Chapter 5: Breaking the Silence

Thinking of this, I shivered.

If my brother offended Harper, what would happen to me and Morgan?

I didn’t dare think further. I waved my hands and shook my head, afraid my “I have nothing to do with Harper” would be written all over my face.

"No, bro, we’re just good friends, really. Didn’t I tell you? I’m not falling in love anytime soon, don’t misunderstand!"

I tried to sound convincing, but I could tell Dylan wasn’t entirely buying it. He studied me for a moment, then finally relaxed.

Hearing that, my brother’s face softened.

He coughed twice:

"Mm, you’re in the rising stage of your career. It’s best not to date."

It was classic Dylan—always the responsible older brother, always looking out for me. I smiled, feeling a little lighter.

Seeing him relax, I finally did, too.

I leaned back in my seat, letting out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. For now, crisis averted.

I didn’t feel like chatting with Harper anymore, so I just stared at the traffic lights, phone in hand.

The city lights blurred past, and I let my mind wander. I wondered what Morgan was doing, if she was thinking about me, too.

"Um… Autumn, the friend you sent me last night, was… was it Harper?"

Dylan’s voice broke the silence. He sounded calm, but there was a nervous edge to his words. I glanced over, curious.

The light turned green and my brother spoke again. His tone sounded calm to most people, but as an actress, I could sense the subtle emotion in his voice.

When he said Harper’s name, his voice was noticeably softer. He was shy!

I tried not to smile, but it was impossible. I’d never seen Dylan like this before.

I sensed something was up but didn’t point it out. What if I was wrong?

I decided to play it cool, just in case.

"Yes."

I nodded. My brother sat up straight and quietly said, "Mm."

He didn’t say anything else, but I could see the wheels turning in his head. I made a mental note to ask Harper for more details later.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the restaurant.

It was one of those hidden gems in the city—no sign out front, just a discreet door and a red lantern. Inside, it was all warm wood and soft lighting. Celebrities came here to escape the paparazzi, and tonight, it felt like our own little world.

This place is super private—a lot of celebrities meet here. Since I was eating with Morgan, I picked it.

I wanted everything to be perfect, to make a good impression. The hostess led us to a private room, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

There weren’t many people, and we had a private room.

The table was set with crisp white linens and polished silverware. I took a seat next to Morgan, my heart thumping in my chest.

Once inside, Morgan and I sat together, while Harper and my brother sat together.

It felt a little like a double date, even though no one would admit it. I caught Morgan’s eye and smiled, hoping she couldn’t see how nervous I was.

During the meal, only Harper and I talked. Morgan next to me and Dylan next to Harper stayed silent.

Harper kept the conversation going, cracking jokes and telling stories. I chimed in when I could, but Morgan and Dylan barely said a word. It was awkward, but also kind of funny.

The funny thing was, I never picked up any food, but my plate kept piling up.

At first, I thought it was the waiter, but then I realized it was Morgan, quietly putting food on my plate every time I looked away. My heart fluttered every time I caught her eye.

At the end, I realized it was Morgan putting food on my plate.

I looked down at the little mountain of food, then back at Morgan. She just smiled, a secret kind of smile that made my stomach flip.

Noticing this, I couldn’t eat anymore. Looking at the food, my heart felt all fluttery and ticklish.

I poked at my salad, trying to hide my grin. It felt like we were sharing a secret, just the two of us.

"Are you full?"

Morgan’s soft voice sounded in my ear.

She leaned in close, her breath warm against my cheek. I almost dropped my fork.

I froze and nodded quickly.

She smiled, amused. After that, we didn’t talk again for the rest of the meal.

Morgan’s smile lingered in my mind, even as the conversation faded. I wondered what she was thinking, if she felt the same nervous excitement I did.

But a subtle feeling spread among the four of us.

There was a new energy in the room—something unspoken, but impossible to ignore. I caught Dylan glancing at Harper, and Morgan watching me out of the corner of her eye. It was like we were all waiting for something to happen.

As dinner wrapped up, Harper ordered a bottle of red wine.

He raised his glass in a toast, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. I clinked my glass with his, trying to keep my hands from shaking.

The wine arrived fast, but just as the waitress set it down, her hand slipped and half the bottle spilled all over me.

The cold wine soaked through my dress, staining it deep red. I gasped, feeling the fabric cling to my skin. The whole room went silent.

And of course, I was wearing a white chiffon dress. The wine made it nearly see-through.

I wanted to sink through the floor. My cheeks burned, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I wrapped my arms around myself, desperate to hide.

Just as I was about to die of embarrassment, Morgan, sitting beside me, whipped off her black trench coat, leaned over, and wrapped me up in it.

She moved so fast I barely had time to react. The coat was warm and smelled faintly of lilies. I clung to it, grateful beyond words.

She hugged me through the coat and quickly tied the sleeves behind me.

Her hands were gentle but sure, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. I could hear my own heartbeat, loud and frantic.

By the time I realized what was happening, Morgan had pulled me behind her. The waitress who spilled the wine ran out, terrified, without even apologizing.

Morgan stood between me and the rest of the room, shielding me from view. I wanted to thank her, but my throat was too tight.

My brother got up to chase her, and Harper followed after a moment’s pause.

I watched them go, feeling both grateful and mortified. I wondered if I’d ever live this down.

The room fell silent. I was so nervous I couldn’t speak. Finally, Morgan broke the silence:

"Did you bring any clothes? If not, my place is nearby. Want to go there to change?"

Her voice was calm, but I could see the worry in her eyes. I shook my head, trying to remember where I’d left my suitcase.

I remembered my suitcase was in my brother’s trunk.

I’d just finished filming, so of course I had clothes. But what I said was: