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.”

…

a simple yet elegant dress, floats around, chatting with everyone.

her this happy makes every

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

eyes catch

his drink. Our eyes lock for a fleeting moment before he

a mixture of

wafts through the air as

tails, crab

Chloe’s eyes light

together and

G od, Abby, you made

to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing smile

“I just want to say, I have the best friends in

eyes with each of

friendship and

and for a moment, all

scanning the room. “I want a

fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect

against a glass, angling

tips over, or just gives a

it?” Chloe notes, sensing my minor

land on Karl,

Karl.”

he says, taking another sip

picture for

as though daring him not to take the photo,

her photo. A weird tension fills the air for a split second, like

over a captivated audience.

a little animosity,

me uneasy.

start to say, not

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

and it’s as if he reads my thoughts. His face softens, and he puts down

worries. I’d be happy

tension lifts, replaced by a collective sense of

announces, her excitement returning in

servers, friends, and family, each one

connected through the thread of

getting into

smiles, joy, and a room full of people who

measure before handing the phone back to

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

frozen

moment, I think to

like old days. I push the thought away,

tone casual but carrying a depth I can’t quite

back to his original spot, my heart twinges with

in and help, to be a

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

of this