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.”

…

floats

happy makes every ounce of

bar, a contented

my eyes catch a familiar

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

a mixture of emotions churns

enough, the smell of delicious food wafts through the air as waiters

lobster tails,

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

together and squeals

od, Abby, you made

I reply, sharing

glass. “I just want to say, I have

with each of us, “you

friendship and

moment,

scanning the room.

grab my phone and start fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect spot where

prop it against a glass, angling it

slips, tips over, or

to work, is it?” Chloe notes, sensing my

can answer, her eyes land on Karl, who’s leaning against the wall, sipping his drink.

Karl.”

up?” he says, taking another sip

the picture for

though daring him not to

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

over a captivated audience.

just me, but I sense a little animosity, a subtle standoff between Chloe and

me uneasy.

everyone should be in the picture,” I start to say,

this night. And he’s helped me

my eyes, and it’s as if he reads my

be happy

a collective sense of relief that

announces, her

chefs, servers, friends,

story but connected through the thread of

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

goes off, capturing smiles, joy, and a room full of

for good measure before handing the phone back

softly, flipping through the pictures. They’re perfect,

in frozen

for a moment, I think to myself that the picture

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

his tone casual but carrying a depth I can’t quite

to his original spot, my heart twinges with a mixture

to

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

be part of