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 moving

the

to have his presence by my side, but he’s not.

vast and cold than it ever

her voice low. “This…

expected from you.”

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

to—” I start to explain, but my words falter under her

nods, but it’s not one of understanding. “I see what you tried to do,

the plate. I’m

flicks to the second judge, Xavier, a chef

there before he

unbalanced,” he adds

to argue, to defend my dish,

know the chaos that unfolded.

and yet they seem

Logan’s voice, clear and authoritative, that

here is a fundamental

meeting mine.

clutch the edge of my station, my knuckles whitening. “Please,

that the quiver in my voice

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

follow the instructions, Abby. This dish is

asked for.”

hitches, and I find myself gasping for air. “But I—I

shattering. “This is farro

It’s exactly what

wrong,” Logan says with a

is not farro mafaldine with black truffle butter

is already digging

stabs a piece of black truffle

it this

look like a black truffle

suddenly seems as though all of the oxygen