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

glances at the screen again, his eyes scanning the article. “You know, I might be able to

I was sourcing ingredients

flinch at the mention of Adam’s name. Every memory of that

only the breakup, but the

catches himself, shaking his head. “But Abby, the point is,

If you let me, I

Karl’s help churns my stomach. Can I trust

“Fine,” I finally say. “Give it

light up, almost as if he’s been waiting for

a number. I can hear the phone

says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I

in my chest as I listen to him speak to

smooth confidence that I remember

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

and looks at me, his eyes filled with a mix

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

really on my own with

puts his phone away and gazes at me, a mixture of emotions swirling in his

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

even when the odds are against you, you can still turn things

at the article about black truffles on my screen, then

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

do.”

silence. But the room feels

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

that has finally burst.

looks startled, his eyes widening as he takes

wrong?”

so bs, taking a deep breath before I let it all spill out. “It’s

with

my friends, Karl. I

in the air. The

surprise. Karl jumps up from his seat. “I’ll talk

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