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.”

…

simple yet elegant dress, floats around, chatting with everyone. Her joy

happy makes every ounce of effort

bar, a contented smile tugging at my lips. But amid the thrum

eyes catch a

against the far wall, nursing his drink. Our eyes lock for a fleeting

of

smell of delicious food wafts through the air as

lobster tails, crab cakes, rice pilaf and

table, Chloe’s eyes light up

and squeals with

Abby, you made

to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing

up, raising her glass. “I just want to say, I have the best friends in the entire world.

with each of us, “you two are the best anyone could

friendship and fabulous

clink, and for a moment, all

declares, her eyes scanning the

it, trying to find the perfect spot where we can all fit in

against a glass,

over, or just gives a skewed angle—I sigh

to work, is it?” Chloe

eyes land on Karl, who’s leaning against the wall, sipping

Karl.”

taking another sip of

picture for

him not to take the photo,

A weird tension fills the air for a split

over a captivated audience.

I sense a little animosity, a subtle standoff between Chloe

me uneasy.

think everyone should be in the picture,” I start to say, not

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

as if he reads my thoughts. His

be happy

tension lifts, replaced by a collective sense of relief

announces, her excitement

crew of chefs, servers, friends, and family,

connected through the thread

getting into position. “Ready? One, two,

a room

for good measure before handing the phone

through the pictures. They’re perfect, capturing the essence of

frozen

a moment, I think to myself that the

just like old days. I push the thought away, though,

but carrying a depth I can’t quite

original spot, my heart twinges with

to step in and help, to be a part of this

feeling that he should have been in those pictures too.

be part of this memory