Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 122

Abby

The sun pours through the curtains, bathing my bedroom in a soft, golden light. As I slowly blink awake, I’m almost immediately filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

My friends, my little family, they all came together to help me last night. My apartment is almost back to normal, just waiting for a fresh coat of paint and some minor repairs that the landlord promised to handle at no cost.

But then it hits me—the kiss.

My cheeks flush at the memory.

Karl and I, alone in the pantry, his lips meeting mine in a stolen moment that felt like it lasted forever. I can’t shake off the feeling of his lips against mine, the sensation of his hair curling through my fingers, or the way my wolf seemed to wake up, even if just for a moment.

And then there was the awkwardness that followed, the way he walked away, his face unreadable. He was quiet the rest of the evening, and I noticed that he slipped away early.

“Ugh,” I groan softly, getting out of bed.

As I walk into the living room, Chloe and Leah, who crashed on my sofa, stir awake.

“Morning, sleepyheads,” I greet them, still trying to shake off my own complicated feelings.

“Good morning,” Leah mumbles, her voice rough from sleep. “I need coffee.”

“Me too,” Chloe agrees, stretching her arms.

I purse my lips, glancing at the kitchen. Unfortunately, my coffee maker was one of the things that got wrecked. I scratch my head and look back at my friends. “Cafe?”

They grin, almost sitting up in unison.

“Cafe it is.”

We decide on a nearby cafe, known for its strong coffee and its fluffy, cloudlike croissants. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, a gentle hum of chatter filling the air.

We settle into a table in the window after grabbing our coffee and pastries, and I’m grateful for the easy conversation, for the warmth of the sun, and for the laughter that temporarily makes me forget about last night’s awkward kiss with Karl.

“So, anything interesting happen with Karl last night?” Chloe finally asks, her eyes meeting mine. “You two were in the pantry for a while and then, boom! Both of you looked like you saw a ghost.”

My face instantly heats up, and I look down at my coffee cup, swirling the foam with my spoon. “No, nothing happened.”

“Mhm, sure,” Chloe says with a frown, not buying it for a second.

“Chloe, stop pushing,” Leah interjects, giving her a warning look.

Chloe rolls her eyes but complies. “Fine, sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“Let’s talk about you instead,” I say, eager to divert the attention away from me. “Any interesting guys in your life lately?”

Chloe chuckles, her eyes lighting up. “Ah, well, last week I hooked up with this guy. He was cute, but man is he desperate. He’s been chasing me ever since, even though I ghosted him.”

I can’t help but laugh as I give her a playful punch in the arm. “You’re so mean!”

Chloe grins, unapologetic. “It’s in my nature, you know that.”

Leah takes a sip of her iced coffee before putting down her glass. “Do you think you’ll ever meet the right guy and settle down, Chloe?”

Chloe’s laughter fills the air, carefree and unrestrained. “Settle down? Me? Never!”

And we all join in the laughter, each of us hiding our own complexities, our fears and hopes tucked away behind the safety of our smiles.

The moment feels bittersweet, and I find my thoughts drifting back to Karl. The tension between us is something I can't ignore, no matter how much I try to laugh it off.

But today, I can’t focus on it. Today, I have friends to laugh with, an article to read, and a restaurant to run.

…

I push open the heavy wooden door to the restaurant an hour later, and a myriad of savory scents envelops me as I step inside.

The sounds of laughter and conversation fill the air, harmonizing with the soft melodies of jazz music playing in the background. I love days where I’m scheduled to come in late, if only because I love the feeling of the restaurant being in full swing when I arrive.

My eyes scan the room until they land on a few familiar faces at the bar: Chloe, Ethan, and Daisy. They smirk when I arrive.

“Hey there,” Chloe says, sliding a newspaper across the bar to me as I approach. “Didn’t forget, did you?”

I swallow. So this is it: the article. They had said it would be a surprise last night, and I didn’t know what that meant at the time. I couldn’t be there for the interview because of the fire, so I have no idea how it went.

“Go on,” Ethan says. “Read it.”

My heart hammers in my chest as I pick up the paper. Unfolding it, my eyes lock onto the headline: “Rising Star Chef Abby Reinvents Culinary Arts.” Below it is a picture of me in the kitchen, captured mid-laugh, looking genuinely happy.

“Hey,” I laugh, holding it up. “Who took this picture?”

“Oh, I did,” Daisy says, checking her nails nonchalantly. “Snuck it a couple weeks ago, actually.”

“Why?” I ask, laughing.

Daisy shrugs. “Ethan asked me to take some pictures for the website. Turns out this one had a better use here.”

I scan through the paragraphs, my eyes soaking in each word. The journalist has painted a vivid picture, not just of me, but of my entire team and how we work together to create something special.

There are quotes from Leah about my leadership, and from John about my innovative dishes. Chloe’s snarky wit is captured in print too, adding humor and liveliness to the narrative.

Finally, the article comes to a close with a final line that sets my heart on fire.

“All in all, Abby’s restaurant—La Belle Vie Bistro—is more than just a restaurant. It’s home.”

As I finish reading, I feel tears brimming in my eyes. It’s better than I could’ve ever hoped for. My eyes lift to meet my team, and I’m shocked to see that more have gathered: John, Anton, and yes, even Karl. They’re all standing around me, expectant looks on their faces.

“Oh my god, guys, this is incredible,” I say, my voice wavering. “Did you all really say these things about me?”

Chloe shrugs, a soft smile on her lips. “Well, someone had to tell the world how amazing you are.”

John adds, “And it’s all true, Abby. We couldn’t let those lies that those other ‘journalists’ wrote be the only thing that people see about you. They should see the truth.”

“We all chipped in,” Ethan chimes in. “Little things. Tidying up, making sure the kitchen looked extra clean, giving the journalist the best food we’ve ever made. We wanted this to be perfect for you.”

I can’t help myself. I stand up and hold my arms out, tears streaming down my cheeks unabashedly. Everyone piles in for a big group hug, and in this moment, I feel my heart do a flip. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just so grateful to have all of you in my life. Thank you for making this so special.”

When we all pull apart, I wipe the tears from my eyes. When I lift my gaze again, I’m met with Karl—he’s standing there, his hands in his pockets, a soft look in his brown eyes. I feel like I could melt, and I have to quickly look away to hide the blush creeping into my cheeks.

“Really, guys,” I say, addressing the group. “Thank you. You know what? Free meals on me tonight. We can all go out. My treat.”

My announcement is met with cheers. In this moment, I feel so light, like I could float away.

But as the team scatters and returns to their work, I’m quickly grounded again as my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and feel myself grow pale. It’s a call from Mr. Thompson. Did he like the article?

Stepping into my office, I answer it.

“Mr. Thompson,” I breathe, clutching my necklace with one hand. “How are you?”

“Abby, I just read the article. Fantastic, just fantastic!” Mr. Thompson’s voice booms over the line.

I feel my shoulders relax instantly. “Thank you, sir. I’m thrilled about it, too,” I reply, still floating on a cloud of happiness.

“Now, don’t get too comfortable,” he warns, a serious edge to his voice. “The pre-competition interview is coming up, and it’s going to be televised. This is big, Abby, even bigger than the article. Are you ready for it?”

My heart leaps into my throat. But right now, more than ever, I feel like I could tackle anything. “Y-Yes, Mr. Thompson. I’ll be ready.”

“Excellent,” he says. “I knew I could count on you. Prepare yourself; this is only the beginning.”