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

her this happy makes every

the bar, a contented smile tugging

catch a

drink. Our eyes lock for a fleeting moment before he

mixture of emotions

the smell of delicious food wafts through the air

tails, crab cakes, rice pilaf

Chloe’s eyes light up like a kid

and squeals with

Abby, you made my

aims to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing

just want to say, I have the best friends in

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

friendship and

and for a moment, all

scanning the

with it, trying to find the perfect spot where

a glass, angling it just

attempts—it slips, tips over, or just gives a

work, is it?” Chloe notes, sensing my

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

Karl.”

taking another

the picture for

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

weird tension fills the air for a split

over a captivated audience.

sense a little animosity, a subtle standoff

me uneasy.

start to say,

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

as if he reads my thoughts.

I’d be happy

a collective sense of relief that ripples through the

announces, her excitement returning in full

servers, friends, and family, each

story but connected through the thread of this very

phone, getting into position. “Ready? One,

a room

good measure before handing the phone back

I say softly, flipping through the pictures. They’re perfect, capturing

in frozen

and for a moment, I think to myself

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

casual but carrying a depth I can’t

original spot, my heart twinges with

and help, to be a part of this moment in

the same time, I can’t shake the feeling that he

part of this memory we’ve