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.

the bar where Chloe is standing.

with the register. “Hey, what’s

hovering over the register keys. “It’s

evening.”

beside her and start navigating through the system. A

as it should. Chloe releases

been holding.

I’d have to do

reply, giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything

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

shouldn’t have

crossing

it’s not,” she insists, her eyes earnest. “I’m your best friend, Abby, and I’m just… I’m

to see you get hurt again, fall into

words sting, echoing the fears I keep buried deep down, but

already married Karl once, remember? Learned

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

reach out, gently squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but I’m not a

I can make my own decisions, and I don’t need to be monitored or told what to

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

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

say, my voice

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

another part is frustrated. This entire situation,

balancing between concern and independence,

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

want—no, need—her to trust me, to trust

charms all those years ago, who

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

friends just see me

guy that’s bad

chair, though, a

Karl’s hands on me, the taste of his lips. Our intimacy in

spoken about.

mistake. A wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake. And

…

kitchen has long since fallen quiet, with the last employees heading home for the night.