Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0159
Abby

The weight of the world feels like it’s pressing down on my shoulders like a leaden weight, and just

when I think it can’t get any heavier, Karl appears in the doorway of my office.

“Is everything okay, Abby?” he asks, and there’s a genuine concern in his eyes that almost—almost—

makes me want to believe in him again.

I hesitate, my eyes darting to my phone with Chloe’s unsent text. But there’s also a cook-off I need to

win, friendships to mend, and a restaurant to run. “I’m fine,” I lie, although my voice betrays me,

cracking slightly.

“Come on, Abby.” He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “You and I both know that’s not

true.”

I sigh, shifting my gaze to my computer screen where an article on black truffles glares back at me. I

already promised to myself that I wouldn’t let Karl get closer, and everything in my body is screaming at

me right now to send him away.

But before I can stop him, Karl moves closer, leaning on the edge of my desk. “Look, if you don’t want

to talk about it, fine. But if there’s any way I can help—”

“Help?” I snort, incredulous. “You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”

He winces, stung by the harshness of my words.”Alright, fair point,” he concedes, pausing. “But let’s

not pretend that I’m the only complicated thing in your life right now.”

His eyes flicker to my computer screen, then back to me. “Now, what’s this about black truffles?”

I exhale deeply, a mixture of relief and frustration swirling within me. As much as it pains me to admit it,

he’s right; I’m in desperate need of help. “I need them for a dish I’m working on for the cook-off,” I

rare, expensive, and the season’s basically

screen again, his eyes scanning the article. “You know, I

When I was sourcing

Adam’s name. Every memory of that whole debacle is

but the fact that Karl played a

his

who specialize in rare ingredients. If you let me, I can try to

of accepting Karl’s help churns my stomach. Can I trust him? Should

straits I’m in. “Fine,”

if he’s been waiting for this

dials a number. I can hear the phone

says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I

him speak to the supplier. There’s a hint

a smooth confidence that I remember all too well. It’s the same

once upon a time, the same confidence that I’ve been trying to protect myself

an eternity, Karl hangs up and looks at me, his eyes filled with a mix

Abby, but even my supplier can’t get

market right now.”

as if hit by an invisible wave of defeat. “So that’s it, then,” I say

on my

gazes at me, a mixture of emotions swirling in his

flicker of genuine concern. “Abby, I know you have no

when the odds are against you,

at the article about black truffles

it were that easy, Karl,” I say, my voice tinged with an exhaustion I

do.”

while, we just sit in silence. But the room feels like it’s

And then, without warning, I can’t hold it in anymore. Tears spill down my

that has finally burst.

he

wrong?”

let it all spill

out. And Leah sided with her; she said it’s either you or them. And

lose my friends,

of my own words hangs heavy in the air. The fact that I let it all

his seat.

another step, I’m on my feet too, rushing to stand between him