HER BOYFRIEND SAVED HER IN HIS PHONE AS “FREE DINNER”—SO SHE CANCELED HIS BIRTHDAY RESERVATION AND LET HIS CARD GET DECLINED IN FRONT OF EVERYONE

polished. Without restaurant lighting or an audience to perform for, he was just a man in a wrinkled blazer trying to reframe taking jewelry as something else.

The judge was not sympathetic.

“So you took the necklace,” the judge said.

“I borrowed it.”

“Did you have permission?”

Diego shifted in his seat. “Not exactly.”

“Did you pawn it?”

“I intended to get continue reading …