Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0163
Abby

“Okay, John, pass me the truffle oil,” I call out, my focus entirely on the pan in front of me.

“Got it,” John replies, handing me the small, dark bottle.

The kitchen is close to closing time, and John and I have been spending every free moment today

trying to get this recipe right. We don’t have the truffles, but I’ve settled on some substitutions, figuring

that it’ll be better to at least get practice on the dish rather than nothing at all.

I drizzle a few drops over the mafaldine, my eyes narrowing as I try to capture the elusive essence of

the dish in my mind. “It has to be perfect. The competition won’t allow any room for error.”

John smiles, a flash of warmth in his eyes. “You’re doing great, Abby. We’ve got this.”

But as I stir the pasta, incorporating the oil into the sauce, I know something isn’t right. It’s good, but it’s

not perfect. The aroma of the truffles fills the air, but it’s missing that rich, deep scent, the kind that

lingers on your tongue and in your nostrils.

Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s a total failure.

sauteed mushrooms, watching as they combine with

it a

me two white plates, and I spoon generous portions onto

preparation for the cook-off. We sit

as John takes

with the brilliance I had

good,” he says cautiously. “Really

mouthful, letting the flavors play across my taste buds. “But

I say, setting down my fork with a

concern etched into his features. “What’s missing?

perfect?”

head, frustration building. “It’s the truffles, John. These truffles

that black truffles have. Without the right truffles, we can’t

just right.”

a different brand? Maybe it’s the supplier?”

head, exasperated. “I’ve tried three

get our hands

to just keep practicing with what we have.

can be. And when the time comes, you’ll be ready for the

comfort me, but all they do is make me even

dish is what

“I think I

towel onto the counter.