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

seeing her this happy makes

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

eyes catch a familiar

wall, nursing his drink. Our

of emotions churns within

food wafts through the air as waiters begin to bring

mouthwatering dishes: lobster tails, crab cakes,

eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. She claps

together and

od, Abby,

to please,” I reply, sharing a

say,

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

and

and for a moment, all is

Chloe declares, her eyes scanning the room. “I

and start fiddling with it, trying to find the

a glass, angling it

over, or just

it?” Chloe notes, sensing my

Karl, who’s leaning against

Karl.”

taking

the picture

demanding, as though daring him not to

her photo. A weird tension fills the air for

over a captivated audience.

animosity, a subtle standoff between

me uneasy.

start to say, not wanting Karl to feel left out.

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

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

happy to take the

by a collective sense of relief that ripples through the

announces, her excitement returning in full

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

through the thread of this

the phone, getting into position.

off, capturing smiles, joy, and a room full of people who matter. He takes

handing the

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

frozen snippets of

missing, and for a moment, I think

push the thought away, though, and offer

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

moves back to his original spot, my heart twinges with a mixture

help, to

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

of this