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

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

thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering

evening.”

beside her and start navigating through the system. A

to life, responding as it should. Chloe

been holding.

I’d have to

reply, giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything else

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

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

lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Chloe, it’s

your

get hurt again, fall into another toxic

I keep buried deep down, but

Learned my

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

out, gently squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your

decisions, and I don’t need to be monitored or

mix of emotions swirling

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

my voice soft, before turning

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

frustrated. This entire situation, I realize, is like

concern

this to strain my friendship with Chloe.

need—her to trust

the same Abby who fell for Karl’s charms all those

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

feel as though all of my friends just see me as

that’s bad for

into my office chair, though, a thought

his lips. Our intimacy in the kitchen, which

spoken about.

A wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake.

…

since fallen quiet, with the last employees heading