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?”

expression. “I had a question about

busy—”

I quickly interrupt

up without waiting

eyes, her curiosity

push down the guilt.

you need?”

query about

the various notes and lists. Her eyes

of papers—the design for her birthday

asks, pointing

grab the paper and stuff it into my pocket. “Oh, just some doodles. You know

get when I’m brainstorming.”

press further. “Alright. Well, I’ll

retreating from my

her, I sink into my chair, heart pounding. I pull out

perfecting. The close

everything grows with

my options. There’s no way I

Chloe around. Every single detail

I grab my bag and start stowing away the various

I’ll have to stay late, work

walking in on me.

outside, I steel myself for the long

Chloe’s smile on her

…

my cluttered office, I sit hunched over a desk piled high with sc

and a half-finished cake

the only sound accompanying my

informs me that it’s past midnight, but sleep

heavy on my

restaurant, usually abuzz with patrons and staff, feels eerily quiet now, save for

clatter from the kitchen.

beside my workstation,

festival. The warmth and laughter

of my

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

I retrieve it, my fingers brushing against

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

my gaze away, I refocus on the list of party essentials. String

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

tangible weight

the surprise was spoiled. I won’t let that happen again.

it’s a bit of a milestone. I want

echoes from the kitchen, followed by a muted

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

cleaner wafts

a shine, reflect the ambient

as I approach the

emerges, wiping his

looking surprised to see me. The stainless-steel backdrop of the

tanned skin and dark hair stand