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

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

was

Adam’s name. Every memory of that whole debacle is a stab to the gut,

not only the breakup, but the fact that Karl played a

his head. “But Abby, the point is,

let me, I can try to secure these

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

the dire straits I’m in. “Fine,” I finally

been waiting for this tiny chance at redemption.

number. I can hear the

“It’s Karl. Listen, I need a

as I listen to him speak

a smooth confidence that I remember all too well.

a time, the same confidence that I’ve been trying to protect myself

and looks at

Abby, but even my supplier can’t get them. There are none available on

market right now.”

of defeat.

“I’m really on

gazes at me,

know you

even when the odds are against you, you can

back at the article about

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

do.”

But the room feels like it’s closing in on me

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

that has finally burst.

he takes in my sudden emotional collapse. “Abby,

wrong?”

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

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

my friends,

the air. The fact that I let it

his seat. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll

on my feet too, rushing to stand between him and