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?”

my flustered expression. “I had

busy—”

to raise her suspicions further, I

up

eyes, her curiosity evident. “Who was

shrug, trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just a supplier. Nothing

you need?”

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

notes and lists. Her eyes stop on

pile of papers—the

that?” she asks, pointing

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

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

smirks, retreating from

sink into my chair, heart pounding. I

perfecting. The close calls are becoming too frequent, and

discovering everything grows with each passing

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

single detail could potentially

grab my bag and start stowing

to stay late, work in the quiet hours when

walking in on me.

steel myself for the long night ahead. The task seems

smile on her birthday, it’ll be worth

…

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

a half-finished

overhead light is the only sound accompanying my

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

heavy on

usually abuzz with patrons and staff,

clatter from the kitchen.

rests beside my

The warmth and laughter from that day

of my

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

it, my fingers brushing against the intricate rug beneath my

Everything in this room reminds me of her in some

refocus on the list of party essentials.

of sea blue… Every detail

a tangible weight on

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

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

distant clang echoes from the kitchen, followed by

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

scented cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged wooden

a shine, reflect the ambient lighting from

here?” I call out as I approach the kitchen,

wiping his hands

surprised to see me. The stainless-steel backdrop

tanned skin and dark hair stand