The Campus Bad Boy Bet He Could Make the Poor Transfer Student Fall for Him — Then He Fell First
Chapter 10
Three years passed.
Elena’s career flourished.
She designed affordable housing projects in several cities.
Jake became head of community development at his nonprofit.
Their work overlapped.
They reunited in person more often.
Eventually, they moved to the same city.
Not because one gave up a dream.
Because both had built careers they valued.
Their relationship became stable.
Deep.
They adopted a dog.
Argued about its name.
Shared groceries.
Cooked badly.
The glamorous university couple became ordinary adults.
They liked that.
One evening, Jake took Elena back to Westbridge.
The campus looked different.
New buildings.
New students.
But the old library remained.
He sat on the steps.
“This is where you ignored me.”
She laughed.
“I didn’t ignore you.”
“You did.”
“You were annoying.”
“Still am.”
She smiled.
He took her hand.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I think I knew I loved you long before I admitted it.”
She laughed.
“That’s not surprising.”
“What do you mean?”
“You looked at me differently.”
“How?”
“Like I was the only person in the room.”
He smiled.
“Maybe you were.”
They sat quietly.
Then Elena asked:
“Do you regret the bet?”
He answered immediately.
“Every day.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserved to meet me honestly.”
She nodded.
“But?”
“I also know it forced me to become someone who deserved you.”
She smiled.
“That’s better.”
They kissed.
Later that night, they visited the student bar.
It was renovated.
They sat at the same corner table.
Jake looked around.
“I can’t believe this is where it started.”
Elena smiled.
“You were so arrogant.”
“I was young.”
“You still are.”
He laughed.
Then he became serious.
“If I could go back…”
“You can’t.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“I’d tell myself that winning someone’s attention isn’t winning them.”
Elena looked at him.
“Good.”
He took her hand.
“Because I don’t want to win you.”
“What do you want?”
He smiled.
“To choose you.”
She squeezed his hand.
“That’s better.”
