Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 98: One or the Other
Abby

The restaurant is buzzing with activity as we prepare for the lunch rush.

Karl’s returned to work today, and surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as awkward as I thought it would. In fact,

there’s a sense of normalcy that I didn’t expect to find. John, especially, is elated to see Karl back.

“Karl!” he exclaims, throwing his hands up in the air. “Thanks go ds! Get behind this line right now and

give me a hand, will you?”

Karl smirks and tugs his apron on, nodding. “Sure thing,” he says, crossing the kitchen to the line.

“Missed me, huh?”

“Don’t make me admit it.”

For a fleeting moment, I think to myself, maybe this won’t be so bad after all. But before the thought

even has a chance to settle in, the person I was truly dreading the most arrives.

Chloe.

Almost as though she sensed that something is off, Chloe bursts in through the front door. Her eyes

roam around the restaurant, taking in the staff, the prep work, and then they finally land on Karl. Her

expression shifts so quickly, it’s like watching a storm cloud eclipse the sun.

“Abby, can I talk to you? Now?” The temperature in her voice plunges several degrees. I motion her

toward my office. The door barely clicks shut behind us before she explodes.

“What the hell is he doing here?”

Taking a deep breath, I choose my words carefully. “Look, I know it sounds incredibly dumb of me, but

he came clean about a lot of things, Chloe. And he seemed genuinely remorseful.”

“So you just let him back after you just told me that you were done?”

I sigh, passing a hand over my face. “I know. I know it’s st upid. But he wanted to help, and trust me, I’m

keeping my distance. I swear.”

She stares at me, her face a mask of incredulity. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Listen, we really need the extra help right now, Chloe,” I plead, my voice tinged with desperation. “I

can’t spend my entire day working the line with John while there are managerial duties I need to attend

have the resources to train a new

I know it’s st upid, but what

electrified by the tension. Chloe’s eyes narrow, and her

thin line.

You always do. And if you’re telling me

my choice is to not work here any

time again that he can’t change.” Her voice trembles, making her anger

palpable.

reach out, hoping to bridge the gap between us, but Chloe

whispering. “It’ll be okay. Trust

you come to your senses,” she says, her

unshed tears.

word, she turns on her heels and storms

too large and excruciatingly

…

in full swing by the time Leah walks in. The sight of her

of chaos. But today, it just serves

without a doubt. She catches my eye and motions to a

we talk?”

way over, signaling to Ethan to take over the helm while I take

and Leah dives right

Chloe called me

to meet her eyes. Of course she did. “She was furious, Leah. She quit on

blame her? After

frustrated. “No, of course I don’t blame her, Leah. But still, I

situation I’m in. I need all hands on deck for the cook-off,

a good worker.”

sip of her water, looking thoughtful.

by you, or the man who’s ruined everything

over again.”

I say,

mistakes, right?”

fork, her eyes locking onto mine. “You thought he would

How many more chances are you going to give him? And at

gripped by an invisible hand. I

shaking my head as tears threaten to spill out. “Don’t leave

to get up. I can see that her eyes have misted

to go. But Abby, you

have it

that, she’s gone, leaving me alone in a restaurant full of people. The

by a team that relies on my guidance, patrons who

never

…

I lock the front

office, a small room crammed with cookbooks,

days. My phone’s screen glows accusingly at me from