Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0160
Abby

The weight of failure feels almost physical, like there’s something sharp and heavy literally lodged in

my chest.

I stare at the computer screen displaying “Truffles Unavailable” in blunt, red letters. I’ve sent countless

emails to suppliers, spent hours scouring online marketplaces, and I’ve even visited local storefronts to

browse their selection, all to no avail.

A part of me wants to give up on the recipe altogether, to throw in the towel and declare the universe

the winner in this sa distic game it’s been playing with me. I could hope that this recipe won’t be chosen,

or at the very least, that I can read enough about it online to get a good idea as to how to make it.

But another part—perhaps the stubborn or perhaps the hopeful part—won’t let me settle for that. What

if this recipe is chosen for the competition? What if the online recipes just don’t do it justice? I need to

be prepared, and this could be my last shot at turning things around.

I close the laptop with a sigh, my eyes drifting to a framed picture of me and Chloe on a past

mushroom hunting trip. It’s not truffles, but maybe, just maybe, I could find something close, something

that’ll at least help me practice the textures and flavors.

…

“Going somewhere?” The voice slices through my thoughts, and I turn around to see Karl standing at

the doorway, his eyes lingering on my hiking boots and backpack. It’s early in the morning, too early for

anyone but me to be here. And yet there’s Karl, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as my grandmother used

to say.

“That’s none of your business,” I shoot back, my voice carrying a sharper edge than I intended. But

really, the last thing I need right now is more complications, more entanglement with him.

He steps into the room, the door falling shut behind him. “Abby, don’t be like this. I told you that I want

to help.”

that, but I don’t need help,” I interject, zipping up my backpack with more force

I

moment, his eyes penetrating, like he’s

to find truffles around

“but I need to do something, okay? I need to

his voice turning stern, his posture more rigid. “Then let me

you.”

in his eyes, a silent, commanding aura that’s

dealing with lately. And

way.

myself

meet mine, and for a split second, I see something

says, his voice softening.

me alone in my office, staring at the

just agree

…

boots, each step m ffled

earth.

casting the

a dream. Or maybe a nightmare, if something were

respectful distance, his footsteps softly echoing

scanning the ground for any signs

there.” I point to a cluster near a huge oak tree’s

to take a closer look. “Are these

reddish-brown caps.

yes, they are edible.”

this way for a while, discovering various

vivid colors, others more muted but

find turns into a mini biology lesson as I identify

slowly begins to lift.

that time we went mushroom

silence. “You had to stop

the memory, a tinge of nostalgia sweeping over

up and ended

brief moment, the forest becomes a

and nothing else. But then

I just lost my two best friends because of

But then, something happens.

cuts through the mist, followed by the disconcerting sound of

echoing between

my arm and pulling me behind a large oak. His body presses