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.

said with openness, “Go ahead, before Director Irwin gets

a joke, with

Zade?”

scoff and quickly walked away.

state, with only

unexpectedly got a call from a heating guy wanting to schedule a time to install some

times. Then, it hit me–I remembered

was calm, “Rivertown’s too cold. I don’t want anything delaying

told me the bill for the radiators had already

I carefully phrased my response. “Our heating’s not that bad, you know.”

Chapter 71

comfortable at work. Why

that was it, he was

some tact. “Then, on behalf of

but when I turned around, there was Cecilia standing behind

1. me.

and the questions in the

started the conversation, “Xaviera, were you on the

nodded, and her frown

with her mug, “Hogan must have asked you for quite a few favors

waiting for