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

I was sourcing

of that whole debacle

of not only the breakup, but the fact that Karl played a role in

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

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

help churns my stomach. Can I trust him? Should

I’m in. “Fine,” I

he’s been waiting for this tiny chance at redemption. He quickly pulls

phone and dials a number. I can hear the phone ring, then someone

he says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I need

in my chest as I listen to him

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

confidence that I’ve been trying to

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

my supplier can’t

market right now.”

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

“I’m really on my own with

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

I know

the odds are against you, you can still

back at the article about black truffles on my

voice tinged with an exhaustion I

do.”

But the room feels like it’s closing in on

in anymore. Tears

that has finally burst.

widening as he takes in my sudden emotional

wrong?”

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

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

my friends, Karl. I

in the air. The fact that I let

seat.

on my feet too, rushing to stand between him and