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.”

…

elegant dress, floats

happy makes every

from behind the bar, a contented smile tugging at

eyes catch a familiar

drink. Our eyes

mixture of emotions churns within

smell of delicious food wafts through the air as waiters begin to bring out

lobster tails, crab cakes, rice pilaf

eyes light up like

together and

Abby,

reply, sharing a knowing smile

say, I have the best friends

room, locking eyes with each of us, “you two are the best anyone could ask

friendship and

a moment, all is right with the

scanning the room. “I want a picture

to find the perfect spot where we

against a glass,

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

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

eyes land on Karl, who’s leaning

Karl.”

he says, taking another

the picture for

somewhat demanding, as though daring him not to take the photo,

she doesn’t want him in her photo. A weird tension fills the air for a split

over a captivated audience.

animosity, a subtle standoff between

me uneasy.

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

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

reads my thoughts. His face softens, and he puts down

happy to take the

tension lifts, replaced by a collective sense of relief that ripples through the

gather around!” Chloe announces, her excitement returning

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

connected through the thread

into

off, capturing smiles, joy, and a room full

for good measure before handing the

softly, flipping through the

frozen snippets

I think to myself that the picture

like old days. I push the thought away,

replies, his tone casual but

his original spot, my heart twinges with a

to step in and help, to

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

of this memory