Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Chapter 114
Abby

The clock on the wall reads 11:30 PM, its ticking slicing through the quietness of my office like a knife.

I’m engrossed in the sea of paperwork in front of me when there’s a knock on the door—soft but

persistent. My eyes dart up, half-expecting to see Chloe or maybe Leah, but it’s Karl leaning against

the doorframe.

“Hey,” he says, his eyes not quite meeting mine as he studies the pile of papers on my desk. “Am I

interrupting?”

His sudden appearance sets off a chorus of conflicting emotions inside me. Part of me wants to put up

the barriers again, but another part is surprised and, dare I admit, pleased to see him. It’s late, and I

thought that I was the only one left in the restaurant. As it turns out, I was wrong.

“No, not really,” I reply, setting aside my pen. “Just wrapping up some payroll stuff. What are you still

doing here? It’s late.”

“I wanted to stay late to prep the kitchen for tomorrow.” He pauses, his eyes now finding mine. “Saw

the light on under your door on my way out. Figured I’d check on you.”

The sincerity in his voice is disarming, but there’s a moment of hesitance between us, thick and almost

tangible. Finally, I break the silence. “Oh. Well, I’m fine,” I say, managing a stiff smile. “Thanks.”

Karl stands there for a few moments longer. It’s clear that he’s not planning on leaving, and I sigh,

setting my pen down again. Last night, he helped me with the souffle recipe again. But tonight, I have

other work to do. I can’t focus 100% of my time on preparing for the cook-off.

“What is it?” I ask, glancing up at him.

He shrugs. There’s an almost mischievous look in his eyes, like there’s something that he wants to say

but isn’t saying it. “Bar’s still open,” he says, glancing at his watch. “I was thinking of grabbing a drink.

Wanna join me?”

me by surprise. All this time, I’ve tried to contain our

But then, at the same time,

long that the numbers are starting to dance on the screen in

Finally, with a resolved sigh, I shut my

drink. But

of his mouth that used to drive

can

the restaurant, we head to the bar down the street. The transition from

office to the casual ambiance of the late-night setting feels almost surreal. This bar

creaky wooden

seat beside me. The bartender comes up to us

frequented this bar on Friday nights

restaurant.

Abby,” the bartender says, nodding politely to Karl in turn. “What can

mouth to respond, but before I can, Karl speaks up. “Two

bartender shuffles off, I raise my eyebrow at Karl. “Always

let me order my own

have ordered the same thing

Too well, in fact. The

warmth spreads through me, the lines between past and present blur

bond, but I fight against it. I made

whiskey and some light

fingers nervously circling the rim of his glass. “I need to

that Karl’s reconciliation with Chloe yesterday was enough of an

least for the time being.

I know it’s important to you and to

been such a jerk about it. I was…” He pauses, his brown

in front

between us, charged and filled with an

But

Karl,” I murmur. “Thank

night.”

But I don’t feel as though it was

“Enough? I—”

his brown eyes filled

support you throughout all of this. So whatever you need, I’m here.

you win this competition.”

at his offer. The man I used to love—the man I still