Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Chapter 103
Abby

My office is silent as I scroll through the new emails that have landed in my inbox. My fingers drum on

the desk, anticipating the one email that I’ve been waiting for the most—the details of the upcoming

cooking competition.

And then, there it is, bolded and marked with high importance: Cook-Off Competition Details.

Taking a deep breath, I click on it.

The email is concise but packed with information. Attached to it is a long list, detailing every possible

dish that might come up during the competition.

My heart rate quickens as I scan the list. Some dishes I recognize, ones I’ve made a thousand times

over in my career, but others are unfamiliar, exotic even, presenting challenges I’ve never faced before.

I won’t know which three dishes I’ll be asked to prepare on the spot. Which means only one thing: I

have to practice all of them. Every single one.

Grabbing a notepad, I jot down a list of ingredients I’ll need for the more exotic dishes, then turn my

attention to the restaurant’s supplier portal, adding item after item to the shopping list. The ingredients

range from the ordinary to the obscure. Each addition of expensive truffles, caviar, and fresh scallops

makes my anxiety spi ke.

How can I perfect so many dishes in such a short time?

Once the orders are placed, I stretch and push back from the desk, glancing at the clock on the wall.

It’s getting late, but there’s no time to waste. Without a second thought, I pull my hair into a messy bun

and prepare to head to the kitchen to get started.

Before I can leave, however, a sudden page over the intercom draws me from my task.

“Abby, can you come up front for a moment? I need help with the register.” It’s Chloe, her voice

strained.

with a sigh, I head to the bar where Chloe is standing. Frustration is evident on

the register. “Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, striding

mn thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering over the register

evening.”

step beside her and start navigating through the system. A few prodded buttons and adjusted

machine whirrs back to life, responding as it should. Chloe releases

been holding.

have to do all the transactions

reassuring smile.

But…” She

about the other night… I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Especially not

lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Chloe,

“I’m your best friend, Abby,

to see you get

buried deep down, but

Learned

to happen again.”

just… you deserve so much better, and

him hurting you again.”

squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but

I don’t need

of emotions swirling in her eyes, before she

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

say, my voice

make my way back to my office, Chloe’s words

part is frustrated. This entire

tightrope, balancing between concern

to strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more to me than she

need—her to trust me, to trust my judgments and

who fell for Karl’s charms all those years

got my heart broken. I’ve grown, learned,

of my friends just see me as a fool who would so easily

guy that’s bad

back down into my office chair, though, a thought comes

me, the taste of his lips. Our intimacy

spoken about.

mistake. A wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake.

…

since fallen quiet, with the last