Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 198

Karl

“Come on, let’s dance.”

Shana’s hand slips into mine, her fingers delicate and warm as she pulls me away from Abby. I’m still at a loss for words, both stunned and unbelievably proud of Abby standing up against Emily and her little gang of mean girls. But as soon as it was over, Shana pulled me away, and I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Abby.

And, god, she looks so stunning in her dress. The white reflects the light like a freshwater pearl, the beading creating little rainbows as the lights over the dancefloor land on her. The plunging neckline flatters her in an elegant yet sexy way, and when I got a glimpse of the low back earlier when she turned away to tell off Emily and the other Lunas, I had to look away before my face turned a bright shade of red.

But I shouldn’t be thinking about her. I’m with Shana now, and she looks beautiful, too. It would be wrong of me to be looking at my ex-wife when I’m with another woman.

And yet, as we step onto the dance floor, I can’t help but feel a pang of unease beginning to blossom in my chest. I wonder if she’s upset about our conversation with Abby, but the way she smiles at me as we begin to dance makes me wonder.

The soft strains of music surround us, and we begin to sway to the rhythm. Shana’s graceful movements and the way her red hair catches the dim light create an enchanting atmosphere. Despite my initial concerns, the dance is surprisingly comfortable, and we fall into a smooth rhythm.

But neither of us speaks. It’s not a comfortable silence, either. Instead, it feels as though we just… have nothing to talk about. And it’s not the first time tonight that it’s felt that way.

After a while, however, Shana finally breaks the silence. “Karl, can I ask you something?”

I meet her gaze, a bit apprehensive. God, here it is; she’s going to tell me off for talking to my ex-wife. But I couldn’t help it. Was I rude earlier when I excused myself to go say hello to Abby? Shit, of course I was. I acted like a jerk. And now she’s standing here, staring at me, waiting for me to say something.

“Of course, Shana,” I finally manage. “What’s on your mind?”

She studies me for a moment, her eyes searching my face before she takes a deep breath and speaks. “Do you still love Abby?”

Her question catches me off guard, and I hesitate. “I, um…”

“Be honest,” she says. “I can tell if you’re lying. I’m not an idiot, you know.”

“I...I don’t know, Shana,” I finally admit, realizing that she’s right: there’s no use in lying. “Abby and I… We’ve been through a lot, and things have changed.”

I expect Shana to freak out, maybe even to slap me across my face like any woman would. But she doesn’t. Instead, she smiles gently, her eyes warm in the glow of the dance floor lights. “I can see the way you look at each other, Karl. It’s as if there’s still something there, a connection that hasn’t faded.”

I shift uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. “Well, we do share a history, but that doesn’t mean…”

Shana’s smile only widens, and she cuts through my hesitation. “Karl, it’s okay,” she says, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “You don’t have to deny it. Sometimes, the heart knows what it wants.”

I'm taken aback by her understanding, her perception of a situation that I’ve been trying to ignore for the sake of duty. “Shana, I appreciate your kindness, but you have nothing to worry about. Abby and I...we’ve moved on.”

She chuckles softly, her hand still resting in mine as we dance. “I’m not worried, Karl. In fact, I think you should try to win her back.”

I raise an eyebrow, surprised by her words. Without meaning to, I stop dancing for a moment. “Why would you say that?” I ask, feeling my heart as it pounds in my chest.

Shana, however, doesn’t miss a beat. Instead, she pushes me to keep dancing. Her eyes twinkle with a secret, and she leans in closer. “Because, Karl, I’m only here tonight because my father forced me to attend. There’s no real spark between us, no connection.”

Her words leave me taken aback. So I’m not the only one who sensed it. “Shana, I’m sorry,” I say. “But you’re right. I like you, but I just don’t think we…”

“Click?” she asks, cocking her head to the side.

I nod, feeling guilty. “Yes. I’m sorry.”

But much to my surprise, Shana simply shrugs. “Of course we don’t,” she says gently. “Because we’re both in love with other people.”

My heart skips a beat at her confession. “You… You are?”

She nods. “Karl, I’m in love with someone else; someone that my family doesn’t approve of. That’s why I’m here—to make my parents happy, even though it’s killing me on the inside.”

“Wow, Shana, that’s…” I pause, unsure of what to say. To think that I almost wound up in a relationship with someone who was only interested in me to please her parents hurts, but I guess I was no different. Here I was, dancing with a woman who I only agreed to go out with to fulfill my own duties.

“Thank you for telling me,” I finally say with a gentle smile. “And… I have to admit, I feel a sense of kinship with you now,” I continue, laughing slightly.

Shana returns my laugh. “I knew as soon as you saw her walk in,” she says, “that you couldn’t get her off your mind. And on our previous dates, I saw how you always seemed so far away. I knew you were thinking of someone else.”

Now, I feel a little guilty again. “I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel—”

But Shana just shakes her head, cutting me off. “Don’t apologize, Karl. I was far away, too, thinking of my girlfriend. I guess I thought that you and I could maybe grow to love each other in our own twisted way, but seeing the way you looked at your ex-wife just now… I think we would both be suffering in the end,” she says.

“So you think we should go our separate ways? Is that what you’re suggesting?” I ask.

She nods, her expression sincere. “Exactly, Karl. Thanks to you, I’m going to go to my love, and I’m going to run away with her, just like we’ve been wanting to do. And if there’s a chance for you to find happiness with Abby again, I would be genuinely happy for you.”

I don’t know what to say. I feel an immense relief, as though an enormous weight was just lifted off of my shoulders. But at the same time, I feel a sinking sense of dread, because I’m not sure if Abby even wants me.

After our last encounter in her apartment, I’m not so sure if she’s keen on romance anymore. Not with me, at least.

The song comes to an end, and we slow to a stop. Shana gives me a warm hug and whispers into my ear, “Thank you for a lovely night, Karl. But now, I think it’s time for you to go after what your heart truly desires. And I think it’s time that I do the same.”

With those parting words, she releases me and walks away, disappearing into the crowd. I watch her go, feeling a mixture of surprise and gratitude. Shana’s unexpected support has left me with a newfound determination.

I need to find Abby.