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.”

of scrutiny from across the way; lifting my

gazes clashed; I played it cool, looked away, and pointed at the bookshelf, “Top shelf, second row from

was clueless,

you’re

pointing, and moments later, she beamed, “Xaviera, you’re

just smiled and kept mum.

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 had

How about this, let us treat you and Professor Yearwood to a meal?”

I was in

seemed to catch my drift and politely declined. “Ms. Irwin, you’re

Chapter 55

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

really pushing it.

spot. Hogan knew it

and asked, “What

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

a look like he couldn’t

then let’s

us showed up in the

surprise students came over to say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit, looking like a walking bjd, turned quite a few

even seemed a tad proud, giggling with the