He Left Me on the Launched Drop Tower for His Bestie’s Laugh Chapter 04

He Left Me on the Launched Drop Tower for His Bestie’s Laugh Chapter 04

My mom shot to her feet.

“Oh, you’ve got a mouth now? Like anybody wants you around.”

“You’re exactly like your worthless father! You’ll never be half of what Blaire is.”

I shut my door.

She ranted outside for half the night.

I put on my headphones and started packing.

The next morning, I went out to buy supplies for the mountains.

Snake repellent powder, bug spray, a first aid kit.

When I came back, the front door was ajar.

I heard laughter in the living room.

Blaire’s voice first.

“For the engagement party—what if Willa gets up to make her speech, and we let something loose? Just a little nerve test.”

“Like a fake snake or a dead rat?”

Ethan was quiet for a long time.

Blaire sounded annoyed.

“Why the face? If you’re not okay with it, just ignore me!”

He finally sighed.

“Fine… but this is seriously the last time. I don’t want Willa getting messed up over this anymore.”

He talked about how he didn’t want that, but he still agreed.

My mom laughed along.

“A little scare would do her good. She’s been full of attitude lately. Let Willa learn her lesson.”

The afternoon sun was blazing, but I felt cold.

My engagement party—just a prank fest.

It didn’t matter. It really didn’t.

It went quiet inside.

I pushed the door open.

Ethan stood up and nervously put his arm around me.

“We were just planning the best engagement party for you.”

I forced a nod, not even looking at him. “Yeah. Sounds great.”

Blaire leaned in. “Willa, I’m throwing Ethan a bachelor night tonight. You mind?”

“I don’t mind.”

…

But at two a.m., I got a call to pick up their drunk asses.

Blaire had cried her makeup off, clutching Ethan’s sleeve.

“If you hadn’t gone to a different school…” Blaire hiccuped. “You told me you liked me, and I got pissed and said I didn’t. I didn’t mean it.”

Ethan pressed the heel of his hand against his eye, voice wrecked. “I screwed up too. I got wasted that night, kissed Willa, and just… never fixed it.”

He swallowed hard. “But she looked at me like I was the only thing she had.”

I leaned against the doorframe, legs weak.

Graduation night, our first time drinking.

Ethan got drunk, held me on the curb, and kissed me, saying, “I really like you.”

That was the first time anyone told me they liked me.

I was so stunned with joy it made my head spin.

He fell asleep on my shoulder.

I didn’t dare move, my heart pounding all night.

A mistake for ten years.

I let out a bitter laugh.

I knew it—what was there to like about me?

I helped them both home.

…

The next morning, Ethan and Blaire came to pick up my mom, saying they’d head to the hotel to set up early.

I knew they were going to prepare my “surprise.”

Ethan stood in the doorway smiling.

“Willa, take your time getting ready. No rush.”

I nodded, watching them get in the car.

Rory was waiting for me at the train station.

On the way, an audio message from Ethan came through. “Hey, take your time getting here. We’re still setting some stuff up.”

I accidentally heard Blaire shrieking in the background.

“No, this dead rat isn’t realistic enough! Find another one!”

So that’s how it was.

I didn’t say anything.

My mom also sent a voice message in the family group chat.

“Our Willa’s always been way too sensitive about being the center of attention. We’re pushing the engagement party back a little so she can get herself together.”

I smiled, flipped my phone over, and got on the bus with Rory.

Before I lost signal, I got one last voice message. “Where are you? You can come now. We’re ready.”

In the background, Blaire giggled, “Hurry up! The surprise is all set!”

I turned my phone over and never looked at it again.

Meanwhile, at the hotel banquet hall, Ethan and the others waited.

The door suddenly swung open.

Blaire screamed and threw something.

But it was only the hotel manager standing there.

“Ms. Hart asked me to let you all know she won’t be coming. She hopes everyone enjoys the evening.”

Ethan’s smile froze.

My mom stood there, stunned.