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 was sourcing

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

the breakup, but the fact

his head. “But Abby,

you let me, I

help churns my stomach. Can

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

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

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

Karl.

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

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

once upon a time, the same confidence that

Karl hangs up and looks at me, his eyes filled with a

my supplier can’t get them. There are none available on

market right now.”

if hit by an invisible wave of defeat.

on my own

his phone away and gazes at me, a mixture

even a flicker of genuine concern. “Abby, I know you have no reason

odds are against you, you

back at the article about black truffles on

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

do.”

sit in silence. But the room

hold it in anymore. Tears

that has finally burst.

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

wrong?”

hiccup between so bs, taking a deep breath before I let it all

stormed out. And Leah sided with her; she said

my friends,

weight of my own words hangs heavy in the air. The fact that I let it all out like

from his seat. “I’ll talk to

before he can take another step, I’m on my feet too, rushing to stand between him and