Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

The atmosphere shifts as our arms untangle. We’re all a little teary-eyed, but none of us say it. Instead,

Chloe reaches for a tissue from the box on her coffee table, and holds it out for me.

“Well, I didn’t expect this tonight,” Leah says, sniffling.

“Yeah, me neither,” Chloe says, dabbing at her eyes too. She looks at me, her gaze still soft but

punctuated by a new intensity. “But I just have one more thing to say: it can’t always be this easy, Abby.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, bracing myself.

Chloe seems to choose her words carefully as she speaks. “I need to know you’re serious about what you

said. Karl gets one more chance, Abby. One. If he messes up again, and you keep giving him the time of

day, then—”

Enter title…

She doesn’t finish, but she doesn’t need to. “I get it,” I say quietly, locking eyes with her. “And thank you.

Thank you for giving me another chance, too.”

Chloe nods, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “Well, someone’s gotta keep you on your toes, right?”

“Speak for yourself,” Leah chimes in, picking up her wine glass from the coffee table. “Keeping both of you

in check is like my full-time job at this point.”

A ripple of laughter goes through us, as if the pressure has been released. We settle into Chloe’s plush

sofas, the soft cushions embracing us like an old friend. Chloe refills our wine glasses, and we toast.

Leah says,

it’s

understanding,”

…

Chloe and I walk through the front door of the restaurant, I feel lighter. It’s a new

metaphorically and literally.

throwing her hands up

genuinely happy. “It’s good to be

jokes with a wink, even though it’s

I feel a sudden tension coil in the air. I glance towards the

moment,

Here it comes.

leaves me speechless, Chloe walks up to him and extends

takes her hand, shaking it firmly. They exchange a few inaudible

his ear. He nods, almost imperceptibly,

to the kitchen.

ask Chloe as

nothing. Just a

eyes but can’t contain my grin. “You’re incredible,

me for it,” she counters,

invoices, and brief exchanges with staff.

door, and I look

frame.

sec?” he

“Sure. What’s up?”

paper with a name and phone number scribbled on it.

is super interested in covering the restaurant for

surprised.

nods, offering a half-smile. “Just doing my part.

office, I dial the number. My pulse races a little; I

female voice says