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

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

I was sourcing ingredients

of Adam’s name. Every memory of

the breakup, but the fact that Karl played a

he catches himself, shaking his head.

ingredients. If you let me, I can

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

straits I’m in. “Fine,” I finally say. “Give it a

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

I can hear the phone ring,

Jack,” he says. “It’s Karl. Listen,

I listen to him speak to

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

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

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

sorry, Abby, but even my supplier can’t

market right now.”

of defeat. “So that’s

on my own with

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 to trust

odds are against you, you can

article about black truffles on my screen,

wish it were that easy, Karl,” I say, my voice

do.”

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

in anymore.

that has finally burst.

startled, his eyes widening as he takes in my sudden emotional collapse. “Abby,

wrong?”

breath before I let it all spill out. “It’s Chloe,” I manage to say,

tremulous. “She quit, stormed out. And Leah sided with her; she said it’s either you or them.

lose my friends,

the air. The fact that I let it all out

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

on my feet