He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 17

He Chose His Old Crush and Lost Me Chapter 17

Jake went quiet for a few days after that night.

Then he started showing up at my school every single day.

Outside the library. Beneath my dorm window. By my classroom door.

Always carrying something-my favorite pastries. My favorite flowers. Little gifts he knew I’d like.

Jake was sharp. When he put his mind to it, he could pinpoint every single one of my preferences

I didn’t care why he and Elena had split. I didn’t want to know why he was back, groveling.

Answers to questions that didn’t matter weren’t worth chasing.

But he wouldn’t stop.

After a solid month of this, I finally caved-not to take him back, but to shut him up.

The first time I walked toward him instead of away, his whole face lit up.

“Lily.” His voice cracked with hope.

“Jake. Do you know what the secret to happiness is?”

He blinked, confused.

I kept going.

“The secret is: when you have an apple, you focus on the apple in your hand. When you were with

me, you wanted Elena. When you got Elena, you wanted me back. If you keep living like that, you’ll

never be happy.”

“That’s not-” He scrambled. “I held onto Elena as some obsession. But once we were actually

together, I realized she wasn’t who I’d built up in my head.”

His shoulders slumped.

“I screwed up. I hurt you. But I want to make it right now. You loved me for so long-can you really just let us slip away?”

I looked at him, calm and clear.

“The moment you committed to someone else behind my back, I stopped loving you. I don’t regret leaving. I’m grateful I did.”

I turned and walked away.

That night, Jake sat beneath my dorm window until dawn.

I watched from above for a few seconds. Then I pulled the curtains closed.