When the waitress moves, allowing them to sit, I quickly face back towards Maddie.
Her eyes are wide as she stares back at me, “It might not be what it looks like.”
I choke out an unamused laugh, “I don’t think I’m lucky enough for that cliché to be true.”
“Are you going to confront him?” her face pales as she asks the question. Maddie hates confrontation more than she hates spiders.
The shake of my head has her visibly relaxing, but I still feel on the verge of throwing up.
The sense of betrayal is so thick over my skin that it feels physical. How could he have hidden this from me? And to be here, in this busy restaurant, in the town I live in… Does he really think no one will find out?
“I want to leave,” I whisper.
Maddie reaches out, placing her hand flat on the table, “Go. I’ll take care of the bill.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling bad about sticking her with my meal, but knowing that I can’t stay here a moment longer.
“I’m sure.”
I glance around, “You don’t think he’ll see me, do you?”
Her mouth twists, “I can walk past their table and make a scene. Draw the attention away from the door.”
I almost smile, “How would you do that?”
“I could accidently dump a pitcher of beer over his ugly head.”
“I love your face,” I tell her, meaning it more than I ever have. “But I think I’ll just pull my hood up and slip out.”
“I love your face, too,” the look Maddie gives me is so full of sympathy that I almost break.
Not giving myself time to start a mental breakdown, I slide off the chair and pull my jacket on, yanking the hood up over my head. It might look a little weird, but it’s not so out of place that I’ll draw attention.
I pull my keys out of my purse and clutch them tightly as I walk between the tables, aiming for the door, letting the cool metal hold my attention.
It’s not until I’m stepping outside that my discipline slips.
As the door swings shut behind me, I glance across the restaurant, and lock eyes with Beckett.