Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Abby

Karl and I settle into our seats across from Ethan and Gianna, and although my heart is racing in Gianna's presence, Karl's knee touching mine beneath the table is enough to keep me grounded. Gianna takes in my appearance from across the table. “Interesting dress,” she says, her gaze flicking over me with a hint of disdain behind her eyes. “Is that velvet?”

I pause, glancing down at myself. Now I want to feel more self-conscious than before, but deep down I know that Gianna is just trying to get under my skin. Karl gives my leg a brief squeeze under the table, and that gives me a boost of confidence.

"Yes, it is,” I say, meeting her gaze once more. “I just bought it, actually. You like it?"

Gianna simply shrugs. “It's nice, I suppose,” she says before looking away, still swirling her drink around in her glass.

“So,” Ethan suddenly says, seemingly oblivious—or perhaps willfully ignorant—to the tension, "Abby, how have you been?”

I exchange a glance with Karl, who gives me an encouraging look, before I turn back to Ethan. I realize that there's no use in beating around the bush. Everyone knows about the Alpha gathering disaster. “I've been... better,” I admit with a chuckle. “I'm sure you've heard by now.”

Ethan nods slowly. “I have heard,” he says. “What a shame. So many people got sick.”

His words make my heart sink just a little even just thinking about it. But Karl jumps in before I have to come up with a response. “It's under investigation,” he says. He then pauses, his eyes flickering back and forth between Gianna and Ethan. “Well... You two know.”

We all know what he’s referring to: the interrogation that Gianna was subject to. She shoots me an angry glance, and I suddenly feel the need to apologize even though I know there's no real need to “Gianna, I'm so sorry you got wrapped up in that,” I say. “I only did what the police wanted me to do, and given our history—"

“No need,” Gianna hisses before I can finish. She takes a sip of her drink and levels me with an angry glare. “The interrogation was awful, but it's over. Are you happy now, Abby?"

I do genuinely feel bad. When Officer Martinez asked me about any enemies, Gianna of course came to mind. She has, quite literally, sabotaged me in the past, so it makes sense that she would have been on my list; but it doesn't mean that I don't feel awful that she went through that when it turns out that she was most likely innocent.

“Gianna, I really didn't mean to hurt you,” I say, leaning forward slightly. “But can you blame me?” “Blame you?” Gianna scoffs. “Oh, Abby, you poor—"

"Hey, why don't we all just let bygones be bygones?” Ethan suddenly interrupts in that oh-so- pleasant tone of his. “Let's enjoy our night, shall we?”

There's a silence after Ethan speaks. Karl and I exchange the briefest of glances, and I can tell from the look in his eyes that this isn't the first time Ethan has done this since the Alpha party. I can't tell if Ethan is in denial or if he simply doesn’t know the full extent of what Gianna did, but something tells me that there's no point in trying to make him see reason. Especially not now, over dinner.

We don't bring it up again. The four of us return to our menus, and soon enough, a waiter dressed in a black ensemble stops by our table.

“Good evening,” he says, filling our water glasses. “What can I get for you tonight?”

“I'll have the steak,” Ethan says, then turns to me with a chuckle. “I'm still ravenous.”

“Salad,” Gianna says coldly when the waiter turns to her. “No dressing.”

The waiter nods and jots down their orders. I can just barely make out Ethan whispering to Gianna, asking if that's really all she wants, and she simply nods. Something tells me that she won't be eating tonight anyway, and with the current state of things, I'm not sure if I can stomach any food either.

“Bring a bottle of red wine, would you please?” Ethan says after he and Gianna give the waiter their orders.

"Of course, sir,” the waiter says, then turns to me. “And for you, miss?”

“I'll have... the grilled salmon and asparagus, please,” I say, handing the menu back to the waiter. Karl follows suit, ordering filet mignon with mashed potatoes and a bottle of white wine for the two of us to share. With our orders placed, the waiter disappears to retrieve the wine and some of the fresh bread and cheese that I've been eyeballing on other tables.

We sit in silence for a few moments longer, and I'm not sure if I should say something or just stay quiet. But then, finally, the waiter returns and pours our wine. Once he's gone, Ethan leans forward, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as he speaks.

“You know, Abby, this election is genuinely exciting,” he says. “I wouldn't have thought of it myself, but it was an excellent idea.”

Karl chuckles. “I'm glad you think so, brother. A little friendly competition never hurt, eh?”

“Not at all,” Ethan says, raising his glass.

As I watch their interaction, I can't help but smile. The old Karl never would have done anything like this election, especially not in such a friendly way. But the way he interacts with his brother now makes me think that he really has grown up over the years.

“I'm glad you two are doing this,” I say. “It's admirable, to go up against your own brother like this, especially with such a good attitude about it.”

“Karl and I are all we've got left,” Ethan says as he sets his glass down. There's a tense pause, a moment of remembrance for the family that they both lost years ago, before he continues. “There's no use in being hateful. I realized that when I was trapped in that coma for all those years.”

Karl offers a nod, his gaze averted to the glass of wine in front of him. “I couldn't have asked for a better outcome,” he says slowly. “No matter who wins, I'll look back on this election knowing it was a just and fair trial.”

My heart swells at his words. “Wow,” I breathe. “That's a very mature way to put it.”

At this point, Gianna, who has been completely silent throughout the conversation, interjects with a tone that drips with disdain.

“Well, he's had a lot of maturing to do over the past three years... Haven't you, Karl?"

Her words cause us all to turn to her, and a sudden tension settles over our table. A sudden surge of confusion washes over me.

"What do you mean, Gianna?" I ask.

Gianna levels her gaze with mine. “Well, don't act like we don't all know,” she says in a voice that I can practically taste the venom dripping off of.

I narrow my eyes. “Enlighten me.”

There's a tense silence, a hushed standoff between me and Gianna as Ethan and Karl stare at the two of us, each of them too shocked to say anything just yet. And then, Gianna’s lips twitch upwards at the corners into a wry smirk, and she leans forward onto her elbows.

“I mean your cheating, of course.”