He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 01

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 01

I’d been secretly dating my brother’s best friend for a year.

Just as I was about to come clean, my brother dragged me to the mall to pick out a birthday gift for our mom.

“Every year that bastard Jake picks something Mom likes better than mine. Not this time,” he said, jaw set with determination.

I bit back a smile. He had no idea Jake’s gifts had been my picks all along.

I was about to console him when my brother froze mid-step.

“Holy shit—that bastard’s got a girlfriend on the down-low,” he blurted.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I thought we were busted.

But when I looked up, my brother was already charging forward. Straight ahead, Jake was peeling shrimp for a girl with an impossibly gentle expression.

I shrank back behind my brother.

Maybe it was the way he’d said “on the down-low.”

Maybe it was because I knew Jake too well.

The way he looked at her—that wasn’t how you looked at a friend. His fingers worked delicately, stripping the shell, placing the meat into her bowl. Simple. Ordinary. But with Jake’s face attached, every girl at the next table kept sneaking glances.

My brother cleared his throat loudly.

“Thought you had a family thing tonight. Turns out you’re sneaking around on a date.”

Jake’s hands stilled. He looked up, spotted my brother, and His eyes flickered—then settled into a calm smile.

“Miss me that much after a few days?” he tossed back.

My brother scoffed, shoving his shoulder. “In your dreams.”

His gaze slid to the girl, one eyebrow raised. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

She had bright, curious eyes. She extended a hand without hesitation.

“Hi, I’m Elena. You must be Alex—Jake talks about you all the time. I’m his—”

She faltered, cheeks going pink.

Jake cut in, voice steady as steel.

“My girlfriend.”

The girl’s flush deepened. She ducked her head, embarrassed but smiling.

Jake reached for her wrist, pulling her hand into his lap.

“You already said yes. No take-backs,” he said, firm and teasing all at once.

Alex groaned, covering his eyes.

“Gross. You’re disgusting. And she’s way too pretty for you.”

Jake leaned back, all smug satisfaction.

“Jealousy’s a bad look on you, man. I—”

His gaze drifted past Alex and landed on me.

Small. Frozen. Barely visible behind my brother’s shoulder.

I had nowhere left to hide.