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?”

gaze fixed on my flustered expression. “I had

busy—”

not wanting to raise her suspicions further, I quickly interrupt

hang up without

her curiosity evident.

attempt a casual shrug, trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just a supplier. Nothing urgent. What

you need?”

she proceeds with her query about the

the various notes and lists. Her

out from under a pile of

she asks,

paper and stuff it into my pocket. “Oh, just some doodles. You know how

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

smirks, retreating

into my chair,

intricate design I’d spent hours perfecting. The close calls are becoming too frequent, and

grows

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

single detail could potentially blow

made, I grab my bag and start stowing away the various party-planning

this surprise, I’ll have to stay late, work in the quiet hours

walking in on me.

steel myself for

smile on her

…

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

and a

hum of the overhead light is the

midnight, but sleep is a distant luxury, and Chloe’s upcoming

heavy on my

restaurant, usually abuzz with patrons and staff, feels eerily quiet now, save for the

clatter from the kitchen.

beside my workstation, our grinning faces captured during

day at a music festival. The warmth and laughter from that day feels a

of my

reality

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

of her overseas trips. Everything in this

on the list of party essentials.

of sea blue… Every detail counts. The looming pressure of

tangible weight on

last time we celebrated together, the surprise was spoiled. I won’t let that happen again. And

bit of a milestone. I want it

the kitchen, followed by a muted

stretch, my muscles protesting from hours of

the smell of lemon scented cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged wooden

reflect the

I approach the kitchen, spotting a silhouette moving

his hands on

to see me. The stainless-steel

his tanned skin and dark