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.

+

the restaurant, Hogan’s car

hopped out of the car and helped a tipsy Hogan into the

her head out the

and declined.

a third

a cheap subway ride

you,” Jack said when he heard I was hitting the subway, “It’s getting late, not safe.”

Darren, cheeks flushed, and said, “No

up in a two–bedroom near campus, it’s

1/3

Chapter 23

if he was for real or

so out of

just pulled out a key card from his briefcase and said,

subway with this slightly buzzed guy.

he even walked me

the dinner, I seriously

had a great time today. You being you,

was totally baffled.

Department’s pride and joy,

felt both foreign and familiar,

silently by the window, pondering my life’s many flaws, and

worthy of

phone’s dark screen

was a friend request from

then locked

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