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.

in front of the restaurant. I was app when Hogan’s deep

he meant to drive

but I’ve got a ride.”

up the rideshare

stopped in his tracks, he calmly studying my face, then said with a hint of

dropped the

or eight bucks on a ride if I could help

say, the comfort of a

settled into the passenger seat than

running on fumes for two or three days straight, and the alcohol

1/2

11:38

Chapter 11

towards sleep.

that and said softly.

was unexpectedly kind.

two seconds before

know how much time passed, but I vaguely heard

my eyes open.

fuzziness, I saw Hogan

was staring at me.

eyes weren’t sharp and cold as before; they were tender as water.

Illusion or reality?

of soap

was eroding my senses in this confined