Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 378

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.”