He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 13

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 13

“Lily. What do you two think you’re doing?”

His eyes were dark, barely hiding the heat behind them.

We stopped wrestling.

I blinked. He was the one who’d cheated, and somehow I felt caught.

Ethan slung an arm around my shoulder, all swagger.

“Flirting, man. What does it look like?”

He tilted his head, fake-sympathetic.

“Oh right-you’re older. Young people stuff probably goes over your head.”

Jake’s mouth pressed into a thin line.

“Lily, listen to your brother. Be careful who you date.”

Elena tugged his sleeve. “You and Alex are both the same-so protective. Every time you see Lily’s

boyfriend, you pick a fight.”

I stepped out of Ethan’s embrace.

I didn’t want to keep playing the little sister act anymore.

My voice was flat.

“Jake, I call you brother because you’re Alex’s friend. But you’re not actually my brother. Stay out

of my business. Elena might misunderstand.”

Jake’s jaw tightened. He reached for my wrist.

“Jake!”

I stepped back, voice sharp enough to make Elena flinch.

She pressed closer to him instinctively.

Jake softened, a silent reassurance just for her.

I looked away.

His voice turned cold again.

“So you’re serious. I don’t get to look out for you anymore?”

nodded, slow and deliberate

None of this concerns you”

What we’d had-hidden, never spoken aloud-deserved a proper ending

Not as a boyfriend. Not as a brother.

I didn’t need Jake anymore.

His chest rose and fell. Then he laughed, sharp and brittle.

“Fine, Lily. You’ve got guts.”

I didn’t answer.

Ethan grabbed my arm.

“Come on, food. I’m starving.”

We walked off.

I could feel their eyes on my back the whole way.