He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 15

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 15

A week later, it was my mom’s birthday.

I’d made it clear to Alex not to invite Jake this year. I wanted it to be just family.

But Jake showed up anyway.

He avoided my eyes, walked straight to my mom, and handed over his gift.

“Happy birthday, Mrs. Harris.”

My mom beamed as she took it.

Alex elbowed him. “Sneaky bastard-showing up uninvited. Where’s your girlfriend? Why didn’t you bring her to meet Mom?”

Jake’s expression flickered.

My mom’s expression flickered too-just for a second-before she brightened again.

“Jake has a girlfriend now?”

Alex jumped in before Jake could answer.

“Yep. The girl he’s been pining after since high school. Waited all these years. Finally got his wish.”

“Alex.” Jake cut him off. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Alex frowned, confused, but followed him out.

My mom watched them go, then turned to me.

There was something in her eyes I couldn’t quite name. Almost like pity.

The doorbell rang again.

Ethan.

My mom laughed. “My birthday’s getting more crowded by the minute. Even Ethan showed up.”

He handed over an expensive gift and leaned in close to whisper in my mom’s ear.

“Trying to win Lily over. Gotta make a good impression. Hope you don’t mind me crashing.”

My mom blinked, then broke into a grin.

I wanted to strangle him. He’d just announced it to my mother like it was nothing.

Ethan shut up ”

He just laughed.

“I’ve got nothing to hide. Why shouldn’t your mom know? She can keep an eye on me for you Make

sure 1 behave.”

He turned to my mom, shameless.

“Right, Mrs. Harris?”

She nodded, still laughing.

My face burned-but somewhere underneath, a strange little flutter stirred.

So this was what real interest looked like. You wanted everyone to know.

I glanced toward Jake in the distance,

He was watching me too-guilt, anger, desperation all tangled together.

And just like that, everything I’d been carrying let go.

I could finally move on.