Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 22

Hogan and Cecilia’s private room was right next door.

Talk about a crazy coincidence.

“It’s fate.” Darren said with his usual chill vibe, his voice gentle. “Hogan, mind if we have a drink. together?”

Hogan’s response came cool and distant, “Is that appropriate?”

There wasn’t any emotion in his voice.

Darren joked half–seriously, “Mr. Zade, are you giving me the cold shoulder?”

After that, he called them over to sit down.

The head of the table.

Cecilia had just taken her seat when her eyes suddenly landed on Darren’s camera bag. She exclaimed in surprise. “Wow, the camera bag Xaviera was so choosy about turned out to be a gift for Mr. Yearwood.”

Darren paused. “Choosy?”

Cecilia, ever the social butterfly, said in her sweet, soft voice, “Yeah, in the middle of broad daylight, Xaviera ran off to the mall. The sales lady said she took ages to decide.”

After Darren heard this, he glanced my way, a twinkle in his eye.

made me feel kinda

return gift: too expensive or too cheap wouldn’t be right. Of

this way, it seemed like I’d

to get the meal over with and clear

came, “Xaviera, you’re sitting

to the seat next to

middle school buddy of Darren’s, didn’t know

just like that, with his cue, all eyes, as if on cue,

eight–person room, there were still two seats open, but if I stubbornly refused to go over, it would be a bit

and quietly took my

corner of my eye, I felt a gaze brushing past me, and when I looked up, I saw Hogan.

11:40

cleaning utensils for

I thought were only made for holding a pen were now tainted with the

served, and after toasting

about sixty percent full when Cecilia’s sweet voice floated over from two guys away, “Xaviera, Mr. Yearwood, thanks to you both, I’ve had a delightful evening.

up, her glass filled with juice held

put extra emphasis

my chest all night suddenly spread in that second, rushing to

was about to burst

and spoke calmly, “Ms. Irwin, you are mistaken. Xaviera