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

When I was sourcing ingredients for

mention of Adam’s name. Every memory of that

reminder of not only the breakup, but the fact that

shaking his head. “But

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

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

“Fine,” I

if he’s been waiting for this tiny

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

Jack,” he says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I need

heart pounds in my chest as I listen to him speak to the

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

confidence that I’ve been trying to

up and looks at me, his eyes filled

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

market right now.”

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

really on my own

puts his phone away and gazes at me, a mixture of

concern. “Abby, I know you have no reason to trust me. And I

when the odds are against you, you

about black truffles on my screen,

I say, my voice

do.”

just sit in silence. But the room

then, without warning, I can’t hold it in anymore. Tears spill down my cheeks like a

that has finally burst.

his eyes widening as he takes in my sudden emotional

wrong?”

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

out. And Leah sided with

friends, Karl.

the air. The fact

his seat. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll fix

I’m on my feet too, rushing