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 the mafaldine. “Okay, let’s plate

it a

and I spoon

preparation for the cook-off. We sit down

takes

up, but not with the brilliance I had hoped

good,” he says cautiously. “Really

a mouthful, letting the flavors

down

meets my eyes, concern etched into his features.

perfect?”

truffles,

the right truffles, we

just right.”

try a different brand?

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

our hands

have to just keep practicing

as perfect as it can be. And when

are meant to comfort me, but all they do is

the missing element to this dish is

clenched in my hand. “I think I need to take a break,” I mutter,

towel onto the counter.