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.”

…

simple yet elegant dress, floats around, chatting with everyone. Her joy

her this happy makes every ounce of effort

survey the room from behind the bar, a contented smile tugging at my lips. But

eyes catch a familiar

drink. Our eyes

and a mixture of emotions

of delicious food wafts through the

lobster tails,

table, Chloe’s eyes light up like a kid

together and squeals

Abby, you made

chef aims to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing

up, raising her glass. “I just want to say, I have the best friends in the entire world.

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

friendship and

moment, all is

her eyes scanning the room. “I want a

phone and start fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect spot where we can all fit in the

against a glass, angling it just

slips, tips over,

not going to work, is it?”

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

Karl.”

up?” he says, taking another sip

the picture for

demanding, as though daring him not

she doesn’t want him in her photo. A weird tension

over a captivated audience.

it’s just me, but I sense a little animosity, a subtle standoff between Chloe

me uneasy.

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

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

reads my thoughts. His face softens, and

worries. I’d be happy to

replaced by a collective sense of relief

gather around!” Chloe announces, her excitement returning

together, a motley crew of chefs, servers, friends, and family, each one of

connected through the thread of

the phone, getting into

and a room

for good measure before handing the

softly, flipping through the

frozen

missing, and for a moment, I think

him by my side, just like old days. I push the thought away, though, and offer Karl a stiff

casual but carrying a depth I can’t quite

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

willingness to step in and help, to be a

shake the feeling that he should have been in those

of this memory