I remembered arriving ten minutes late because Spencer had insisted I stop at an ATM, even though I’d told him I didn’t need cash.

Suddenly, the entire timing made sense.

Spencer had not merely expected me to pay for dinner; he had arranged the expensive order before I even sat down.

“How much is it?” I asked.

Gregory hesitated.

“Just over two thousand dollars in total.”

My stomach dropped upon hearing the number.

The amount itself wasn’t what hurt; it was the deliberate calculation behind it.