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.”

a beam of scrutiny from across the way; lifting my

pointed at the bookshelf, “Top shelf, second row from the left.”

was clueless, “What?”

you’re looking

was pointing, and moments

and kept

bookstore’d been around 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: I

help with the book, said, “Xaviera, thanks a bunch. How about this, let

was in for

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

Chapter 55

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

was really pushing it.

it better

asked, “What do you think, Mr. Zade?”

Cecilia pouted, tugging at Hogan’s sleeve, “I

look like he couldn’t bear to

chimed in cheerfully, “Cool, then let’s go for some mixed

us

so it was no surprise students came over to say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit,

one bit, even seemed a tad proud,