Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 99: Help in Strange Places
Abby

The weight of the world feels like it’s pressing down on my shoulders like a leaden weight, and just

when I think it can’t get any heavier, Karl appears in the doorway of my office.

“Is everything okay, Abby?” he asks, and there’s a genuine concern in his eyes that almost—almost—

makes me want to believe in him again.

I hesitate, my eyes darting to my phone with Chloe’s unsent text. But there’s also a cook-off I need to

win, friendships to mend, and a restaurant to run. “I’m fine,” I lie, although my voice betrays me,

cracking slightly.

“Come on, Abby.” He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “You and I both know that’s not

true.”

I sigh, shifting my gaze to my computer screen where an article on black truffles glares back at me. I

already promised to myself that I wouldn’t let Karl get closer, and everything in my body is screaming at

me right now to send him away.

But before I can stop him, Karl moves closer, leaning on the edge of my desk. “Look, if you don’t want

to talk about it, fine. But if there’s any way I can help—”

“Help?” I snort, incredulous. “You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”

He winces, stung by the harshness of my words.”Alright, fair point,” he concedes, pausing. “But let’s

not pretend that I’m the only complicated thing in your life right now.”

His eyes flicker to my computer screen, then back to me. “Now, what’s this about black truffles?”

I exhale deeply, a mixture of relief and frustration swirling within me. As much as it pains me to admit it,

he’s right; I’m in desperate need of help. “I need them for a dish I’m working on for the cook-off,” I

rare, expensive,

his eyes scanning the article. “You know, I might

I was sourcing

Every memory of that whole debacle is a

but the

himself, shaking his head. “But Abby, the point is, I have

in rare ingredients. If you let me,

churns my stomach. Can I trust him? Should

I’m in. “Fine,” I finally

light up, almost as if he’s been waiting for this tiny chance at redemption. He

dials a number. I can hear the phone ring, then

“It’s Karl. Listen,

in my chest as I listen to him speak to the supplier. There’s

remember all too well. It’s the same confidence that

the same confidence that I’ve been trying to protect

up and looks at me, his eyes filled

but even my supplier can’t

market right now.”

shoulders slump, as if hit by an invisible wave of defeat. “So that’s it, then,” I say softly, almost

really on my own with

at me, a

of genuine concern. “Abby, I know you have no reason to trust me.

But sometimes, even when the odds are against you, you can still turn things

article about

I say, my voice tinged with an exhaustion

do.”

room feels like it’s closing in on me with each

then, without warning, I can’t hold it in anymore. Tears spill

that has finally burst.

his eyes widening as he takes in my sudden emotional

wrong?”

deep breath before I let it all spill out. “It’s

“She quit, stormed out. And Leah sided with her; she

lose my friends, Karl. I

in the air. The fact that I

his seat. “I’ll talk to

another step, I’m on my feet too,