Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

On the morning of the cook-off, I’m already awake before my alarm even starts

buzzing.

Last night, I hardly slept at all thanks to a combination of excitement over the

cook-off and my wine-induced conversation with Karl. All night, his words

swirled around my mind: “I’m really proud of you,” he had said.

Hearing Karl say those words was so unexpected, yet so heartwarming at the

same time. I can’t get them out of my mind, like a lost puppy who’s found her

home, or a shipwreck survivor lost at sea who has found a lifeline. It’s strange

how much of an impact it has had on me.

Enter title…

As soon as my alarm goes off, though, I pop out of bed and thrust myself into

cook-off mode. Today is not the day to be thinking about my ex-husband. Today,

that cook-off, otherwise all of my efforts

been for nothing.

a slightly-too-hot shower, I pull my hair back into

to change into a uniform for the cook-off, so

something simple: a t-shirt, jeans,

this is it,” I murmur to myself, checking

I head out. “Today’s the day you

stairs, grabbing the go-bag that I prepared last

out to the cafe down my street for a quick pick-me-up before the

jingles over my head as

aroma of freshly brewed

named Carol, is behind

Abby! The usual?”

Yes, please—black coffee, one sugar,

brief, and soon I’m sipping my

my throat. It’s like a

with my coffee in one hand and a bagged croissant in the other,

John’s apartment. The air is crisp, the sun

I feel optimistic

as

face when