Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 35

Abby

I weave through the tables, greeting my customers. A lot of my regulars are here tonight, and I stop at Emily’s table. She’s here with her friends, Lunas like her. I know most of them from when Karl and I were married.

Emily looks up at me, and I plaster on a smile. “Hi, dear,” she says, her tone as patronizing as ever. “Wonderful food tonight.”

She gestures to her empty plate, and I wave over Freddy. He walks to us. “Clear these,” I say. He nods and takes their plates away.

“He’s yummy,” one of her friends says, watching him stride away.

“He sure is,” Emily agrees.

She looks up at me and I force a smile. “Is there anything I can get for you guys?”

“No, dear. We’re just finishing up our drinks.” She lifts her martini to her lips and takes a sip.

“We were just talking about the Alpha party,” her friend Lauren adds. We used to make polite chit-chat with each other at Alpha events. Now she looks at me like I’m miles beneath her. It makes my anger flare. Luckily, I’ve gotten good at hiding my feelings, and I don’t think my smile changes when my gaze lands on her.

“Oh, that should be fun,” I say.

“It’s really too bad you won’t be there,” Emily replies. “We miss having you at all these events.”

I seriously doubt she misses it at all. I don’t bother to tell her she might actually see me there. I’m assuming Karl still plans to take me, but I haven’t inquired recently. We’re not exactly on good terms right now, and the thought of attending a stuffy party with him doesn’t sound all that fun. But a bet is a bet, and he stuck to his word; he won.

I wonder what they’ll think if they see us there together. Will they think we’ve reconciled? I don’t want to give the wrong impression because that’s never going to happen, especially not after what he did.

“Yeah, it is,” I say. “I’ll leave you guys with your drinks if there’s nothing I can get you.”

“Thanks,” Emily says, giving me a false smile.

I turn to walk away, but I’m still close enough to hear Lauren’s cutting remark. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” One of them giggles. “Karl really did a number on her.” If only they knew he was working a few feet away, cleaning dishes.

I square my shoulders and move on to the next table. That last remark stays with me as I finish my rounds and walk back to the kitchen. It was a well-aimed blow. Karl really did do a number on me, and now here he is, finishing what he started.

He glances up when I walk in, and I narrow my eyes at him. His eyebrows go up, but he turns back to his work. I really can’t stand how attracted I am to him, it’s almost like my anger heightens it.