He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 04

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 04

Jake came back a few minutes after I did.

He set down two cups of hot chocolate—the fancy kind from that place Elena had mentioned she missed while she was abroad.

He handed one to her, straw already in.

“Figured you’d want this. Saw it on the way back.”

Elena beamed and called him thoughtful.

The other cup he slid toward me.

“Lily. This one’s for you.”

I blinked at the way he said my name.

Lily. Not Lils. Not baby. Just Lily.

Alex grabbed it for me, stuck the straw in, and laughed.

“Why are your eyes all red? Jealous that Elena gets her straw put in for her?”

I laughed too—but it hurt.

I nodded, almost defiant.

“Yeah. Seeing Jake and Elena so lovey-dovey—I’m totally jealous.”

Elena patted my arm.

“Don’t take it personally. I told Jake when we got together that I need clear boundaries with all his female friends.”

I nodded.

“Totally fair. Jake’s always been good about that stuff.”

Jake dropped his fork.

He turned and signaled for another one.

Alex ruffled my hair and chuckled.

“Pathetic. If you’re that jealous, go find someone yourself.”

“Would you actually be okay with that?” Jake cut in.

Alex went quiet.

The guy who never shut up suddenly had nothing.

He mumbled something about “if they pass the test” and “Lily deserves the best.”

I buried my face in my drink and sucked it down.

When the food came, Jake was attentive—piling Elena’s plate, tucking her hair behind her ear, stopping her from eating too much ice cream at the end.

“Your stomach will hurt again,” he said.

Every single sweet gesture I’d thought was mine alone.

He had a whole other set for her.

Even more careful. Even softer.

Elena pouted but put down her spoon.

Their words kept slicing into me.

I fixed my smile and looked up.

“So, Elena—when did you two actually get together?”