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?”

fixed on my flustered expression. “I had a

busy—”

wanting to raise her suspicions further, I quickly interrupt

I hang up

narrows her eyes, her curiosity evident. “Who

trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just

you need?”

but she proceeds with her query about the bar. As we talk, I can’t help

my desk, scanning the various notes and lists. Her

out from under a pile of

she asks, pointing at

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

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

retreating from

I sink into my chair, heart pounding. I

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

discovering everything grows with

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

Every single detail could potentially

stowing away the various party-planning materials.

have to stay late, work in the quiet hours when

walking in on me.

at the darkening sky outside, I steel myself for the long night

smile on her birthday, it’ll be worth

…

of my cluttered office, I sit hunched

and a half-finished

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

wall informs me that it’s past midnight, but sleep is

heavy on

usually abuzz with patrons and staff, feels

clatter from the kitchen.

and me rests beside my workstation, our

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

atmosphere of

my thoughts, I’m jolted back to reality when a paperclip drops from the

fingers brushing against the

Chloe after one of her overseas trips. Everything in this room reminds me of her in some

refocus on the list of

sea blue… Every detail

tangible weight

we celebrated together, the surprise was

twenty-fifth birthday, so it’s a bit of a milestone. I want it to

distant clang echoes from the kitchen, followed by a muted

and stretch, my muscles protesting from hours of inactivity. As I step

lemon scented cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s

reflect the

out as I approach the kitchen,

wiping his hands

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

dark hair stand out even