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

“But they’re rare, expensive,

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

When I was sourcing

Every memory of that whole debacle is a stab to the gut,

the fact that

his head. “But Abby, the point is, I

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

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

I’m in. “Fine,” I

eyes light up, almost as if he’s been waiting for this tiny chance at

and dials a number. I can

Jack,” he says. “It’s Karl.

pounds in my chest as I listen to him speak to the supplier.

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

same confidence that I’ve been trying

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

can’t get them. There are

market right now.”

invisible wave of defeat. “So that’s it, then,” I say softly,

“I’m really on my own

and gazes at me,

a flicker of genuine concern. “Abby, I know you

when the odds are against you, you can still turn

back at the article about black truffles on my screen, then back

I say, my voice tinged with an exhaustion

do.”

while, we just sit in silence. But the room feels

can’t hold it in anymore. Tears spill down my

that has finally burst.

his eyes widening as he takes in my sudden emotional collapse.

wrong?”

between so bs, taking a deep breath before I let it all

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

lose my friends,

heavy in the air. The fact that I let it

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

my feet