—SOLO FEBRUARY CHALLENGE
“Why so stiff, Jack?” Mal whispers in my ear as I struggle with the absolute nightmare unfolding before my very eyes.
I can’t believe Mal showed up.
But, frankly, I’m more surprised Sora did.
I just… didn’t think she would. I’m stunned. Mal next to me. Sora a few feet away. Sure, I got Sora’s message about wanting to come tonight, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t get my hopes up. How many times can a guy be relegated to second place before he gets the message? I really thought we were Big-L Love, even though she was telling me and the whole world that she doesn’t even believe in Big-L Love.
I’m just this big pathetic puppy trying to make women love me who can’t love at all.
But now that I see her standing there, I see she does believe in Big-L Love. And Grand Romantic Gestures, or she wouldn’t be here.
But now I’m going to lose her.
Because of Mal.
And my own doubt.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss to Mal, even though I know why. She’s been threatening to come for weeks. I didn’t take her seriously, but I should have.
“Presenting an award,” she says, feigning innocence. “I know someone who knows someone who runs the Golden Chefs. Why? Is this seat taken? Or can’t I sit here?”
“No, you can’t.” But it’s all too late, Sora has seen her. And she’s clinging to me like a dryer sheet. I watch the blood draining from Sora’s face.
“Jack-a-boo,” she purrs. “The seat was empty. I just want to keep it warm.”
I shrug her off, shooting to my feet, but the damage is done. It’s too late. Sora’s turned on her heel, already pushing by a waiter, and headed back to the elevators.
“Sora!” I cry, and a few patrons turn and stare at me as I chase after Sora. “Sora, wait.”
Sora dashes past the coat check, nearly knocking over the attendant. I catch her right before the elevators.
“Sora, wait.”
She whirls. “You could have told me that Mal was your plus-one. That she’s the reason you wanted to wait until March. You could have just told me.”
“She’s not. I promise. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“So you said.” Sora’s voice drips with doubt. And I don’t blame her.
“I know how this looks, but you have to believe me, I did not invite her here.”
“What’s she doing here, then?” Sora puts a hand on her hip.
“She’s a presenter. She has connections.” It sounds like a weak excuse. I dig up more truth. “She’s been threatening to be my plus-one for weeks. I told her no, but she doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Sora stares at me. “Why didn’t you just tell me that? Why keep it a secret?”
Because then I’d have to admit that Mal and I slept together a week before I bumped into Sora at my free samples table. That the reason why Mal thinks she can be my plus-one at all is because I made a terrible mistake. But I don’t want to tell Sora that. It would just confirm her fears that I’m not over Mal.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to be on that morning show? That you’d recommitted to Solo February?” Later, watching her segment online bashing love and all men, calling both a waste of time, hurt more than I’d like to admit.
We both stare at each other, realizing the truth: neither one of us has been totally honest with the other. It shakes the very foundation of everything between us.
“Don’t ‘what about’ me,” Sora warns. “This is different.”
“Sora, please, I know men have lied to you in the past. But I am not lying. Mal and I are not dating.”
