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.

watching as they combine with the mafaldine.

it a

white plates, and I spoon generous portions onto each,

cook-off. We sit down

takes

eyes light up, but not with the brilliance I

says cautiously.

mouthful, letting the flavors play across

setting down

meets my eyes, concern etched into his features. “What’s missing? What do

perfect?”

head, frustration building. “It’s the truffles, John. These truffles just don’t have

right truffles,

just right.”

a different brand?

head, exasperated. “I’ve tried three different suppliers already. Unless a miracle happens,

can get our hands on

have to

as it can be. And when

meant to comfort me, but all they do is

the missing element to this dish is what is supposed to make

think I

towel onto the counter.