Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Karl

The sizzle of sauteing farro mafaldine fills the air as Abby and I maneuver

around our station like we’ve done this a million times before. I can sense a

newfound glimmer in Abby’s eyes, a hint of something confident and downright

mesmerizing.

“Ken,” Abby’s voice cuts sharply through the noise, using the pseudonym that I

chose earlier today like it’s second nature to her despite the pressure, “start on

the mushrooms. I’ll handle the mafaldine and get the sauce going.”

“On it,” I reply, grabbing a skillet. I drizzle the olive oil into the pan just as I’ve

watched Anton and John do all along, having taken their motions and saved

Enter title…

them in a little recess in the back of my mind, like a sponge soaking up

knowledge.

doesn’t miss a beat, her hands working with a practiced

kneading the pasta dough and begins

conspiratorial glance that says we’ve got

the bag, so long as we don’t have another sabotage on

sure those mushrooms are golden, Ken,” she says. “They need to

perfect.”

adjusting the

“‘Chef,’” she says. “I like when

me that.”

then, her hands move over the mafaldine, her attention back

soon,” she says. “Can you

up,” I say, although the mushrooms demand my

the

scent of the saffron.

I turn down the heat and take a step away from the stove, wiping

towel that’s slung over my

to the pantry, I can’t help but feel the prickling sensation

on the cusp of victory. Abby is bound to win this, I’m sure of it.

of a bust, but lady luck is

the door to the pantry swings