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.”

…

dress, floats around, chatting with

her this happy makes every ounce of

contented smile tugging at my

catch a familiar

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

of emotions churns

smell of delicious food wafts through the

lobster tails, crab cakes,

table, Chloe’s eyes light up

and

G od, Abby, you

I reply, sharing a knowing smile

to say, I

she scans the room, locking eyes with each of us, “you two are the best anyone

friendship and fabulous

moment, all is

her eyes scanning the room.

and start fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect spot where we

a glass, angling it just

tips over, or just gives a skewed

is it?” Chloe notes,

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

Karl.”

he says, taking another sip of his

the picture

are somewhat demanding, as though daring him not to

want him in her photo. A weird tension fills the air for a split

over a captivated audience.

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

me uneasy.

be in the picture,” I start to say, not wanting

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

my eyes, and it’s as if he reads my thoughts.

be happy to take the

a collective sense of

around!” Chloe announces, her excitement returning

chefs, servers, friends, and family,

the

into position. “Ready? One, two,

joy, and a room full of

good measure before handing the phone

through the

in frozen snippets of

for a moment, I think to myself that

push the thought

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

he moves back to his original spot, my heart twinges with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

and help, to be a part of this

can’t shake the feeling that he should have

part of