Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 195

Abby

The dinner rush has finally died down, and Anton, John and I are just finishing up our last batch of orders. We’ve been working tirelessly all night, and I can’t wait to have a moment of reprieve. Music is playing over the kitchen speakers, but I’ve hardly heard a word of it, too focused on the food to think about anything else.

At some point, Mr. Thompson slips into the kitchen. I don’t notice his presence until he speaks up, his voice carrying across the din. It almost makes me jump.

“Hello, team,” he says.

I quickly look up, a bit of hair falling into my eyes, and blow it away with a puff of air. “Oh! Mr. Thompson,” I say, straightening a bit. “Is everything going okay out there?”

“Abby, Anton, John,” he acknowledges each of us with a nod. “The food tonight is an absolute hit. The guests are raving about every dish.”

I can’t help but feel a sense of pride wash over me. After everything, the food is a hit. It feels good. Really good.

“Thank you, Mr. Thompson,” I reply with a satisfied grin. “It means a lot. We’ve all been working really hard.”

Mr. Thompson’s eyes twinkle with admiration as he continues. “In fact, some of your fans are asking to meet the chef responsible for these exquisite creations. I suggest you join the party now that the food orders have slowed down. It’s an opportunity for you to bask in the recognition you rightfully deserve.”

I feel a surge of nervous excitement at the prospect of mingling with the guests, but I’m also aware of my disheveled appearance from hours spent in the kitchen. I glance down at my flour-dusted apron and smudged chef’s coat.

“I’ll have to put on my dress and freshen up a bit first,” I say, “but I can mingle for a while after that.”

Mr. Thompson’s smile widens, and he nods in understanding. “Of course, Abby. Take your time. We’ll be looking forward to your entrance.”

When Mr. Thompson leaves, the kitchen falls quiet. I can feel Anton and John’s eyes on me, and it’s obvious that they know now what I’ve really been waiting for all night. When I turn to face them, the looks on their faces tell me all I need to know.

Anton grins, his hands covered in cocoa powder from his most recent batch of tiramisu. “Go on, Abby,” he says. “Go to the party. We know you want to.”

John nods in agreement, his focus on the sizzling grill in front of him. “Yeah, we’ve got the rest covered here. Get out there. Have some fun. You deserve it.”

“And besides,” Anton chimes in before I have the chance to say anything else, “surely Karl is out there, isn’t he?”

My eyes widen. They shouldn’t know that Karl is an Alpha. And they especially shouldn’t know about the… feelings between the two of us.

“Er—He’s not—”

“Quit playing dumb,” John interjects with a wave of his spatula. “We’ve all known for ages now. He’s an Alpha, obviously. And I don’t know the exact history between you two, but it’s obvious that you’ve got feelings toward each other.”

“Yeah,” Daisy, who was just passing by to grab an order from under the warming rack, says. “We all know how you two look at each other. You should go out there and see him. I know you miss him.”

My face heats up even more, and I can’t meet their teasing gazes. “Well, it’s not just about that,” I defend. “I just want to mingle a bit and… meet people. That’s all.”

John chuckles and pats my shoulder. “Sure, Abby. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Now go!” Daisy exclaims, practically kicking me out the door with her shoe as she passes by with several plates of food in her hands.

With their encouragement, I make my way towards my office. My heart is racing, a mix of excitement and nerves. I can do this.

But as I approach my office door, I peek into the main area, my curiosity getting the better of me.

And there, in the center of the room, I see Karl. He’s dancing with a pretty girl with red hair, their movements fluid and graceful. They look so happy together.

My heart sinks, and I feel a lump forming in my throat. It’s like a punch to the gut, seeing him with someone else. I turn away, tears welling up in my eyes. I was so foolish to think I could just waltz back into his life and everything would be the same.

What was I expecting, anyway? He told me that he was holding interviews for a date. Did I just assume that he was bluffing, or that he would change my mind for my sake? Of course I did. And it was silly.

As I watch from my secret corner, Karl leans close to the woman he’s dancing with and says something in her ear. She smiles, her foxen face lighting up at his words. There’s an intimacy between them; I can sense it.

Maybe I shouldn’t get involved. Maybe I should just go back to the kitchen, return to my work, and let Karl have his night.

And that’s exactly what I’ll do.

But as I begin to walk back to the kitchen, my head hung low, I suddenly feel hands on my shoulders, and someone shoves me into my office. The door clicks shut behind me, and when the light turns on, I see that it’s Chloe and Leah.

They exchange worried glances before turning their attention to me. Chloe speaks first, her voice gentle. “Abby, what are you doing?”

I sniffle, wiping away a tear. There’s no use lying. Not to them. “I... I wanted to put on my new dress and maybe attend the party for a bit. But then I saw Karl with his date, and it just hurt too much. I can’t do it.”

Leah steps closer, her expression filled with concern. “Abby, you can’t let Karl’s presence dictate your actions. People are excited to see you here, to taste your incredible food. You don’t need to worry about him.”

I shake my head, feeling utterly defeated. “But it’s not just that. I feel silly, wearing…” I pause, gesturing to the gown hanging on the back of my door. “That. God, it’s like a wedding dress. I’d be making a spectacle out of myself.”

Chloe looks over at the dress, then exchanges a look with Leah before returning her attention toward me. She walks up to me and places both of her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.

“You listen to me,” Chloe says. “Abby, you’re gorgeous, successful, and this night was made possible thanks to you. The gown is beautiful and you deserve to wear it. Are you really going to let your ex-husband’s new fling change that for you? Are you really going to let him deter you from walking out there, looking every bit as radiant and lovely as you deserve?”

Leah nods in agreement. “We believe in you, Abby. Don’t let this moment ruin what should be a celebration of your success.”

I take a deep breath, my gaze flickering from them to the dress hanging on the back of the door. I begin to realize that it’s not just a dress; it’s a manifestation of all of my hard work. All of the blood, sweat, and tears that I put into making tonight happen.

And then, my mind wanders back to that little girl, Charlie. The way her chef’s hat was too big for her head but it never stopped her. The way she called me her hero, the way she threw her arms around my neck.

Chloe and Leah are right. I can’t let one setback derail me. I can’t let Karl’s presence with a new woman overshadow everything I’ve achieved. It’s time to put on that dress, walk out there with my head held high, and enjoy the party.

With a determined smile, I wipe away my tears and nod. “You’re both right. I should wear the dress. And I should go out there and enjoy the party I’ve worked so hard for.”

“That’s the spirit,” Leah says with a grin. “Now… Chloe, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Chloe nods, her eyes scanning me. “Yes I am, Leah. It’s time for a makeover.”