Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 168

Hogan was dead serious when he said it.

Right in the spotlight.

I

And that kinda threw me for a loop. All I could muster was a weak “uh–huh,” my face totally betraying me.

After all, this whole “work” thing was just smoke and mirrors.

But I was not ungrateful. I was crystal clear that without Hogan stepping up to bat for me in tonight’s farce, I’d have been left high and dry.

But why, though? Mr. Brainiac himself surely knew the can of worms he’d open by speaking up for me, yet he went ahead and did it, way out of left field.

“All this hustle’s killed my vibe.”

That crisp voice snapped me back to reality. Next thing I knew, Hogan and Cecilia had vanished into the crowd, gone with the wind.

The others, seeing Timothy all wiped out, tried to cheer him up. But the guy was dead set on teaving. Looping his arm over my shoulder, he was all, “Xaviera is beat. Gotta take her home, right, Xaviera?”

Timothy gave me those innocent puppy dog eyes as he dropped that last line, grinning from ear to ear.

he was giving me

“A bit, yeah.”

Timothy was leading me out

lot.

in

was a mess, head hanging low, sniffling, “I just don’t

word “lie” pierced my ear and I froze.

Cecilia was in on it?

for her,” the guy sighed softly, his long fingers

11:02

Chapter 168

His reasons.

away, my heart thumping like crazy.

good, so I nudged

read my mind, “It’s chilly here. Let’s wait up

dropped me off

he said with a hint of regret, “Sorry

I sheepishly said, “I should be

me.” Timothy was adamant, a touch of urgency in

mechanical cufflink flashed in my

mean if, Sean really was FreeMan, Timothy’s guilt