Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 166

“So, what now?” he asks softly. “About the competition, I mean.”

I sigh, my mind racing back to the hours John and I spent in the kitchen, the relentless pursuit of a perfection that now seems so utterly… pointless.

“I think I just have to accept that I can’t practice this recipe the right way,” I finally murmur, taking a step back as I try to ignore the racing of my heart. “I guess not everything can be perfect.”

…

I fumble with my keys at my apartment door, finally managing to unlock it and step inside for the first time since this morning.

The weight of the day presses down on me like a ton of bricks. ‘Exhausted’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. And the frustration over the truffles—or the lack thereof—is the cherry on top.

“God, what a day,” I mumble to myself, tossing my bag onto the coffee table as I collapse onto my couch. I kick off my heels, letting them thud unceremoniously onto the floor. For a moment, I entertain the thought of just falling asleep right here, still in my work clothes.

As if agreeing with me, my eyelids grow heavy and I start to drift, the stress of the day fading away into the welcoming arms of sleep.

But just as I’m about to finally nod off into the sweet embrace of sleep, a sharp ding pierces the air. I jolt awake, my eyes snapping open.

My phone’s screen is lit up on the coffee table, a notification glowing. Rubbing my temples, I sit up and reach for it, my eyes narrowing as I see it’s an email. At this hour?

The sender and subject catch my attention immediately.

My mind starts racing, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I quickly check the recipients of the email. A bunch of internal addresses and... me. My name is there, clearly added by mistake. Someone’s going to have a fun time explaining this slip-up, but right now, that’s the least of my concerns.

My eyes dart back to the email text. I read it again, making sure I didn’t misunderstand. No, it’s clear as day: they’re planning on selecting the truffle dish for the competition.

So, what does this mean for me? It means that I can’t just wing it. It means that somehow, some way, I have to get my hands on those truffles and perfect that dish. The margin for error just got a whole lot smaller, and the stakes are now higher than ever.

I set my phone down, still in a bit of a daze. I wasn’t supposed to see this email, but I did. And as much as it's a breach of internal confidentiality or whatever, right now, it’s also a lifeline.

A lifeline that I sorely needed.