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,

self–blame was kind of heart–wrenching.

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

its honest

was Cecilia’s Hogan, alright.

couldn’t bear to eavesdrop any longer and headed to the staircase on

heard Cecilia ask, “Aren’t you coming up, Hogan?”

at the bright moonlight, and managed a

for lovebirds to

Chacher 33

to thank, because that night. I actually slept like a rock.

didn’t notice Hogan’s call

ten, not long after he’d dropped off Cecilia.

out of politeness,

Zade, what’s up?)

didn’t expect Hogan to reply

I knew it.

deleted the message and headed to

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

to go compared

reply after

went

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