Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 56: Pity Party
The restaurant buzzes with an energy that I haven’t felt in a long while. Streamers hang from the

ceiling, twi nkling fairy lights wrap around the bar, and the laughter of friends and colleagues fills the air.

Tonight is more than just another party; it’s a celebration of someone I hold dear, and I can’t help but

get swept up in the excitement.

“So,” Ethan says as we complete the finishing touches on some balloons. Leah is on her way with

Chloe, who thinks that it’s just going to be the three of us girls going out for drinks. She has no idea.

“You hear anything yet about the cook-off?”

Instinctively, I lower my voice and shoot Ethan a wary look. Karl is floating around here somewhere,

and I haven’t mentioned the cook-off to him yet.

I’m not entirely sure why, other than the fact that I did promise that I would go to the Alpha party with

him, and potentially catering it would get in the way of that.

“Not yet,” I answer as I tie an intricate knot on one of the bundles of balloons. “Still waiting to get the

details.”

“Well, either way, I’m excited for you,” Ethan says gently. His leg seems to be hurting him, and he takes

a moment to lean on the bar. “If you need any help, let me know.”

I can’t help but smile. Ethan has always been one of my most faithful employees, and I’m glad to have

made him the new restaurant manager. He deserves it.

“Thanks, Ethan.”

Just then, a voice cuts through the room.

“Everyone get ready! Chloe is coming!”

In an instant, the room falls into a hush. People dart behind tables, the lights go off, and Ethan and I

duck down behind the bar with smirks on our faces. I can hear the sound of the door opening, followed

by Chloe’s confused voice.

“What the hell? Why is it so dark in here?”

The lights flick on. Everyone jumps out from their hiding places, yelling “Surprise!” at the top of our

lungs. Chloe gasps and claps her hand over her mouth.

“You guys!” she shrieks, spotting me and closing the distance between us to throw her arms around my

neck. “This is so nice!”

“It’s the least we could do,” I say into her ear, hugging her tight. “Happy birthday, Chlo.”

…

yet elegant dress, floats

makes every ounce

room from behind the bar, a contented smile tugging at my lips. But amid the

my eyes catch a familiar

against the far wall, nursing his drink. Our eyes

of

delicious food wafts through the air as

mouthwatering dishes: lobster tails,

food lands on the table, Chloe’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. She

together and squeals

Abby, you

aims to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing smile with

want to say, I have the best friends in the entire

each of us,

and

moment,

declares, her eyes scanning the room.

my phone and start fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect spot where we can all fit in

against a glass, angling

a few failed attempts—it slips, tips over, or just gives a skewed

not going to work, is it?” Chloe notes, sensing

I can answer, her eyes land on Karl, who’s

Karl.”

taking another

picture

him not to take the

him in her photo. A weird tension fills the air

over a captivated audience.

animosity, a subtle standoff between Chloe

me uneasy.

everyone should be in the picture,” I start to say, not wanting Karl to feel

a part of the team, part of this night. And he’s helped me

if he reads my thoughts. His face

worries. I’d be happy to take

sense of relief that ripples

announces,

together, a motley crew of chefs, servers, friends,

through the

phone, getting into position. “Ready? One, two,

a room full of people who matter. He

for good measure before handing the phone back

through the pictures. They’re perfect,

in frozen

for a moment, I think to myself that the picture feels terribly

him by my side, just like old days. I push the thought away, though, and offer

tone casual but carrying a

my heart twinges with

to

the same time, I can’t shake the feeling that he should have been in those pictures too.

be part of this