Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

The atmosphere shifts as our arms untangle. We’re all a little teary-eyed, but none of us say it. Instead,

Chloe reaches for a tissue from the box on her coffee table, and holds it out for me.

“Well, I didn’t expect this tonight,” Leah says, sniffling.

“Yeah, me neither,” Chloe says, dabbing at her eyes too. She looks at me, her gaze still soft but

punctuated by a new intensity. “But I just have one more thing to say: it can’t always be this easy, Abby.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, bracing myself.

Chloe seems to choose her words carefully as she speaks. “I need to know you’re serious about what you

said. Karl gets one more chance, Abby. One. If he messes up again, and you keep giving him the time of

day, then—”

Enter title…

She doesn’t finish, but she doesn’t need to. “I get it,” I say quietly, locking eyes with her. “And thank you.

Thank you for giving me another chance, too.”

Chloe nods, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “Well, someone’s gotta keep you on your toes, right?”

“Speak for yourself,” Leah chimes in, picking up her wine glass from the coffee table. “Keeping both of you

in check is like my full-time job at this point.”

A ripple of laughter goes through us, as if the pressure has been released. We settle into Chloe’s plush

sofas, the soft cushions embracing us like an old friend. Chloe refills our wine glasses, and we toast.

says, lifting her

it’s messiness,”

to understanding,” I

…

through the front door of the restaurant,

metaphorically and literally.

Daisy exclaims, throwing her

grins, genuinely happy. “It’s

Daisy jokes with a wink,

coil in the air. I glance towards the kitchen’s swinging door just

His eyes lock onto Chloe’s for a moment, and I can practically feel the static between

Here it comes.

in a move that leaves me speechless, Chloe walks up to him and extends

then takes her hand, shaking it firmly.

nods, almost imperceptibly,

to the kitchen.

I ask Chloe as she returns to

“Oh, nothing. Just a little

my eyes but can’t contain

for it,” she counters,

flies by in a flurry of orders, invoices, and

my office door, and I look up to find Karl

frame.

sec?” he

“Sure. What’s up?”

and hands me a piece of paper with a name and phone

in

him, somewhat surprised. “Thanks, Karl.

half-smile. “Just doing my part.

I dial the number. My pulse races a little; I can’t believe

is Alex,” the female voice says