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 bar where Chloe is standing. Frustration is

as she fiddles with the register. “Hey, what’s going on?” I

her fingers hovering

evening.”

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

life, responding as it should. Chloe releases a breath

been holding.

have

reply, giving her a reassuring

it. But…” She hesitates, her eyes flickering with

have snapped at you. Especially

counter, crossing my

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

you get hurt again,

fears I keep buried deep down, but I push them away,

Karl once, remember? Learned my lesson the

to happen again.”

says softly, “but it’s just… you deserve so much better, and I

him hurting you again.”

appreciate

I can make my own decisions, and I don’t

beat, a mix of emotions swirling in her eyes, before she

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

I say, my voice

make my way back to my office, Chloe’s words reverberate in my head. A part of me

another part is frustrated. This entire situation, I

concern and independence, friendship and

strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond means more

I want—no, need—her to trust

charms all those years ago, who got lost in

got my heart broken. I’ve grown, learned, and changed. Why can’t my

feel as though all of my friends just see me as a fool who would so

guy that’s bad for

though, a thought comes to mind.

me, the taste of his lips. Our intimacy in the kitchen,

spoken about.

horrible, delicious mistake. And it

…

with the last employees heading home for