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?”

hesitates, her gaze fixed on my flustered expression. “I had a question about the bar,

busy—”

to raise her suspicions further, I quickly

back?” I hang up without waiting for his

her curiosity evident. “Who

a casual shrug, trying to push down the guilt. “Oh, just a supplier. Nothing urgent.

you need?”

looks unconvinced, but she proceeds with her query about the bar. As we talk, I can’t help but

scanning the various notes and lists. Her eyes stop on

pile of papers—the design

she asks,

it into my pocket. “Oh, just some

get when I’m brainstorming.”

but doesn’t press further. “Alright. Well, I’ll leave you to

smirks, retreating

I sink into my chair, heart

intricate design I’d spent hours perfecting. The close calls are becoming too frequent, and the

grows with each

out a deep sigh, I consider my options.

with Chloe around. Every single detail could potentially blow the

grab my bag and start stowing away the various party-planning

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

walking in on me.

I steel myself for the long

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

…

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

and a

light is the only

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

on

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

clatter from the kitchen.

rests beside my workstation, our

warmth and laughter from that day feels a

of

jolted back to reality when a paperclip drops

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

one of her overseas trips. Everything in this room reminds

on the list

of sea blue… Every detail counts. The looming pressure of making

a tangible weight on my

last time we celebrated together, the surprise was spoiled. I won’t

so it’s a bit of

clang echoes from the kitchen, followed by a muted

muscles protesting from hours of inactivity. As

smell of lemon scented cleaner wafts toward me. The restaurant’s aged wooden

the ambient lighting from overhead

here?” I call out as I approach the kitchen,

his

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

dark