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

had seen that avatar in the

realized Hogan’s ‘on my

to live

pinched the palm of my hand and silently got out of

just a dream.

my palm rang again, I steadied

warm voice tinged with rare impatience came through,

bit stunned, “I’m fine,

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

initially recommended by Darren

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11:38

thought he was probably worried I’d work myself

the message he sent during dinner and the handbag he’d given me

looking

night? I’d like to treat

“Huh?”

was a bit abrupt and corrected myself, “Another day

too.”

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

arrived at the studio

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

also carrying a shopping

confidently headed to the pantry with