Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 49: Up Late
Abby

The morning sun bathes my office in a gentle glow as I dial Leah’s number, eager to discuss Chloe’s

upcoming birthday.

The phone rings a few times before Leah’s raspy voice picks up on the other end.

“Abby? That you?”

“Leah, hey,” I greet, trying to hide my concern. “You sound terrible. What’s up?”

She lets out a congested laugh. “Caught a nasty cold. I’m in bed, sipping on some horrid chicken soup.

Can’t believe I’m missing all the action.”

“That’s terrible,” I answer. “I was hoping you could help with Chloe’s party prep.”

A pause ensues, and I hear Leah sigh. “I wish I could, Abby. I had so many ideas, but right now I can

barely lift my head off the pillow.”

I let out a quiet chuckle, trying to keep the mood light. “Don’t worry about it. Just rest up and get better,

okay? We’ll need you at the party in top form.”

“What about the cake? I know you were keen on baking Chloe’s favorite, the red velvet one.”

“I’ve got it covered,” I assure her. “And the party details too. It’s a lot, but I can handle it.”

“You sure?” Leah sounds skeptical.

“It’s no big deal,” I reply, although a nagging feeling at the back of my mind suggests otherwise.

“Alright, if you say so. Just promise you won’t burn out.”

“I promise,” I say, although the weight of responsibility is already settling in my chest. “Oh, and I’ll be

over later to bring you some chicken soup that’s not horrid, okay?”

After ending the call, I immediately switch tasks, reaching for my phone again to book a karaoke place

for the party.

The man on the other end, Mr. Lin, sounds elderly, his voice raspy but jovial.

“Lin’s Karaoke. How can I help you?”

“Hello, Mr. Lin, I’d like to rent one of your rooms for a private party,” I begin, but before I can finish, the

door to my office swings open, revealing Chloe, looking puzzled.

“Abby, do you have a minute?” she asks, her eyes darting to the various party notes strewn across my

desk.

“Um,” I falter, my attention divided between Chloe and Mr. Lin. “Just a sec,” I tell him and turn my

attention to Chloe. “What’s up?”

“I had a question about the bar, but if

busy—”

raise her suspicions further, I quickly interrupt Mr. Lin, “I’m

I hang up without waiting for his

her curiosity

trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just a

you need?”

about the bar. As

eyes on my desk, scanning the various notes and lists. Her eyes stop on the corner of

from under a pile of papers—the

asks, pointing at

paper and stuff it into my pocket. “Oh, just

get when I’m brainstorming.”

clearly skeptical but doesn’t press further. “Alright. Well,

smirks, retreating from my

behind her, I sink into my chair,

close calls are becoming too

Chloe discovering everything grows with each passing

consider my options. There’s no

Chloe around. Every single detail could potentially blow the

my bag and start stowing away the

to stay late, work in the quiet hours when

walking in on me.

darkening sky outside, I steel myself for the long night

on her birthday, it’ll be worth

…

of my cluttered office, I sit hunched over a desk piled high with

a half-finished cake

the only sound

me that it’s past midnight, but

on my

staff, feels eerily quiet now, save for

clatter from the kitchen.

beside my

at a music festival. The warmth and laughter from that

of

back to reality when a paperclip drops

retrieve it, my fingers brushing

overseas trips. Everything in this room

gaze away, I refocus on the list of party

her favorite shade of sea blue… Every detail counts. The looming pressure

a tangible weight on

celebrated together, the surprise was spoiled. I

birthday, so it’s a bit of a milestone. I want it to be

distant clang echoes from the

I stand and stretch, my muscles protesting from hours

wafts toward

shine, reflect the ambient lighting

as I approach the

his

he responds, looking surprised to see me. The stainless-steel backdrop

tanned skin and dark hair stand out even