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.”

…

simple yet elegant dress, floats around,

happy makes every ounce of

a contented smile tugging at my lips. But amid

catch

his drink. Our eyes lock for a fleeting moment before

a mixture of emotions churns within

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

mouthwatering dishes: lobster tails, crab cakes, rice

eyes light

and

od, Abby, you made my

aims to please,” I reply, sharing a knowing smile

just want to say, I have

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

and fabulous

and for a moment, all

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

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

a glass,

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

it?”

land on Karl,

Karl.”

up?” he says, taking another sip

the picture

daring him not to take the photo, or

her photo. A weird tension fills the air for a split second, like a

over a captivated audience.

a little animosity, a subtle standoff

me uneasy.

the picture,” I start

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

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

I’d be happy to take

by a collective sense of relief that ripples through the

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

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

through the

getting into position. “Ready?

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

measure before handing the phone back

through the pictures. They’re perfect, capturing the

in frozen snippets

moment, I think to myself that the

like old days. I push

he replies, his tone casual but carrying a depth I

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

his willingness to step in and help, to be a part of this

the feeling that he should have been in those

part of this memory we’ve