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.”

from across the way; lifting my eyes,

played it cool, looked away, and pointed at the

clueless,

book you’re looking for.”

peeked where I was pointing, and moments later, she beamed, “Xaviera, you’re

just smiled and

this place up all the time during college: I had scoped out the programming books, so

a bunch. How about this, let

in for a free dinner, should

my drift and politely declined. “Ms.

Chapter 55

acting like she didn’t get the hint, suggested, “The same place you

was really pushing

knew it better than us.

I turned to Hogan and asked, “What do you think,

let’s go.” Cecilia pouted, tugging at Hogan’s sleeve, “I wanna try the chef’s specials too.”

like he

“Cool, then

four of us showed up

over to say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit,

didn’t mind one bit, even seemed a tad proud, giggling with the menu, “Hogan, what will