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?”

on my flustered expression. “I had a question about the bar,

busy—”

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

up without

her curiosity

to push down the guilt.

you need?”

with her query about the bar. As we talk,

notes and lists. Her eyes

under a pile of papers—the design for her

asks,

and stuff it into my

get when I’m brainstorming.”

but doesn’t press further. “Alright.

smirks, retreating

the door shuts behind her, I sink into my chair, heart

close calls are becoming too frequent, and

discovering everything grows with each passing

a deep sigh, I consider my options. There’s no way

Chloe around. Every single detail could potentially

I grab my bag and start stowing away the various

stay late, work in the quiet hours when there’s less chance of

walking in on me.

outside, I steel myself for the long night ahead. The task seems

for Chloe’s smile on her birthday, it’ll

…

cluttered office, I sit hunched over a desk piled high with sc ttered

a half-finished cake

overhead light is the only sound accompanying my

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

heavy on my

abuzz with patrons and staff,

clatter from the kitchen.

me rests beside my workstation, our

warmth and laughter from that day feels a world apart from the

atmosphere of my

thoughts, I’m jolted back to reality when a

retrieve it, my fingers brushing against the intricate rug beneath my

overseas trips. Everything in this room reminds

the list of party essentials. String lights, floral

sea blue… Every detail counts.

becomes a tangible weight on

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

of a milestone. I want it to be

clang echoes from the kitchen, followed by a muted

I stand and stretch, my muscles protesting

cleaner wafts

reflect the ambient lighting

I call out as I approach the kitchen, spotting a

wiping his hands on a

responds, looking surprised to see me.

tanned skin and dark hair stand out