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.

about perfect

a look and said,

word, Hogan beelined it to

peep

what brings

and sweet, with a touch of

you looked a bit

of notches, “Did you come because you

but Cecilia’s mood flipped to cheerful in an

11:39

be in a

then, the girl caught sight of Hogan’s lin, “Hogan, what happened to your mouth?

as I heard Hogan’s unflustered response,

ever so obedient,

office together, Cecilia heading to the restroom and Hogan patiently waiting

outside.

he took a couple of steps forward and, out of the

“It’s alright.”

he said, glancing at the calendar on my desk

typing, not

he

flush from the restroom, and then Hogan said, “About last night, don’t

beat, and that was when I got the gist

He hadn’t forgotten.

to let me

him say it made