Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 13

The meal was so bland I could hardly taste a thing.

I was gritting my teeth, hanging out with Hilary for a quick drink.

Hogan didn’t join in; between us, we barely exchanged a few words during the entire dinner.

But his phone was buzzing non–stop.

Hogan wasn’t annoyed, though. He patiently replied to each message, a smirk occasionally crossing his lips, barely touched his food, too.

Didn’t need a crystal ball to know who was blowing up his messages.

Hilary saw it all the worry in her eyes growing by the minute. Seizing the chance when Hogan stepped out, she vented to me, “Xaviera, what’s gotten into Hogan? He’s acting like he’s possessed or something.”

I got it.

After all, the old Hogan wouldn’t dream of spending all his time texting back and forth.

Now he had changed.

After the meal, the Zade family’s driver was waiting outside the restaurant. Hilary glanced at Hogan, still buried in his messages, and instructed, “It’s late. You take Xaviera home.”

Hogan acted as if he heard nothing..

I found myself an out, “Mrs. Hilary, I’ve called a ride.”

A flicker of guilt crossed Hilary’s eyes, rare for her.

left in front of the restaurant. I

him, surprised, realizing he

Zade, but I’ve got

up the

stopped in his tracks, he calmly studying my face, then said with a hint of sarcasm, “What, worried your boyfriend

the

or eight bucks on a ride if I could help it?

comfort of a luxury car was hard

passenger seat than my eyelids started squabbling with

for two or three days straight, and the alcohol

1/2

11:38

Chapter 11

towards sleep.

on that and said softly. “Sleep.

voice was unexpectedly

for a mere two seconds before sleep snatched away my

I vaguely heard the vibration

my eyes open.

the fuzziness, I saw

was staring

cold

Illusion or reality?

of soap filled

my senses in this