i've avoided reading wet sand since last year because i genuinely hate love triangles, but...

i absolutely agree with you, it will always feel like that ian was trying to escape from his past by being with jo.

but then ian realized something that he will not have a peaceful future if he chooses jo and would feel he would harm jo if his with him. and i absolutely agree with the ending, not even mad that ian chooses tj over jo, i genuinely confused why people is so mad to the author i genuinely think is still very well written even for a jo fans!

When did Ian ever choose Jo? This man treated Jo like a dildo while constantly thinking about TJ and when he was in a position to pick TJ or Jo he picked TJ always. I can agree that Ian was the worst of the three but you lost me at him picking Jo and him wanting to be with jo. If he wanted that he wouldn't have withheld important information about himself and only come clean when he's been cornered. Jo was an escape and not in the nice way. It's in the way of he made Ian pretend the reality of his life is not something that should be addressed. Mans has killed people that doesn't just disappear cz hes having sex with someone. Jo found out this man's name in season three that even a rando told him he don't mean that much to this guy. Ian "chose" Jo as a distraction and an escape. Even before he wanted to run away in his apartment he risked it to go back for his earrings and chain which are TJ momentos and when they aren't there he tries to convince himself that it's a sign to let go of tj. If Ian was so sure about Jo TJ wouldn't have ever been that much of a focus on Ian's mind even to the end. Jo admits that he always knew that Ian wasn't all in with him and that's why even when he wanted to beg Ian he doesn't cz as painful as it is Jo knew Ian will always chose TJ in some shape or form. I do agree he threw Jo away at the end. Ian is not fully aware of his own cruelty cz leaving someone crying at the gas station at dawn is just disrespectful. And trust he'd never dip like that with tj without a proper explanation. Jo doesn't even get an answer to his question about if Ian is going back to tj. Ian just tells a half truth and half lie. I think that really ended the relationship for Jo cz Ian will never discuss his relationship with tj to anyone but tj. That ending alone reflects how shallow the relationship actually was. Jo wasn't even given a proper goodbye. His last moments with Ian Ian tells him not to touch when Jo is clearly worried. That was just sad man.

Ian has NEVER chosen Jo over TJ. Ian settled for Jo when TJ was gone. He literally had to go around convincing himself the TJ doesn’t love him, that TJ didn’t need him in order for him to be ok with Jo. Jo was the leftover choice because TJ left. I need yall to stop romanticizing Joian scenes cause they were not that deep.

1)The rooftop stargazing scene was literally the moment Ian subconsciously told Jo he was still in love with TJ (official book translation) not Tappy English version. Jo realize this too that Ian was still in love with TJ at that moment.

2) The camping/tent scene where they felt like it was their first time only for Ian to cum to thoughts of TJ and Jo further ruin it by fucking an unconscious Ian and cumming on his face. He didn’t even feel bad about it. Disgusting!

3)When Jo asked him will you come away with me to college, Ian literally thought of TJ first then himself and LASTLY Jo. Like why is your first thought about how it would be good for TJ if you left to go live with another man. Please open your eyes!!!

4) (Aunt Bella’s house) I feel much better when I look at you. Okay so what happened after that. Jo saw him stomping a man to death and the sight of Jo left Ian fleeing the scene of a crime and leaving Jo with a body. Where was the love and concern for Jo then? His instinct was to run and hide not protect Jo. He really chose Jo then lol

5) flower store scene/staircase scene. Some jo stan liken this to Romeo and Juliet balcony scene. But what it shows is that they were never on the same level. Their feelings were never reciprocal. It was alway Jo giving more and Ian accepting. When has Ian given back to Jo. He finally noticed a flower shop and thinks about how Jo likes flowers but did he ever buy Jo anything? NOPE!!!

6) and I will never understand how anyone can find that sex scene after the alley way murder romantic. Jo literally calls Ian broken, realizes how self destructive Ian was being and fell into Ian’s provocation. He toss him around like a rag doll and punished him with rough sex. And failed to see how suicidal Ian was being when he said he wouldn’t mind burning to death so he wouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow ever coming. Bro wanted to die and yall are gushing over how Jo was willing to give up everything and his blue eyes!!! Jo pretended to be asleep when Ian left because he didn’t want to confront the reality that things were over between them. That’s why Ian never finished the note with I’ll be back.

7) reunion at campsite. Let’s forget for a moment that Ian proposed running away and starting over with TJ in the bathroom. When Jo pushes for them to leave together again, Ian asked to go to his apartment to retrieve his couple jewelry with TJ!!! Cause Ian can’t fucken choose to start a new life with Jo without getting his prize possession first (Mind blown) are we even reading the same story. A season gangster knew 2 gangs were after him, was stupid enough to go back to his apartment, the most dangerous place he could be just so he can go get his matching jewelry with TJ before he can skip town with Jo. Does that sound like he’s choosing Jo when he’s hanging onto his mementos with TJ?

If you actually understood Ian’s character then you would realize Jo had no chance of being picked since the start of season 3. Ian finally told Jo he was done pretending. He was finally being honest with Jo. As always Jo does what Jo always does which is not respect Ian’s decision and cling to him like a leech. Ian craves love and family the very thing that Jo has and was so quick to give up for Ian. Ian would never give up on his family (TJ) That’s why he was willing to go back to the gang for TJ. That’s why he was willing to give up his life and limbs to Big Teddy for TJ. That’s why he jumped in front of a bullet for TJ. A man ready to die for another man REPEATEDLY is not going to choose Jo.

Their relationship remain shallow. Ian never opened up to Jo. Jo felt that if he pried into Ian’s past it would push Ian away. He said so himself. He noticed how Ian was never fully focused when they were together. He was scared to tell Ian he got accepted into college because he knew their time together would be over. Even as he was waiting for Ian at the gas station he wondered if Ian wasn’t coming. Like bro knew Ian didn’t love him like that. He even said I knew this would happen but I didn’t think it would hurt this bad. And Ian said if you knew why didn’t you stop. lol. Please listen to Jo. Listen to Ian. Ian literally said my heart was tied to one place since the beginning (TJ) so no matter how much he ran away or tried to start a relationship with Jo he could never give Jo his heart because it was with TJ from the start.

Y’all really read what y’all want to because Ian did not choose Joseph over and over again. TJ is the person he kept going back to for over twenty years, including when he was “seeing” Joseph.