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

with the register. “Hey, what’s going

this da mn thing,” she mutters, her fingers hovering over the register

evening.”

her and start navigating through the

life, responding as it should. Chloe releases

been holding.

Abby. I thought I’d have to do all the transactions

her a reassuring smile. “Anything else I

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

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

the counter, crossing

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

don’t want to see you get hurt

echoing the fears I keep buried deep down, but I push them away, offering her a

Learned

to happen again.”

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

him hurting you again.”

hand. “I appreciate your concern,

make my own decisions, and I don’t need to

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

reluctant nod. “I understand.”

I say, my voice

Chloe’s words reverberate in

frustrated. This entire situation, I realize, is like walking

concern and independence,

to strain my friendship with Chloe. Our bond

to trust me, to

those years ago, who

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

friends just see me as a

that’s bad for

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

his lips. Our intimacy in the kitchen, which we

spoken about.

delicious mistake.

…

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