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.”

…

radiant in a simple yet elegant dress, floats around, chatting with everyone. Her

this happy makes every ounce

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

my eyes catch

against the far wall, nursing his drink. Our eyes

a mixture of

through the air as waiters begin to bring

with mouthwatering dishes: lobster tails, crab cakes, rice

light up

together and squeals with

od, Abby, you

to please,” I reply, sharing

just want to say, I have the best friends in the entire

locking eyes with each of us, “you two are the

and fabulous

moment, all is right

eyes scanning

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

prop it against a glass, angling

over, or just gives a skewed angle—I sigh

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

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

Karl.”

up?” he says, taking another

picture for

though daring him not to take the

doesn’t want him in her photo. A weird tension fills the air for a split second,

over a captivated audience.

little animosity, a subtle standoff between

me uneasy.

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

team, part of this night. And he’s

as if he reads my thoughts. His

happy to take the

collective sense

Everyone, gather around!” Chloe announces, her excitement returning

a motley crew of chefs, servers,

the thread of this very

into position.

room full of people who matter. He

for good measure before handing the phone back to

say softly, flipping through the pictures. They’re

in frozen snippets of

for a moment, I

my side, just like old days. I push the thought away, though, and offer

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

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

to be a part of this moment in his

feeling that he should have been in those pictures too.

of this memory