Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 173

Abby

Karl and I burst into the restaurant, a gust of fresh air sweeping in with us as the door swings shut behind.

Our clothes are still wet, covered in mud, and clinging uncomfortably to our skin, but the euphoria coursing through my veins easily overcomes any discomfort that I might be feeling. The kitchen, already in full swing for the day, is a cacophony of noise.

John looks up from behind the line, his knife poised mid-air over a bunch of fresh herbs. His brows knit together as he takes in our disheveled state.

“Where the hell have you both been?”

Without uttering a word, I slide my satchel off my shoulder and set it onto the counter with a triumphant grin. My heart pounds in my chest as I untie the flap, feeling a surge of triumph course through my veins.

Turning the bag upside-down, I silently let the truffles tumble out in a glorious cascade.

John’s eyes go wide, giving him a comical look. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this shocked, except for the one time that one of the waitresses dropped his prized braised lamb all over the floor before the plate even made it out of the kitchen.

He rushes around the counter, hands trembling slightly as he picks one of the mushrooms up, bringing it closer to inspect it carefully. “Is this... a black truffle?”

Tears spring into my eyes as I nod. “Yes, John. Black truffles.”

He’s still holding the truffle, but now he's also holding his breath and staring at us, clearly waiting for an explanation.

“We, uh… had to go off the beaten path,” Karl starts, a tremor in his voice from the lingering adrenaline of our escape. I can tell he’s reliving it all, just like me. “Through poacher territory, believe it or not.”

“We found a waterfall, and behind it... a cave,” I continue, feeling a chill run up my spine as I recount the experience. I’ll probably be reliving it for a long time to come. “A cave full of these bad boys. Artificial lights, the whole setup.”

John’s eyes grow wider with each passing second that I tell the fragments of our story.