The Girl’s Exit Was Louder Than Silence Chapter 03
I froze.
It took me a second to realize she was talking to me.
Madison crossed her arms, looking like she couldn’t wait to watch me embarrass myself.
“Don’t believe me?”
“I set out my napkin before I went to the restroom.”
I looked down.
The napkin had indeed been unfolded, and someone had already drunk from the glass.
Still, I stubbornly looked straight at Dylan.
“What if I insist on sitting here?”
Dylan’s voice was flat.
“Stop making a scene. Seats are first come, first served.”
“If you want this seat, get here earlier next time.”
A few teammates glanced at me and started whispering.
“Seriously? Can’t Ava tell Dylan wants to sit with Madison?”
“They’re obviously into each other. Why’s she trying to third-wheel them?”
“No wonder Dylan can’t stand her. I’d be annoyed too if someone had that little self-awareness.”
For one reckless second, emotion crushed every ounce of reason I had left.
“Dylan and I are actually—”
Before I could finish, Dylan suddenly knocked over a glass beside him.
It shattered against the floor.
“Sorry. My hand slipped.”
I instantly came back to my senses.
My mouth snapped shut, and cold sweat soaked my back.
There was no point revealing a two-year secret relationship when we were already about to break up.
It would only humiliate both of us.
Besides, Dylan had deliberately shattered that glass to warn me.
If I still said it after that, I’d only be humiliating myself.
Someone who clearly loved drama leaned forward.
“You and Dylan are what?”
“You can’t stop halfway through! I’m gonna be up all night wondering now.”
“Knock it off.”
Logan shot him a look, then waved me over.
“There’s an empty seat next to me. Come sit here.”
“Okay.”
I turned and sat beside him.
Logan poured me a glass of water, looking apologetic.
“I was on the phone with Coach Anderson in the van. I didn’t notice you hadn’t gotten in.”
“If it happens again, I’ll have someone ride with you.”
“It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
I shook my head.
“No need.”
Once I left the team, the van would have exactly enough seats again.
Throughout dinner, Dylan sat beside Madison.
He kept refilling her water and even cut her steak for her.
Suddenly, I realized I couldn’t remember the last time Dylan and I had eaten together.
Ever since I joined the team, the closeness we once had had slowly disappeared.
And the whole reason I’d applied to be manager in the first place was because I wanted to be closer to him.
Dinner tasted like nothing.
Dylan glanced at me several times.
The second he put down his silverware, he texted me.
“Don’t leave after dinner. It’ll be dark outside, and it’s not safe for you to go home alone. I’ll drive you.”
I replied with a simple okay.
Even if I was going to break up with him, I should at least say it to his face.
But just as I was getting ready to leave with him after dinner, Madison spoke up.
“Dylan, can you drive me home? I’m scared to go alone.”
I stopped about sixteen feet away from them.
“Ask someone else to take you,” Dylan said.
He glanced back at the other guys.
They laughed and shoved one another around, each suddenly claiming he had somewhere else to be before making a quick escape.
Dylan hesitated for a few seconds.
Then he lowered his head and texted me.
“She doesn’t live far away. I’ll drop her off and come back for you.”
And like an idiot, I believed him.
I sat there and waited for him to come back.
Logan eventually finished settling the bill and walked out of the restaurant.
He looked surprised when he saw me still waiting outside.
“Everyone left. Why are you still here?”
“Did you need to talk to me about something?”
I immediately stood and brushed the dust off my clothes.
“I’m waiting for Dylan. He said he’d come back after dropping Madison off because he needed to talk to me.”
I still didn’t tell Logan about my relationship with Dylan.
But the second he heard my answer, his brows pulled together.
“Madison lives way outside town. It’s a two-hour drive each way!”
“He seriously left you here alone to wait for him?”