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.

a sigh, I head to the bar where Chloe is

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

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

evening.”

navigating through the system. A few prodded buttons

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

been holding.

Abby. I thought I’d have

giving her a reassuring

that’s it. But…” She hesitates, her eyes

shouldn’t have

lean against the counter, crossing

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

get hurt again, fall

sting, echoing the fears I keep buried deep down, but I push them away,

Learned my lesson

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

reach out, gently squeezing her hand. “I appreciate your concern,

don’t need to

mix of emotions swirling in her

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

my voice soft, before turning

to my office, Chloe’s words

part is frustrated. This entire

between concern and independence, friendship and

with Chloe. Our bond means more to me

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

Karl’s charms all those years ago, who got

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

it feel as though all of my friends just see me as a fool

that’s bad

sink back down into my office chair, though, a thought comes to mind.

hands on me, the taste of his lips.

spoken about.

mistake. A wonderful, horrible, delicious mistake. And

…

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