I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 138

"Poor little Gavin. We gorge on crawfish while you suffer with a burger. It's a tragedy you're allergic to shellfish, otherwise, I would've brought you a doggy bag."

Gwen's sympathy was entirely sarcastic. She leaned forward from the backseat, resting her chin near the front. "Be honest. Were you terrified I was going to steal your precious Sophie away?"

"You? Not a chance. She isn't into women."

Gavin wiped his mouth with a napkin, glancing back at Gwen with a mischievous smirk. "And even if she were, I still wouldn't let you have her."

"Jerk." Gwen kicked the back of his seat.

"You spend all day doing creepy science experiments. Can't you just invent a love potion? Something I can slip into a guy's drink so he'll obsess over me and never look at another woman again?"

"Keep dreaming," Gavin deadpanned, starting the engine.

"True. If you actually invented something like that, you'd use it on Sophie first."

Gwen leaned back against the seat, sighing lazily.

"I don't need tricks like that to keep her," Gavin replied, his tone smooth and confident.

"Yeah, well, neither do I. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and Jason is boring and completely incapable of communicating anyway. Once I ditch him, I'll have men lining up around the block."

Sophie shot Gavin a furious glare. Who the hell gives advice like this? Most people try to play peacemaker, but Gavin was actively throwing gas on the fire.

Before Sophie could snap at him, Gwen interjected sharply, "Since when is Jason boring?"

Suddenly, it clicked. Sophie understood exactly what Gavin was doing. She had spent the entire afternoon praising Jason, trying to convince Gwen to give him another chance.

But the harder she pushed, the more defensive and dismissive Gwen became.

By deliberately insulting Jason, Gavin triggered Gwen's instinct to protect the man she secretly liked.

Gavin smiled like a mastermind but forced a tone of exaggerated surprise. "Didn't you say he was dull, boring, and terrible at comforting people?"

"I never said that," Gwen lied flawlessly.

"Alright, my mistake. Some other guy must be the boring one. Jason is attentive, considerate, deeply intelligent, and incredibly charming..."

"We're here. Get out of my car," Gavin growled playfully when he pulled up to Gwen's building.

"Wait here, I'll walk her up."

Sophie reached for her seatbelt, but Gavin grabbed her hand, shaking his head subtly.

Sophie paused, following the tilt of his chin toward the side mirror. Glancing back, she realized Jason's car was parked just a few yards behind them.

"Actually, Gavin and I have plans. I'm not walking you up," Sophie corrected smoothly.

"You really are throwing me away for a man. I wasted all those compliments on you," Gwen pouted. She pushed the door open, stepped out, and waved at them through the window. "Get out of here. I won't interrupt your gross PDA."

As the car pulled away, Gwen made a face at them, slung her purse over her shoulder, and strutted toward her building in her killer heels.

"Gwen."

She froze, turning around to find Jason standing less than three feet behind her.