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.

feel kinda

too cheap wouldn’t be right. Of course, I

it this way, it seemed like I’d

hoping to get the meal over with and

reminder came, “Xaviera, you’re sitting over there.”

earnestly pointed to the seat next

old middle school buddy of Darren’s, didn’t know the backstory between Hogan and me.

cue, all eyes, as if on

I stubbornly refused to go over, it would be a bit of a slap in Darren’s face.

didn’t make a scene and quietly took my seat.

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

11:40

utensils for Cecilia.

I thought were only made for holding a pen were now tainted with the scent of everyday life, all because of a young

after toasting the birthday star, everyone

and focused on my meal, getting to about sixty percent full when Cecilia’s sweet voice floated over from two guys away, “Xaviera, Mr. Yearwood,

her glass filled with juice held respectfully, looking

she put extra emphasis on

slight discomfort that had lingered in my chest all night suddenly spread in that second,

to

seemed to pick up on it and spoke calmly, “Ms. Irwin, you are mistaken. Xaviera and I are just