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

busy—”

to raise her suspicions further, I quickly interrupt

up

narrows her eyes, her curiosity evident. “Who was

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

you need?”

about the bar. As

scanning the various notes and lists. Her eyes stop on the corner

under a pile of

she asks,

thinking, I grab the paper and stuff it into

get when I’m brainstorming.”

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

smirks, retreating

my chair, heart pounding.

design I’d spent hours perfecting. The close

Chloe discovering everything grows with each

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

Every single detail

made, I grab my bag and start stowing away the

late, work in the quiet

walking in on me.

myself for the long night ahead. The task seems

Chloe’s smile on her birthday,

…

I sit hunched over a desk piled high with sc ttered

a

the only sound accompanying my scribbles. The large

past midnight, but sleep is a distant luxury,

heavy on my

patrons and staff,

clatter from the kitchen.

beside my workstation, our grinning faces captured

and laughter

atmosphere of

reality when a paperclip drops from the heap, clinking

I retrieve it, my fingers brushing against the

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

list of party essentials. String lights, floral centerpieces,

blue… Every detail counts. The looming pressure of making

a tangible weight on my

we celebrated together, the surprise was spoiled. I

twenty-fifth birthday, so it’s a bit of a

echoes from the kitchen, followed by

protesting

of lemon scented cleaner wafts toward

reflect the ambient lighting from

call out as I approach the kitchen, spotting a silhouette moving

emerges, wiping his

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

and dark hair