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.”

…

yet elegant dress, floats around, chatting

her this happy makes every ounce of

contented smile

my eyes catch a familiar

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

mixture of emotions churns within

the smell of delicious food wafts through

lobster tails, crab cakes,

the table, Chloe’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. She claps

together and squeals with

my G od, Abby, you

chef aims to please,” I reply, sharing

stands up, raising her glass. “I just want to say, I

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

and

clink, and for a moment, all is right with the

should capture this,” Chloe declares, her eyes scanning the room. “I

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

prop it against a glass,

tips over, or just gives a skewed angle—I sigh in

it?”

can answer, her eyes land on Karl, who’s

Karl.”

up?” he says, taking another sip of his

picture for

daring him not

her photo. A weird tension

over a captivated audience.

but I sense a little animosity, a subtle standoff between

me uneasy.

should be in the picture,” I start

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

reads my thoughts. His face softens, and he puts

happy to take

sense of relief that ripples through the

Chloe announces, her excitement returning

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

connected through the thread of this very

phone, getting into

smiles, joy, and a room full

good measure before handing the phone

Karl,” I say softly, flipping through the pictures.

frozen snippets of

something missing, and for a moment, I think to myself that the

push the

casual but carrying a depth I can’t

to his original spot, my heart twinges with a

his willingness to step in and help, to

I can’t shake the feeling that he should have been in

of this memory