle my personal matters

incredulous. “So my reputation gets tarnished because

That’s not fair, Karl. You need to man up and do

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

Abby.”

shocked. Karl is so willingly offering to

yet somehow, he’s exceeding my

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

tonight?”

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

then a different

say. “I’d rather just stay

lingering between us, but

Just say the

the thought solidifies as a soft smile works its way across my

cook. In my old

…

under my knife. The pot

with the aroma of garlic

my old kitchen. The sleek stainless steel

from the overhead light, reminding

of salt to the pot, watching the crystals dissolve into

from the hallway.

in,

the pot. “Whatcha

more. “I remember it was one

moving closer. “Need

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

But I hesitate, unsure. I’m

But at the same time, I can’t bring myself to be

willingly agreed to set the record

is taking over

“Could you chop those

knife and starts slicing, his movements as fluid as

to—full of life,

side by side, I can’t help but marvel at

I find myself imagining what it would be like to have him

at

perfect sous chef—steady,

to ask him if he would join me

my head to

thinking? This is just dinner, nothing