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.

too nervous today, didn’t do great, huh?”

was kind of

was quick to respond, “No rush, practice makes perfect,

its honest

Cecilia’s Hogan,

and headed to the staircase on the other side.

ask, “Aren’t you

at the bright moonlight, and managed

perfect for lovebirds to whisper sweet nothings all night

Chacher 33

because that night. I actually slept like a

notice Hogan’s call

night at ten, not long after he’d

of politeness, I sent

what’s up?)

expect Hogan to reply instantly with [Wrong number.]

I knew it.

then deleted the message and

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

feeling cheeky, I quickly typed back, [Still got a ways to go

reply after that.

went dead.

as my eyes swept over the couch,‘t noticed Darren’s navy blue suit jacket.