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?”

flustered expression. “I had

busy—”

wanting to raise her suspicions further, I

up without waiting for his

her eyes, her

to push down the guilt. “Oh,

you need?”

looks unconvinced, but she proceeds with her query about the bar. As we

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

from under a pile of papers—the design for her birthday

asks, pointing at the

paper and stuff it into my

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

smirks, retreating from my

chair, heart pounding. I pull out the cake

The close calls are becoming too frequent, and

Chloe discovering everything grows with each passing

consider my options. There’s no way I can continue planning

with Chloe around. Every single detail

my bag and start stowing away the various party-planning materials. If I’m

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

walking in on me.

at the darkening sky outside, I steel myself for the

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

…

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

a

light is the only sound accompanying my scribbles.

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

on my

staff, feels eerily quiet now, save

clatter from the kitchen.

rests beside my workstation, our

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

atmosphere of

I’m jolted back to reality when a paperclip drops from

retrieve it, my fingers brushing

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

I refocus on the list of party

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

tangible weight on

together, the surprise was spoiled.

birthday, so it’s a bit of a milestone. I want it to be

clang echoes from the kitchen, followed

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

wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged wooden

a shine, reflect the ambient

I call out as I

his hands on a

surprised to see me. The stainless-steel

dark hair