Girl, You Sold Too Early

Year three of hiding who I was and dating Jenny Knapp, my parents finally said yes to the marriage.

I rushed home, ready to tell her—then froze outside the door.

Jenny was inside with Nolan Cruz, her childhood friend.

"My neighborhood's about to get redeveloped. Big payout. You can finally dump that loser and be with me. If my family hadn't gone broke, you wouldn't have settled for him."

No pause.

"I'll tell him my family's drowning in debt so we can break up. Then I'll register the marriage with you right away."

The words on my tongue died.

I pushed the door open.

She turned to me, face tight. "My family owes $500,000. I don't want to drag you down. Let's break up."

"Sure."

I pulled out my phone and texted my dad.

[Dad, don't transfer those three buildings to Jenny. Cancel the South Borevia redevelopment project.]

If she thought we were worlds apart, I'd show her exactly where I stood.

When Jenny heard me, the grief on her face locked up.

She'd probably played out a thousand versions of me falling apart, begging her to stay. The one thing she didn't expect? Me agreeing.

Shock flickered. Then it snapped into anger. "Gavin, what's that supposed to mean? You're just... okay with it? Be honest—have you been wanting this for a while?"

I didn't even get a word in.

Nolan stepped up, jabbing a finger at my face. "What kind of guy are you? Her family's in trouble. She's breaking up so she won't drag you down, and you won't even try to stop her? She wasted three years on you!"

I looked at them and almost laughed.

They couldn't wait to ditch me, and now they were playing victims, trying to pin it all on me.

"Spineless loser. You don't deserve Jenny!" Nolan kept going, acting like I dumped her the second I heard about the debt, like I'd just bail the second things got hard.

I met his eyes, cold. "Oh yeah? Then why are you in my place with my girlfriend?"

He froze, words stuck in his throat.

Jenny cut in fast. "Nolan... he heard about my family and came to comfort me. Don't twist it with your petty thinking."

"Is that so?"

I took my time with it.

I'd heard everything.

That whole $500,000 debt thing? Just an excuse so she could run back to her childhood friend—the one about to cash in.

Nolan saw me stay quiet and got cocky.

He pulled Jenny in, chin up. "I'll be real. My old neighborhood's getting redeveloped. Once that payout hits, I'm set. Jenny won't suffer with me. If my family hadn't gone broke back then, you think you'd get this lucky? She was with you out of pity. Now I've got money again, she's coming back to me."

I looked at him, calm. "Fine. Let's see if you're still smiling at the end."

Jenny's face dropped. "What's that supposed to mean? Just because you're useless doesn't mean you can't stand seeing other people win."

Nolan shoved me. "Damn, you're broke and still talking big? You don't deserve Jenny!"

Right then, Jenny's parents walked in.

Mrs. Knapp lit up when she saw Nolan. "Oh, Nolan! Sit, sit. I'll make you some tea."

She turned to me, smile gone. "Gavin, why are you still here? Jenny already said it. You're a grown man—stop clinging."

Mr. Knapp jumped in, "Exactly. With our situation, a broke kid like you can't give Jenny any security. Don't drag her down. Know your place."

The whole family was putting on an act.

I looked at the whole scene and felt nothing.

I turned to go upstairs.

Next second, Jenny dragged my suitcase out and tossed it onto the porch.

"I already packed for you. Take your stuff and go. Don't come back. We're done."

The door slammed in my face.

I stared at it, then pulled out my phone and texted my dad.

[Dad, don't transfer those three buildings to Jenny. Cancel the South Borevia redevelopment project.]

If she thought we were worlds apart, I'd show her exactly where I stood.