Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

I feel frozen to my spot as the judges make their way toward Daniel’s station.

The grin stretched across his face almost makes me feel sick, and it’s all I can

do not to run off the stage right now.

“Wow,” Vanessa says as she takes the first bite of Daniel’s dish, which looks

leaps and bounds ahead of mine just by presentation alone. “Really, Daniel;

wow. Despite everything, you created a phenomenal dish.”

“Thank you so much,” Daniel says, his eyes flickering toward me. “You know,

with my sous chef’s wrist in so much pain, it was difficult. But we made it.”

Enter title…

Next, the judges begin making their way toward me, and I feel like I’m going to

be sick. They stop in front of my station, and I can feel the cold weight of

Logan’s gaze on me already.

“Hello, Abby,” Vanessa says, her gaze sweet as ever despite the circumstances.

“Your performance in the second round was lacking, but you’re here now. How

do you feel?”

I swallow. “I feel…” I pause, my throat cracked and dry. “I feel… Hopeful,” I

mutter. Vanessa nods in response along with the third judge, but Logan—his

face is as inscrutable as ever.

begin their taste test, times feels as though it’s

Abby, the chef

was here now, if only to have his presence by my side, but he’s

stage feels even more vast

says, her voice low.

expected from you.”

in my chest as panic begins to set in. “I… I tried

start to explain, but my words falter

nods, but it’s not one of understanding. “I

together on the plate. I’m

the second judge, Xavier, a chef of

there before he even speaks—a profound

unbalanced,” he adds simply, his voice

to argue, to defend my dish, to say that the circumstances were

but I swallow the words. They know the

seem to expect the

it’s Logan’s voice, clear and authoritative, that slices through the

we have here is a fundamental problem,” he states,

meeting mine.

my station, my knuckles whitening. “Please, enlighten

the quiver in my

eyebrow. “Well, to put it plainly…” He

“You didn’t follow the instructions, Abby.

asked for.”

and I find myself gasping for air. “But I—I don’t

shattering. “This is farro mafaldine with

exactly what was asked

you’re wrong,” Logan says with

is not farro mafaldine with black truffle butter

Logan is already digging through the dish with his fork.

horror as he stabs a piece of black

it this way

look like a black truffle

suddenly seems as though all of the oxygen has