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

makes every ounce

the bar, a contented smile tugging at my lips. But amid the thrum

catch

drink. Our eyes lock for a fleeting moment

of emotions

enough, the smell of delicious food wafts through the air as waiters begin to bring

lobster tails, crab cakes, rice pilaf and

light up like

and

Abby, you made my

aims to please,” I reply, sharing a

just want to say, I have the best friends in

with each of us,

friendship and

moment,

this,” Chloe declares, her eyes scanning the room.

start fiddling with it, trying to find the perfect spot where we

it against a glass, angling it just

a few failed attempts—it slips, tips over, or

to work, is it?”

answer, her eyes land on Karl, who’s

Karl.”

says, taking another sip of his

the picture for

him not to take the

A weird tension fills the air for a split second, like a hush

over a captivated audience.

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

me uneasy.

be in the picture,” I start to say, not wanting Karl to feel left

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

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

worries. I’d be happy to take

by a collective sense of relief that ripples through the

Everyone, gather around!” Chloe announces,

crew of chefs, servers, friends, and family, each one of

story but connected through the

into position. “Ready? One,

and a room

for good measure before handing the phone back to

flipping through the

in frozen snippets of

and for a moment, I think to myself that the picture feels

days. I push the thought away, though, and offer Karl a stiff

tone casual but carrying a

my heart twinges with a mixture

step in and help, to be a

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

part of this memory