Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 71

But let me tell you, that was just Hogan’s lame excuse. What he really wanted was a tangled mess of us in the dead of night.

Just like this moment, it was dangerous and yet, oh so captivating.

A sudden ring from my phone snapped me back to reality, with “Cecilia” spelled out crystal clear on the caller ID.

It hit me like a sledgehammer, dragging me back into the here and now.

“Mr. Zade, you’ve got a call from Director Irwin,” I gave Hogan the heads–up.

At the mention of Cecilia, Hogan’s tight embrace finally eased up a bit.

The overhead light bulb chose that exact second to blaze on, its glaring brightness as if it could burn away all the secrets and shame hidden in the night.

Cecilia’s soft sobs leaked through the phone. “Hogan, I’m feeling really down. Can you come pick me up?”

Hogan massaged his temples and after a short pause said, “Send me the address.

The call ended and the man stood there, hesitating, as if he had more to say but couldn’t spit it

out.

squarely and said with openness, “Go ahead, before Director Irwin

looked at me as if I’d cracked a joke, with a storm brewing in his

good. Mr. Zade?” 1

scoff and quickly

night returned to its peaceful state, with only

a heating guy wanting to

with the guy several times. Then, it hit me–I remembered last night and immediately dialed

“Rivertown’s too cold. I don’t want

told me the bill for the radiators had already been paid–and it wasn’t

phrased my response. “Our heating’s not that

Chapter 71

be more comfortable at work. Why the hard pass. Ms. March?”

it, he was worried about Cecilia

some tact. “Then, on behalf of everyone, thanks, Mr.

when I turned around, there was Cecilia

1. me.

the questions in the young girl’s

conversation, “Xaviera, were you on the phone

and her

“Hogan must have asked you for quite a few favors to keep me and Mrs. Hilary happy,

for her to