Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 17

I really didn’t expect to stir up such a mess.

Seeing the hurt in Cecilia’s eyes, I quickly smoothed things over and said, “Assistant Zachary, this tea is for Ms. Irwin.”

Zachary caught on quick. After hearing me out, he pivoted on his heel and handed the coffee to Cecilia.

She gave it a glance and murmured, “I don’t do black coffee.”

Black coffee was Hogan’s thing.

I used to drink it just to go along with him, and now it’s become a habit.

Zachary slapped his forehead and said, “Look at my memory. Please don’t hold it against me, Ms. Irwin.”

Cecilia wasn’t holding a grudge, but once she got back to her office, she stayed put all afternoon.

She kept at her desk until the end of the day.

One by one, folks trickled out, leaving just the two of us in the now–empty studio.

I worked on, business as usual, until a notification bell rang in my ear.

I looked up, and who should show up but Hogan, looking like he’d just finished a marathon.

Our eyes met, and I instantly noticed the scab on his lip, which irked me a bit.

“Where’s Cecilia?” he asked, his voice making an entrance as if the kiss from last night never happened.

perfect timing.

a look and said, “She hasn’t left.”

it to the tech department office.

peep

voice floated out, “Hogan, what brings you here

and sweet, with

said you looked a bit

notches, “Did you come because you were

Cecilia’s mood flipped to cheerful

11:39

in a good

then, the girl caught sight of Hogan’s lin, “Hogan, what

the mouse froze as I heard Hogan’s unflustered response, “It’s nothing, just a little

so obedient, didn’t press

Cecilia heading to the

outside.

I was still coding, he took a couple of steps forward and,

“It’s alright.”

not a machine,” he said, glancing at the calendar on my desk with my work schedule clearly marked.

kept typing, not

a feeling he wasn’t done talking.

flush from the restroom, and then Hogan said, “About

that was when I got the gist of what

He hadn’t forgotten.

to let me know

yet hearing him say it made my heart