The Wedding Rehearsal Game Broke Me Completely Chapter 02

The Wedding Rehearsal Game Broke Me Completely Chapter 02

From the couch, Sienna let out a careless little laugh.

Grayson didn’t even turn his head.

They were used to me making threats like that.

In the end, I always came crawling back with red eyes, ready to give up.

I dragged my suitcase out through the front door.

The second it clicked shut behind me, my heart clenched hard.

Twenty-some years of friendship, and it turned out to be a one-woman show the whole time.

My sadness, my hurt, even whether I stayed or left. None of it had ever been anything but a chip for them to bet with.

At the entrance to the building, I stopped short.

The framed photo of the three of us was still sitting on the TV stand.

We’d taken it after my eighteenth birthday, the only photo where I was the one standing in the middle.

After a moment’s hesitation, I turned back.

Call it a keepsake for the past.

The door was left ajar.

Sienna’s voice drifted out.

“Why isn’t Lulu making a scene today? She just walked off the rehearsal without a word, and now she’s packing in total silence. Kind of boring, honestly.”

Grayson laughed.

“Honestly, this is better. Usually the second the game starts she’s crying and chasing after us, giving everyone a headache.”

“We should come up with something new next time. See how long she can last.”

Sienna paused.

“Whoever caves first has to be the ghost. I’m not losing.”

Grayson sighed.

“Like I’d actually let you be the ghost.”

“Anyway, let me walk you down. Once Lulu’s back I’ll have to go smooth things over with her.”

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”

Sienna drew the words out. “You’re not worried she’s actually mad this time? That she’s not coming back?”

“She won’t. Five years, and she’s never once actually left.”

My fingers locked around the suitcase handle.

The door swung open.

Grayson was on his way to walk Sienna out.

Seeing me, both their faces flickered with surprise.

A second later, Grayson’s shoulders relaxed.

“I knew you hadn’t left.”

He frowned at my suitcase.

“Walking out of the rehearsal, throwing around breakup threats. Lucy, that’s so childish.”

“Fine, let’s call this one a draw.”

Sienna pursed her lips.

“Over already? That’s no fun.”

She patted my shoulder and made a face.

“Draw or not, you’re still the ghost next round, Lulu.”

“You’re used to it by now anyway.”

Grayson didn’t argue.

He just tightened Sienna’s scarf around her neck and walked her to the elevator.

Watching them walk off side by side, I realized there had never been a place for me in that picture at all.

I thought back to the afternoon right after I’d been adopted.

I’d still been wearing the patched-up dress the children’s home handed out, huddled in a corner, picking at the dirt.

None of the other kids in the building wanted to play with some stray nobody knew anything about.

Until Grayson walked up holding Sienna’s hand and asked if I wanted to play with them.

That was how I finally got friends.

Later on, Sienna was the one who came up with the Ghost Game.

But when it came time to draw straws, the two of them shrank back, frowning, muttering that they didn’t want to be the one nobody could see.

So I quietly memorized which straw was which and grabbed it on purpose.

Then I held it up and shouted, way too excited, “I got it! I’m the ghost!”

That whole afternoon I chased after them, screaming myself hoarse, and nobody answered once.

I held back the tears. I was even secretly relieved it was me who’d become the ghost.

If it hadn’t been me, they might’ve gotten mad and never played with me again.

I never imagined that role would last twenty years.

The photo I’d been thinking about sat there quietly on the TV stand.

For the first time, the glare off the glass frame felt unbearably bright.

As I turned to leave, my phone buzzed. A payment reminder for a plane ticket.

A one-way ticket I’d hesitated over for weeks and never bought.

This time, I didn’t hesitate.

My finger came down. Payment successful.