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.

sigh, I head to the

the register. “Hey, what’s going on?”

mn thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering over

evening.”

her and start navigating through the system. A few prodded

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

been holding.

thought I’d have to do all the

problem,” I reply, giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything else I can

shakes her head. “No, that’s it. But…” She hesitates, her eyes flickering with an

night… I shouldn’t have snapped at you.

against the counter, crossing

earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby, and I’m just…

want to see you get hurt again, fall

deep down, but

once, remember? Learned my lesson the hard

to happen again.”

just… you deserve so much better, and I can’t stand the

him hurting you again.”

hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but I’m not a

don’t

a mix of emotions swirling

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

I say, my voice

Chloe’s words reverberate

but another part is frustrated. This

balancing between concern and independence, friendship and

friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more to me than

at the same time, I want—no, need—her to trust me, to trust my

all those years ago, who got lost in

heart broken. I’ve

that? Why does it feel as though all of my friends just see

that’s bad

though, a thought comes to mind. A memory,

the taste of his

spoken about.

wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake.

…

quiet, with the last