He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 14

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 14

Dishes came out one by one.

Ethan didn’t eat. He just watched me, amused.

“So… when are you going to fill your boyfriend in on what’s actually going on?”

That smug tone made me want to throw something I stabbed my steak like it had personally

offended me.

He laughed and pushed his plate toward me.

“Here. Already cut. Eat this.”

For half a second, I saw Jake sitting across from me instead.

He used to do that too. Cut my food. Watch me with soft eyes while I rambled on about campus life.

Chime in at just the right moments.

But now I realized-that wasn’t something only Jake did.

Ethan was sharp. He handled my mood like it was nothing-light and easy.

My eyes drifted over the dishes on the table.

I had to admit-every single one was something I liked.

And that milk from earlier. That niche imported brand. Almost nobody knew I loved it.

Ethan seemed to know more about me than I’d ever realized.

I was still spacing out when he flicked my forehead.

“Still daydreaming?”

I snapped back, bit into the steak, and glared.

“That hurt.”

He laughed.

“Hurt worse than your heart?”

I froze mid-chew.

His smile stayed easy.

“Lily. You and Jake were together, weren’t you? Just ended?”

it wasn’t really a question.

I didn’t answer.

His eyes widened a fraction.

“He cheated. While you two were still together.”

I completely went still.

Nobody knew about Jake and me. Not even Alex-he thought I’d just been carrying a crush.

But Ethan had figured it out.

He pushed his chair back.

“Where are you going?”

“Probably not far. I should go find him. I’m already regretting not hitting him earlier.”

I laughed despite myself and pulled him back down.

“It’s over. I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”

Ethan studied me.

A few seconds passed. “Really?”

I nodded. “Really.”

He sat back down.

I was about to take another bite when he dropped another bomb.

“So can I pursue you now?”

My fork clattered.

“Ethan, have you lost your mind?”

“Nope. I’m dead serious. Use me as a rebound if you want-I don’t care. Lily, I mean it. Think about

it.”

Think about what? My brain was short-circuiting.

We’d been at each other’s throats our whole lives. How was this even possible?

“Lily, I can’t wait. I have to say this now. You’re not the type to date around-you’ll probably get married after one or two relationships.If I miss this window, who knows-maybe some other Jake

shows up.”

His expression shifted, rare and serious.

“Lily, I don’t think I can watch you be with anyone else.”

He held my gaze, calm and steady.