Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 100: Mushroom Hunting
Abby

The weight of failure feels almost physical, like there’s something sharp and heavy literally lodged in

my chest.

I stare at the computer screen displaying “Truffles Unavailable” in blunt, red letters. I’ve sent countless

emails to suppliers, spent hours scouring online marketplaces, and I’ve even visited local storefronts to

browse their selection, all to no avail.

A part of me wants to give up on the recipe altogether, to throw in the towel and declare the universe

the winner in this sadi stic game it’s been playing with me. I could hope that this recipe won’t be chosen,

or at the very least, that I can read enough about it online to get a good idea as to how to make it.

But another part—perhaps the stubborn or perhaps the hopeful part—won’t let me settle for that. What

if this recipe is chosen for the competition? What if the online recipes just don’t do it justice? I need to

be prepared, and this could be my last shot at turning things around.

I close the laptop with a sigh, my eyes drifting to a framed picture of me and Chloe on a past

mushroom hunting trip. It’s not truffles, but maybe, just maybe, I could find something close, something

that’ll at least help me practice the textures and flavors.

…

“Going somewhere?” The voice slices through my thoughts, and I turn around to see Karl standing at

the doorway, his eyes lingering on my hiking boots and backpack. It’s early in the morning, too early for

anyone but me to be here. And yet there’s Karl, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as my grandmother used

to say.

“That’s none of your business,” I shoot back, my voice carrying a sharper edge than I intended. But

really, the last thing I need right now is more complications, more entanglement with him.

He steps into the room, the door falling shut behind him. “Abby, don’t be like this. I told you that I want

to help.”

don’t need help,” I interject, zipping up my backpack with more

I was

eyes penetrating, like he’s looking right

find truffles around here, you know that,

I need to do something, okay? I need to practice and

stern, his posture more

you.”

of Alpha energy in his

Karl I’ve been dealing with lately. And in that moment, something in

way.

myself

and for a split second, I see something there, a glint of

he says, his voice softening. “I’ll get

then he’s gone, leaving me alone in my office, staring at the

I just agree to

…

boots, each step mu ffled by a layer of damp leaves and

earth.

hangs in the early morning air, casting the forest in

if something

a respectful distance, his footsteps softly echoing my own. We

eyes scanning the ground for any

to a cluster near a huge oak

leaning down to take a

away leaves to reveal the reddish-brown caps. “Definitely not the truffles I

yes, they are edible.”

a while, discovering various fungi sca ttered throughout

with vivid colors, others more muted

as I identify them, and

slowly begins to lift.

that time we went mushroom hunting while

breaking a prolonged silence. “You had to

a tinge of nostalgia sweeping over me. “You were so excited, you didn’t even

it right up and ended up

moment, the forest becomes a sanctuary, a place

us, the cool morning air, and nothing else. But then guilt seeps in, muddying

be laughing, not like this, not when I just lost my two best

But then, something happens.

as a distant shout cuts through the mist,

between the

instantly, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind a large