Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 23

With a “ding.” Hogan’s glass suddenly landed on the table, making a crisp sound. I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or not.

He gave me a casual glance, grabbed his glass, tapped it on the table, and downed it in one go. Pretty decisive.

I pretended to take a sip of my juice, too.

The scene looked like everyone was having a blast, but the vibe was kinda stiff, for some

reason.

I felt like a total jerk, stirring up trouble at someone else’s birthday bash–definitely not cool.

Clueless Jack, just there for the grub, didn’t pick up on it and, loving a good show, said, “Darren, Xaviera’s laid it out for ya, aren’t you gonna respond?”

Great, now it was even more awkward.

I wished I could just vanish into thin air.

Thank goodness Darren’s got social smarts. Holding his glass, he said, “Xaviera, you’ve given me such high praise, I should definitely return the toast.”

His voice was teasing, a playful twinkle in his eye as he gave me a secret wink.

At his cue, I reluctantly raised my glass.

That warmed things up a bit.

We

were at the meal for over an hour.

+

car was already

helped a tipsy Hogan into

too, but then popped her head out the window and asked. “Xaviera, wanna join

and

wanted to be a third

cheap subway ride way more appealing?

heard I was hitting the subway, “It’s getting

cheeks flushed, and said, “No need.”

up in a two–bedroom near campus, it’s

1/3

Chapter 23

couldn’t tell if he was

out of the blue.

my hesitation, Darren just pulled out a key card from his briefcase and said, “Believe me now?”

I was, catching the subway with this

the end, he even walked me to

antics at the dinner, I seriously

“Xaviera, I actually had a great time today. You being you, it’s really quite something.”

was totally baffled.

our Computer Science Department’s

foreign and familiar, sending a

silently by the window, pondering my life’s many

of “pride“?

screen

a friend request from Hogan, with a question mark.

two seconds, then locked the screen