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

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

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

evening.”

beside her and start navigating through the system.

to life, responding as it should. Chloe

been holding.

have to do all the transactions

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

that’s it. But…” She hesitates, her

night… I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Especially not over

crossing my arms. “Chloe, it’s

she insists, her eyes earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby, and I’m just… I’m worried

get hurt again, fall

buried deep down, but I push them

married Karl once, remember? Learned my lesson the

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

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

make my own decisions, and I don’t

gaze for a beat, a mix of emotions swirling in her

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

I say, my voice soft, before

Chloe’s words reverberate in my head. A part of me

by her concern, but another part is frustrated. This

between concern and

strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more to

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

for Karl’s charms all those years ago, who got lost in a

I’ve grown, learned,

as though all of my friends just see me as a

guy that’s

my office chair, though, a thought comes to mind. A memory,

his

spoken about.

A wonderful, horrible, delicious

…

with the last