#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.”

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

makes every

the room from behind the bar, a contented smile

catch a

wall, nursing his drink. Our eyes lock for

and a mixture of emotions churns

smell of delicious food wafts through the air as waiters begin

lobster tails,

light up

together and squeals with

Abby,

please,” I reply, sharing a knowing smile

just want to say, I have

the room, locking eyes with each of

friendship and fabulous

and for a moment, all is right

her eyes scanning the

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

a glass, angling it just

slips, tips over, or just gives a skewed

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

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

Karl.”

taking another sip of

the picture

demanding, as though daring him not to

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

over a captivated audience.

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

me uneasy.

the picture,” I start to say, not wanting

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

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

happy to take

tension lifts, replaced by a collective sense of

announces, her excitement

motley crew of chefs, servers, friends, and family,

story but connected through the thread of this

phone, getting into position.

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

handing the phone back to

I say softly, flipping through the

in frozen snippets of

I think to myself that the picture feels

old days. I push the thought away,

tone casual but carrying a depth I can’t

my heart twinges with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

for his willingness to step in and help, to

the feeling that he should

part of this memory

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