Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 23

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.

+

restaurant, Hogan’s car

helped a tipsy Hogan

popped her head out the

smiled and declined.

wanted to be a third wheel, right?

subway ride way more

I was hitting the subway, “It’s getting late, not safe.”

cheeks flushed, and

up in a two–bedroom

1/3

Chapter 23

if he was

out of the

out a key card from his

was, catching the subway

the end, he even walked me

about my antics at the dinner, I

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

was totally baffled.

Computer Science Department’s pride and joy, Xaviera.”

felt both foreign and familiar, sending a little tremor

place, I sat silently by the window, pondering my life’s many flaws,

of

screen

friend request from Hogan, with a question

seconds, then locked the screen

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