Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 204

Abby

My cheeks flush a deep shade of scarlet as Karl’s question hangs in the air, an unspoken tension filling the room.

I suddenly feel very aware of every minute detail: the way the soft glow from the desk lamp casts a shadow on his face, the almost-empty wine glasses on the edge of my cluttered desk, the nervous drumming of my own fingers against my thigh.

“Um… Wow,” I stammer with a wry chuckle, my tongue suddenly feeling thick in my mouth. “That’s quite a loaded question, Karl. I’ll admit I haven’t even thought about it. I’m sorry.”

I half expect him to get upset again like he did the last time, but much to my surprise, Karl’s lips curl into a slight grin, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Oh, come on, Abby. I was just teasing you. You know, putting you on the spot. That’s what interviewers do, isn’t it?”

He picks up his wine glass and takes a casual sip, as though he hadn’t just completely thrown me off balance.

“I know, I know,” I murmur, reaching for my own glass. The wine feels warm as it trickles down my throat, loosening a knot of tension I didn’t even realize was there. “But you know what? It’s not just any date we’re talking about. I did promise you, after all. I lost the bet, remember?”

His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, the playful mask he wears slips, replaced by genuine surprise. “Did you just—?”

“Yes.” I cut him off, a sudden burst of courage—perhaps fueled by the Merlot—filling me. “Look, if by some miracle I win this competition and have to cater the Alpha party, and that keeps me from being your date…”

I hesitate, weighing my words carefully before letting them spill out. “So, I’ll go on a real date with you. A full, real date, Karl. Anywhere you want.”

The room falls silent, save for the ticking of the wall clock and the distant hum of the city outside, still lively as ever.

Karl looks genuinely taken aback, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second before his ever-present composure settles back in. But it’s enough for me to know that my words have had an impact, and for the first time tonight, I feel like I’m the one who has managed to catch him off guard.

“Abby, you don't have to—”

“No,” I interrupt, placing my glass back on the desk with more force than necessary. “I made a promise, Karl. And maybe it’s the wine talking or maybe it’s the fact that my life is one big ball of chaos right now and I just need something stable to hold onto. But I want to keep that promise.”

I look him square in the eye, my gaze unwavering. “So, there it is. A real date, anywhere you want. If I win the cook-off.”

Karl shakes his head. “Abby, listen—”

“No, you listen,” I say, feeling invigorated by the wine or maybe by the electricity running through my veins. “I made a promise. I plan on sticking to it.”