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 eyes, it was from where Hogan stood.

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

was clueless, “What?”

book you’re looking for.”

and moments later, she beamed,

and kept mum.

seven or eight years. Hogan and I used to hit this place up all the time during college: I had scoped out the programming books,

“Xaviera, thanks a bunch. How about this, let us treat

was in for a

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

Chapter 55

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

was really pushing

Hogan knew it

to Hogan and asked, “What do you think, Mr. Zade?”

at Hogan’s sleeve, “I wanna try the

on a look like he couldn’t

I chimed in cheerfully, “Cool, then let’s go for some mixed spaghetti.”

hour later, the four of us

students came over to say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit, looking like a

proud, giggling with the