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.

gaze swept past Hogan, I saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask with

had seen that avatar in the

was when I realized Hogan’s ‘on my way‘ was

just happened to

and silently got

was just

palm rang again, I steadied

voice tinged with rare impatience came through, “Xaviera,

stunned, “I’m

that you’ve been pulling all-nighters these past days and haven’t been replying

initially recommended by Darren to

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tone, I thought he was probably

during dinner and the handbag he’d

have such a friend looking out for

I suggested. “Are you free tomorrow night? I’d like to treat you to

“Huh?”

it was a bit abrupt and

too.”

eagerly, “finish up and send me a message, I’ll come

next afternoon, Darren arrived at

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

was also carrying

coding, he confidently headed to