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 embarrassed.

too expensive or too cheap wouldn’t be right. Of course,

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

was slightly annoyed, hoping to get the

then, Jack’s reminder came, “Xaviera, you’re sitting over

earnestly pointed to the

being an old middle school buddy of Darren’s,

his cue, all eyes, as if on cue, turned

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

didn’t make a scene and quietly took

eye, I felt a gaze brushing past

11:40

utensils for

now tainted with the scent of

food and drinks were served, and after toasting the birthday

voice floated over from two guys away, “Xaviera, Mr. Yearwood, thanks to you both, I’ve had a delightful evening. Here’s a toast

filled with juice held

she put extra emphasis on “both.”

all night suddenly spread

to

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