He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 08

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 08

Jake and Alex both went rigid. They insisted on waiting at the curb with me.

Jake’s eyes flickered with mockery.

My phone buzzed. A message from him.

[You don’t have to fake a boyfriend to get back at me.]

[That’s childish, Lily.]

I turned the screen off. Didn’t react.

Looked up.

Ethan was climbing out of his car, heading my way.

The breeze caught his messy hair. His whole look screamed college-boy swagger-young, cocky,

effortlessly fit.

Afraid he’d blow it, I walked straight to him and looped my arm through his.

Turned to my brother and Jake.

“Alex. Jake. This is my boyfriend.”

Ethan’s arm tensed for half a second.

Then he rolled with it.

“Hey, nice to meet you both. I’m Ethan. Lily’s-”

He tilted his head at me, grinning.

‘-boyfriend.”

Alex grabbed the scruff of my neck like I was a misbehaving puppy and yanked me toward him.

“Lily, have you lost your mind? This guy? You remember when he blew up your skirt with a firecracker when you were kids?”

Our families went way back. Ethan and I were born the same year.

He’d always been the wild one-every parent’s worst nightmare. I was the opposite: quiet,

obedient, the golden girl.

We’d been at each other’s throats since we could walk.

He’d blown a hole in my dress that summer. Alex chased him around the yard with a stick for two laps.

Ethan just shrugged, slow and easy, drawling, “Alex, man-give me a break in front of the new people.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly who Ethan meant by new people.

Elena laughed, smoothing things over.

“Lily, your boyfriend is so handsome.”

She glanced at Ethan’s car and leaned in, lowering her voice.

“Loaded too, huh?”

I smiled but didn’t answer.

A sharp sound cut through-Jake, scoffing.

“Yeah. Real handsome. Wonder if he’s got anything to back it up.”

I bristled. He was the one cheating, standing there with his dream girl, and he had the nerve to judge Ethan?

I shot back.

“Don’t worry about it, Jake. You can’t always tell what someone’s really like. Some people look solid

on the outside but are rotten on the inside.”

His eyes flared with anger. “You-”

Elena tugged his arm. “Jake, I know you’re protective of Lily, but she’s the one who has to like him.

That’s what matters.”

Ethan clapped his hands together. “Finally-someone with common sense.”

He took my hand and waved it at the three of them.

“It’s cold out here and Lily catches colds easily. I’m getting her out of here. You all enjoy the rest of

your night.”

He gave Alex a small nod, let his gaze slide over Jake with a faint smirk, and walked me away without looking back.

Alex’s voice faded behind us.

“He’s holding her hand right in front of me…”

“Hey, Jake do they even look right together?”