Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Or will Gianna's claws sink into the very earth we stand on?

I'm sitting in the living room. The sun has long since gone down, and I'm curled up beneath a blanket with a good book. After my date with Elsie earlier, I feel lighter—but I also feel heavier, because I keep thinking about all of the possibilities, all of the what-ifs.

As I try to focus on my book, though, I hear someone coming. I look up from the pages and see Karl walking in, a mischievous grin on his face. His sudden appearance catches me off guard.

“You're grinning from ear to ear. What's going on?” I ask, closing the book and setting it aside.

Karl takes a seat across from me, his eyes fixed on mine. “I've got a proposition for you,” he says, his voice filled with excitement.

I arch an eyebrow, intrigued by his enthusiasm. “Okay, I'm listening. What's this proposition of yours?"

“So I was talking to Sarah earlier,” he says, “and I'm going to be working on a library building project in town.”

"Okay," I say. “That sounds interesting.”

“But that's not all,” Karl explains. “I had an idea when she mentioned it to me. Something that might help your restaurant staff, just as you said you wanted to do.”

I furrow my brow. “Go on.”

Karl takes a deep breath before he continues. “What if we brought your staff here? The event needs a caterer for the workers. It'll be a weeklong project.”

My eyes widen in surprise at his suggestion. It's not at all what I expected to hear. “Wait, you want to bring my restaurant staff here? For a whole week?”

Karl nods eagerly. “Yes! We can have them provide food for the workers, and I'll pay them well for their services. It'll give them a job and create great press for your restaurant, Abby."

I'm taken aback by the idea. On one hand, I miss running my restaurant and being in the kitchen. The thought of being at the forefront of a food operation again is enticing. On the other hand, it means facing Chloe and Leah and confessing everything.

It's going to be complicated and maybe even a little embarrassing, to say the least.

“Karl, this is a crazy idea,” I say, shaking my head. “I mean, I miss running my restaurant, but bringing my staff here for a week?"

"Abby, you have to trust me on this,” he says softly. “I've thought it through, and I believe it's a win- win situation. Your staff gets to make some money, and your restaurant gets positive publicity. You'll be in charge, running the show, just like old times.”

I can't deny the appeal of being back in control of my restaurant, even if it's just for a week. And the idea of my staff benefiting from it is heartwarming. But there's still a part of me that's skeptical, that wonders if Karl's motives are solely driven by the need to boost his approval ratings.

“Karl, are you doing all of this just for your approval ratings?”

Karl's gaze softens. “Abby, I won't deny that my approval ratings matter to me,” he admits. “But I also want to make things right, for both of us. I promised I would come up with something to help you and your staff, didn't 1?”

"You've changed,” I murmur.

Karl chuckles. “I try,” he says. “And by the way, before you ask: I'll talk to Chloe and Leah.”

My eyebrows raise. “Really? You'll do that?”

"Abby, of course,” Karl says. “A deal is a deal. You wanted me to confess to Chloe and Leah, and so I will. Besides, I want to.”

Karl's words take me by surprise. I guess I never expected him to actually follow through with the stipulations of our agreement, and yet here he is, making promises before I even have the chance to ask.

"Well?" Karl asks, quirking an eyebrow. “What do you say?”

I nod, already too intrigued by this idea to say no. “Let's go for it," I say.

Karl grins. “Good,” he says, standing. “If you can just send out the invite to your staff, Ill handle everything else.”

With that, Karl turns on his heel and begins to walk out of the room. But I find myself standing, calling after him. “Karl, wait.”

Karl pauses, slowly turning to face me. “What's up?”

As I look at him, I feel a blush creep into my cheeks. I hate to admit it, even to myself, but his actions tonight have softened me toward him ever so slightly. And as I stand here, looking at him in the dim light of the living room, I can't help but feel that undeniable attraction to him once more. “T-Thank you,” I manage, still holding his gaze despite the heat in my cheeks. “For everything.”

Karl looks at me for a moment, and then his eyes soften. “No, Abby,” he says. “Thank you.”