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 embarrassed.

too expensive or too cheap wouldn’t

Cecilia painting it this way, it seemed like I’d gone to great

get the meal over with and clear

“Xaviera, you’re

the seat

Darren’s, didn’t know the backstory between

all eyes, as

an eight–person room, there were still two seats open, but if I stubbornly refused to go

and quietly took

felt a gaze brushing past me, and when I looked up,

11:40

cleaning utensils

made for holding a pen were now tainted with the scent of

drinks were served, and after toasting the birthday star, everyone started drinking

my head down 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, thanks to you both, I’ve had a delightful evening. Here’s a toast to

filled with juice

put extra emphasis on

chest all night suddenly spread

was about to burst

you are mistaken. Xaviera and I are