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 a question about the bar, but if

busy—”

her suspicions further, I quickly

back?” I hang up without waiting for his

her eyes, her curiosity evident.

trying to push down the guilt. “Oh,

you need?”

query about the bar. As we talk, I can’t

my desk, scanning the various notes and lists. Her eyes stop on

a pile of

asks, pointing at

the paper and stuff it into my

get when I’m brainstorming.”

press further. “Alright. Well, I’ll leave you

retreating

I sink into my chair,

close calls are becoming too frequent, and the

Chloe discovering everything grows with

consider my options. There’s no way

single detail could potentially blow

stowing away

work in the quiet hours when there’s less chance

walking in on me.

the darkening sky outside, I steel myself for

smile on her birthday, it’ll

…

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

and a half-finished cake

the only sound accompanying my scribbles. The large clock

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

heavy on

restaurant, usually abuzz with patrons and staff, feels eerily quiet

clatter from the kitchen.

rests beside my workstation, our grinning faces captured during

music festival. The warmth and laughter from that day feels

of

thoughts, I’m jolted back to reality when

floor. I retrieve it, my fingers brushing against the intricate

her overseas trips. Everything in this room reminds

refocus on the list

Every detail counts.

tangible

celebrated together, the surprise was spoiled. I

so it’s a bit of a milestone. I

echoes from the kitchen, followed by a

muscles protesting from hours of inactivity. As I step into

cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s

reflect the ambient lighting from overhead

call out as I approach the kitchen,

wiping his

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

skin and dark