Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 189

Abby

It’s a short walk to Chloe’s apartment, but it seems to drag on forever as my mind whirls with possibilities. What will I say to Chloe? Will she even want to speak to me? What if this truly is the end of our friendship?

When I finally reach her door, my hand hesitates in the air, hovering over the doorbell. This needs to be done, I remind myself, and I press the button.

The door swings open, and I’m met with Chloe’s look of surprise. There’s a glass of wine in her slightly shaking hand, and her eyes are wide.

“Abby? What are you doing here?” she asks, her voice as cold as ice.

“I know it’s late, but I needed to talk to you,” I respond. “Please. Are you busy?”

Her eyes flicker. There’s a flash of hesitation there. “I’m not sure if I want to talk, Abby.”

“It’s important,” I insist. “It’s about the restaurant, the cook-off, everything. I need my friend.”

She opens her mouth, maybe to say something, maybe to invite me in, but then her eyes narrow. “Are you still talking to Karl?”

I blink. “Yes, Karl’s been helping me out, but—”

“Then this conversation is done.”

The door starts to close, but I wedge my foot in the gap, a sudden burst of desperate courage. “Chloe, please. Can’t you just hear me out?”

Chloe looks down at my foot, then back up at me. “You should leave, Abby.”

“No,” I say firmly. My voice shakes, but I lock eyes with her. “I won’t go. Not until we’ve talked this through. We owe each other that much, don’t we?”

There’s a long pause, and for a moment, I think she’s going to slam the door on my foot. But then she sighs, steps back, and pulls the door open wider. “Fine. Come in.”

I sigh. “Karl has made mistakes, and I’m not defending that. He was truly awful for a long, long time. But you need to understand that we all make mistakes, Chloe. And we’re all trying to get better, day by day.”

“Oh, is that so? And your way of ‘getting better’ is to stick by your horrific ex-husband?” she asks, incredulous.

“My way of getting better involves sticking by my friends,” I reply softly. “All of them.”

Just then, I hear footsteps and turn to see Leah emerging from the hallway, glass of wine in hand. “Chlo, what’s—” She freezes when she sees me, her eyes widening.

“Abby?” Leah’s voice trembles ever so slightly upon seeing me. I think I can see a hint of what looks like embarrassment in her eyes, but there’s hope there, too.

“Don’t mind her,” Chloe growls, blocking my way. “Abby was just leaving.”

Before I can say anything, Chloe grabs my shoulder and begins guiding me back to the door, gently but with firm conviction. As we reach the doorway, however, I wrench myself free and whip around to face her and Leah again.