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

expensive, and the season’s

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

When I was sourcing ingredients for

at the mention of Adam’s name. Every memory of that whole debacle is a stab

the fact that Karl played a role in

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

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

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

dire straits I’m in. “Fine,” I finally say.

waiting for this tiny

dials a number. I can hear

says. “It’s Karl. Listen,

my chest as I listen to him

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

confidence that I’ve been trying to protect myself

up and looks at

Abby, but even my supplier can’t get

market right now.”

if hit by an invisible wave of defeat. “So

on my own

puts his phone away and gazes at me, a

know you have no

the odds are against you,

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

Karl,” I say, my voice tinged with an exhaustion I can no longer hide. “I

do.”

silence. But the room feels like

in anymore. Tears spill down my cheeks

that has finally burst.

as he

wrong?”

so bs, taking a deep breath before I let it all spill out.

“She quit, stormed out. And Leah sided with

my friends,

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

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

he can take another step, I’m on my feet too, rushing to