Girl, You Sold Too Early

Watching the two of them tag-team me, I almost laughed.

"Give up?" I let out a quiet laugh. "You've got it backwards. I'm here for a date."

"A date?" Jenny laughed like I'd just told a joke. "Gavin, if you're gonna lie, at least try. Looking like that—who would pick you?"

Nolan jumped in, patting my shoulder like he owned the place. "If you want Jenny back, just say it. No need for all this."

I didn't bother explaining.

Right then, my phone rang. My date.

I answered on speaker, right in front of them.

"Hey, Gavin. It's Maya." Her voice carried a hint of apology.

The name felt familiar.

"Sorry—something came up. I might not make it today."

"It's fine. Handle it."

I hung up.

A text came through.

[To make it up to you, dinner in three days? Top-floor revolving restaurant at the Celestria Grand. My treat. You good with that?]

Celestria Grand—the most over-the-top hotel in the city. One meal there could wipe out a year's salary.

Before I could reply, Jenny and Nolan lost it.

"Wow, keep it going!" Jenny doubled over laughing. "Where'd you find her? Trying to prove you're doing great without me?"

Nolan pulled her in, looking at me like I was nothing. "I'm telling you, it's pointless. This just makes you look worse."

I slid my phone away.

Watching them go off, I couldn't even be bothered.

"You done? I'm here to eat."

My calm set them off.

"You ungrateful loser!" Nolan pointed at me, face twisted. "You think you can eat here? Bet you're gonna dine and dash. Security! Security!"

Two guards rushed over.

"Mr. Cruz, how can we help?" The lead guard clearly knew him.

Nolan pointed at me, smug. "Throw this creep out. He's ruining our meal. This place doesn't need broke trash like him."

Jenny crossed her arms. "Yeah, get him out. He's killing the vibe."

The guard paused, spoke into his radio, then looked back at them—face all business.

"We've had complaints about you causing a disturbance and harassing other guests. You need to leave. Now."

They both froze.

"What... What did you say?" Nolan stared at him. "You're kicking me out? Do you know who I am? I'm a VVIP here!"

"Orders from the general manager." The guard gestured to the exit.

"This is ridiculous!" Nolan kept shouting, still trying to argue.

The guards were done talking. One grabbed each of them and hauled them toward the entrance.

I was about to grab a table when my mom walked over, dressed head-to-toe in Chanel.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"How could I not come? I had to make sure you showed up." She gave me a look, then smiled. "Oh—and I forgot to mention. This mall? Ours."

I let out a small, helpless smile and walked off with her.

***

Third-Person POV

Two security guards dragged Jenny and Nolan to the mall entrance, both of them a mess. They looked up just in time to see Gavin walking off, his arm linked with a polished, middle-aged woman.

It clicked for Nolan. "Now I get it. I was wondering how a broke loser like him suddenly grew a spine. So he found himself a new backer."

Jenny clenched her jaw. "He... He really hooked up with some rich older woman."

They stared after him, refusing to accept it, then finally left the mall.