Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 38

I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

“Sorry.” I said to Darren beside me, fiddling with a water bottle, mortified. “I’m usually not such a lightweight.”

Darren’s eyes crinkled with a smile, but there was a teasing lilt in his voice, “Maybe the driver drives in a terrible way.”

Great, now I felt even more embarrassed.

Back in the car, Darren pointed at the wristband in my hand and casually mentioned, “It’s dirty.” I retracted my left hand nervously, staying mum.

He was just giving me a heads–up, but what he didn’t know was the gnarly scar hidden beneath the wristband.

Dirty, he got that right.

I thought to myself, dejected, it’d been dirty for a long time.

Half an hour later, at my request, the sedan stopped at the entrance to my complex.

I thanked Darren and turned to leave when suddenly a jacket landed on my shoulders.

In an instant, the subtle scent of ambergris filled my nose, accompanied by Darren’s gentle voice in my ear, “It’s chilly with the night dew, take it slow.”

The booze had hit me and the breeze made me shiver, so I didn’t refuse the offer.

I staggered down to my building, and before I could step inside, I heard Cecilia’s sweet and sticky voice.

just too nervous today, didn’t

self–blame was

was quick to respond, “No rush, practice makes perfect, you did great

deep, raspy voice, with its honest inflection, was

Cecilia’s

and headed

I heard Cecilia ask, “Aren’t

at the bright moonlight, and

moonlight, it was perfect for lovebirds to whisper sweet nothings

Chacher 33

the alcohol was to thank, because that night. I actually slept like a

notice Hogan’s call until the

not long after

my temples, out of politeness, I sent him WhatsApp

Zade, what’s up?)

expect Hogan to reply instantly with [Wrong number.]

I knew it.

fingers, then deleted the message

later, the notification sound chimed again. Hogan had sent a dry line

cheeky, I quickly typed back, [Still got a ways to go compared to a time master ke you

reply

went dead.

for work, and as my eyes swept over the couch,‘t noticed Darren’s