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 a question about the

busy—”

further, I quickly interrupt Mr. Lin, “I’m sorry, can

back?” I hang up without waiting for

her curiosity evident. “Who was

push down the guilt. “Oh, just a supplier.

you need?”

she proceeds with her query about the bar.

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

from under a pile of papers—the design for her

that?” she asks, pointing at the

paper and stuff it into my pocket.

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

She smirks, retreating from

the door shuts behind her, I sink into my chair, heart pounding. I pull out the cake sketch, staring

spent hours perfecting. The close calls are becoming too frequent, and

everything grows with each passing

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

single detail could potentially

bag and start stowing away the various party-planning materials.

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

walking in on me.

myself for the long night ahead. The task

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

…

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

and a half-finished

hum of the overhead light is the only

midnight, but sleep

heavy on my

and staff, feels eerily quiet now,

clatter from the kitchen.

me rests beside my workstation, our

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

atmosphere of my

in my thoughts, I’m jolted back to reality when a paperclip

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

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

list of

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

a tangible

last time we celebrated together, the surprise was

of a milestone. I want it to

echoes from the kitchen,

my muscles protesting from hours of

wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged

shine, reflect the ambient lighting from

as I approach the kitchen, spotting a silhouette moving

his

surprised to

skin and dark hair stand out even