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 the season’s basically

scanning the article. “You know, I might be able to help

was sourcing ingredients

name. Every memory of that whole debacle is

only the breakup, but the fact that Karl played a role in

shaking his

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

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

straits I’m in. “Fine,” I

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

can hear the phone

Jack,” he says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I

listen to him speak to

remember all

upon a time, the same confidence that I’ve

hangs up and looks at me, his eyes

“I’m sorry, Abby, but even my supplier can’t get them. There are none

market right now.”

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

really on

me, a mixture of emotions swirling in his eyes—guilt,

“Abby, I know you

the odds are against

article about

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

do.”

a while, we just sit in silence. But the room feels like it’s

And then, without warning, I can’t hold it in

that has finally burst.

startled, his eyes widening as he takes in

wrong?”

let it all spill out. “It’s Chloe,” I

out. And Leah sided with her;

my friends, Karl.

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

from his seat. “I’ll talk to her.

my feet too, rushing to stand