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

they’re rare, expensive, and the

eyes scanning the article. “You know, I might

I was sourcing

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

the breakup, but the fact that Karl

himself, shaking his

If you let me, I can try to secure these truffles for

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

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

he’s been waiting for this

a number. I can hear the phone ring, then

Karl. Listen, I

pounds in my chest as I listen to him speak to the supplier. There’s a

a smooth confidence that I remember all

the same confidence

and looks at

“I’m sorry, Abby, but even my supplier can’t get

market right now.”

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

“I’m really on my

me, a mixture of emotions

know you have no reason to

when the odds are against you, you

article about

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

do.”

just sit in silence. But the room feels

hold it in anymore. Tears spill down my cheeks like

that has finally burst.

his eyes widening as he takes

wrong?”

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

stormed out. And Leah sided with her; she said it’s either

my friends,

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

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

step, I’m on my feet too, rushing to