Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 55

Wallis had ribbed me before for being a bit too serious.

So I decided to play it cool and said with a smile. “Alright, then I won’t hold back.”

“Professor Yearwood, Xaviera,” a soft, out–of–place voice chimed in. “What a coincidence.”

I turned and instantly spotted Hogan and Cecilia not far away.

Hogan, clutching a stack of research books, stood quietly beside Cecilia, gazing in our direction.

His eyes were deep and mysterious.

A subtle smirk, almost imperceptible, played on his lips.

Cecilia had come to the bookstore hunting for some gaming programming material.

And, needless to say, Hogan was tagging along with his sweetheart to level up.

They’d been browsing the bookstore for a while but hadn’t found the game backend construction guide on their shopping list and were getting antsy.

“Professor Yearwood, are you here to help Xaviera pick books too?” Cecilia fluttered her big eyes at Darren, “Detective novels, huh?”

Darren scratched his head and said, “Just bumped into each other.”

I caught a beam of scrutiny from across the way; lifting my eyes, it was from where Hogan

it cool, looked away, and pointed at the bookshelf, “Top

clueless, “What?”

book you’re looking for.”

moments later,

just smiled and kept

near the university town for a good seven or eight years. Hogan and I used to hit this place up all the time during college:

“Xaviera, thanks a bunch. How about this,

a book and I was in

drift and politely declined. “Ms. Irwin, you’re too kind.”

Chapter 55

Cecilia, acting like she didn’t get the hint, suggested, “The same place you and Xaviera ate last

really pushing it.

knew it

turned to Hogan and asked, “What do you

sleeve, “I wanna try the chef’s specials

he couldn’t bear

I chimed in cheerfully, “Cool, then let’s

later, the four of us showed up in the school cafeteria.

say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit, looking like a walking bjd, turned quite

a tad proud,