Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 14

The ambiguity finally ended.

My heart pounding against my chest felt like an invisible slap across my face.

I snapped to my senses in a second.

“Your phone is ringing.”

I jolted, shifted slightly, and suddenly noticed something had slid to my feet. Looking down, I saw Hogan’s suit jacket.

I pretended not to notice, fixated on the flashing name on my phone.

It was a call from Darren.

“Aren’t you going to answer?” Hogan reminded me again, his tone neither warm nor cold, “It’s been ringing for a while.”

I gripped my phone tighter, looked out the window, and realized the car had stopped in front of my apartment building.

I said my thanks. “Thanks for tonight, Mr. Zade. Get some rest early.”

“No worries, just on my way.”

His voice was soft, betraying no emotion.

If not for the thunderous beating of my heart, I might have doubted that everything just now was merely my own illusion.

saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask with a

avatar in the company group; it

realized Hogan’s ‘on my way‘ was quite

happened to live right

hand and silently got out of the

was just

in my palm rang

tinged with rare impatience came through,

a bit stunned, “I’m fine, what’s up?”

from Jack that you’ve been pulling all-nighters these past days and haven’t been replying to messages.”

initially recommended by Darren to join

1/2

11:38

thought he was

he sent during dinner and the handbag he’d given me earlier, my feelings

a friend looking out for me In this vast Rivertown.

you free tomorrow night? I’d like to treat you

“Huh?”

mouth, I felt it was a bit abrupt and corrected myself, “Another

too.”

and send

Darren arrived at

in a white embossed crew neck sweatshirt, dark brown casual pants, and white sneakers, he

also carrying a

confidently headed to the pantry with a box