Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 77

Hilary lifted her mug, took a delicate sip, and said, “I didn’t recognize your uncle for a moment at the mall yesterday.” Right then, a lightbulb went off in my head, and my heart sank.

| guessed our recent okay-ish interactions almost made me forget that we were never on the same side of the fence. “Xaviera, | didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just saying, since we're all in Rivertown, if there’s anything | can help with.” “Mrs. Hilary.” | cut Hilary off, my tone a tad frosty. “Sorry, I’ve got to get back to work.

Hilary will probably never get it - we might be broke, but we don’t need her cheap pity.

After circling the block downstairs, | headed back to the office, and just my luck. | ran into Hogan right by the elevator. The man had a frown, his jawline was tense, and he was radiating major bad vibes, looking like he was in a foul mood.. At this time. | bet he was here to pick up Cecilia from work, no clue what kind of tantrum Mr. Zade was throwing now. These two, mother and son, really knew how to give me a hard time.

| had to bite the bullet and say hi, and Hogan just gave a noncommittal grunt without event looking me in the eye clearly not in the mood to deal with me.

4

In the elevator, | took the hint and stood behind him to the right, turning myself into part of the background.

Neither of us initiated any conversation.

Just when | thought I’d get a moment of peace, the guy in front suddenly asked. “Doesn't it

gross you out?”

His out-of-the—blue question threw me for a loop, and | was at a loss for words.

Seeing my silence, Hogan pressed on, “Flirting with other guys in a room you've shared with an ex, doesn’t it gross you out?”

His voice was faint, but it felt like an invisible slap across the face, leaving me speechless and rooted to the spot like a block of wood.

But it didn’t take long for me to catch the gist of his words.

Hogan was accusing me of flirting with men, and in that apartment we shared, no less.

MOSS T

So it wasn’t hard to figure out that he must have accidentally seen Darren dropping me off last night.

Cecilia lived upstairs, so a chance encounter made sense, and | guessed Hogan had gotten the wrong idea about me and Darren.

In the past, | might have tried to explain, but right now, it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, making it hard to breathe.

| thought, “what right does Hogan have to judge me?”

What gives him the right?

Thinking this, | pinched my palm, looked up, and said coolly, “Aren’t your priorities a bit skewed?”

Shouldn't he be more concerned about Ms. Irwin?

Hogan turned to face me, his eyes piercing, a hint of menace flickering in them, “Xaviera, you sure do love to put on airs.” His tone was mocking, and he didn’t mince words.

I clenched my jaw but didn’t back down, firing back, “Mr. Zade, you used a word just now that’s quite inaccurate. | think | need to set the record straight.”

Hogan, Silent under the overhead light, his sharp features casting an even more daunting shadow, waited.

| couldn't care less and said bluntly. “To me, Hogan, you are not an ex, never have been.”