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.

+

left the restaurant, Hogan’s car was already waiting by the curb.

car and helped a tipsy

head out the window and asked. “Xaviera, wanna join

smiled and declined.

a third wheel,

subway ride

Darren take you,” Jack said when he heard I was hitting the subway, “It’s

Darren, cheeks flushed, and

university’s put me up in a

1/3

Chapter 23

tell if he was

was so out

a key card from his briefcase and said, “Believe me

subway with this slightly buzzed

end, he even walked me to

antics at the

had a great

was totally

Science Department’s pride

familiar, sending a little tremor through my

I sat silently by the window, pondering

of

phone’s dark screen flickered

was a friend request from Hogan, with a question

for two seconds, then locked the screen and

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