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?”

expression. “I had a

busy—”

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

up without

eyes, her curiosity evident. “Who

casual shrug, trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just

you need?”

unconvinced, but she proceeds with her query about the

notes and lists. Her eyes stop on the

from under a pile of papers—the design for

she asks,

I grab the paper and stuff it into my pocket. “Oh, just some doodles.

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

smirks, retreating

my chair, heart pounding. I pull

perfecting. The close calls are becoming too frequent, and the

grows with each

my options. There’s no way I can

Chloe around. Every single detail could potentially blow the

start stowing

to stay late, work in the

walking in on me.

sky outside, I steel myself for the long night

smile on her birthday, it’ll

…

dim light of my cluttered office, I sit hunched over a

and a half-finished

light is the only sound accompanying my scribbles. The large clock

wall informs me that it’s past midnight, but sleep is a distant luxury, and

heavy on

and staff, feels eerily

clatter from the kitchen.

me rests beside my workstation, our grinning

festival. The warmth and laughter from that day feels

atmosphere of

jolted back to reality when a

fingers brushing against

her overseas trips. Everything in

refocus on the list of party essentials.

favorite shade of sea blue… Every detail counts. The

becomes a tangible weight on my

the surprise was spoiled. I won’t let that happen again.

so it’s a bit of a milestone.

from the kitchen, followed by a

protesting from hours of inactivity. As I step

cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged

a shine, reflect the ambient lighting from overhead

I call out as I approach the kitchen, spotting a silhouette

emerges, wiping his

surprised to see me. The stainless-steel backdrop of

and dark hair