Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 9

“Hogan, talk about a coincidence.” Hilary stuttered while kicking off the conversation, “Xaviera’s back in Rivertown, and she’s got herself a boyfriend.”

Elders sure know how to hit the nail on the head.

But this topic didn’t tickle Hogan’s fancy. He just glanced indifferently at his watch and reminded her, “The auction’s about to start.”

“Shoot, almost forgot why we’re here.” Hilary said enthusiastically, grabbing my hand, “Xaviera, let’s do lunch sometime soon, and bring your boyfriend along so I can give him the once–over.”

Just polite chit–chat. I didn’t take it to heart, just nodded along to play nice.

But Hilary

ry seemed to feel that wasn’t enough, shooting Hogan a look and saying, “Come on, say

something, will you?”

Hogan let out a cold snort, “You two close or something?”

The temperature in the room dropped to freezing in an instant.

But Hogan was right, without him, Hilary and I were like two ships passing in the night.

I found my own way out, “Mrs. Hilary, Mr. Zade, I’ve got to run.”

It took me a moment to muster that line.

the money god, now

Hilary asking,

was a hint of

rubbed my throbbing temples and silently headed to the

I finally bought an air purifier. The vendor was decent enough to offer free

elevator, a lively crowd headed my way, led by none other

pants, and

he didn’t join a big company after college but stayed on campus to teach.

mistaken, those tagging along were

had always been

debating whether to say

towards the elevator, smiling, “Xaviera, what are the

11:37

Chapter 9

their curious eyes on me. One of them joked, “Professor. Yearwood, you’re quite the

said with his usual humility, “She’s Xaviera, my former classmate. Technically, she’s your

up and chorused,

were amusing.

they’d planned it, not before asking me to

had been

to the parking lot together, and I called him a ride.

wasn’t getting in, “Aren’t

wanting to burden him,

of the car but now holding a