Page 33 of sWitch

“That’s true,” Trevor admitted, looking at me before narrowing his gaze at Remy. “But glad to know you’d steal my girl anyway.”

Remy stepped around me. “Oh, the irony, bro. What, was this with MJ just to get back at me?”

Trevor rolled his eyes. “Not everything is about you, believe it or not. Mary Jane was completely neglected by you, mistreated. You didn’t see her worth—but I did.”

“Whatever. Ride off into the sunset for all I care. But how was this all a lie?”

“Fauna and I were never together. It was fake. We pretended to date because it kept her shielded from those assholes—and I thought it would help me impress Dad.” Trevor mock bowed. “But clearly, that honor is, and always has been, yours.”

Remy stepped forward. “Yeah, you could have fucking told meanyof this.” Then, she addressed me with a caustic expression. “Youshould have fucking told me. Do you have any idea how broken up I’ve been, thinking he’s what you wanted?”

I swallowed. “I know—I’m sorry.”

Trevor shoved a flask into Remy’s chest. “Seems there’s been a lot of betrayal and dishonesty around here. Nice to know how much youdon’thave my back. Don’t you dare come back to the apartment. I never want to see you again.”

With a huff, Remy responded. “The feeling’s mutual.”

Mary Jane threw her hands in the air. “This is ridiculous. Let’s all just sit down and work through this?—”

But it was too late. Remy stormed off, passing me one more disappointed and heart wrenching glance before jumping the wrought iron fence.

I’d messed everything up. The dogs were barking more than usual as I jingled my keys into the door and stomped up the shelter steps to my apartment. They were fed and properly played with; I didn’t know why they were so agitated. Remy’s face played through my mind. Disgust, disappointment… Trevor used the right word—betrayal, though him hooking up with Mary Jane was news to me. Not that I cared—I’d never felt anything romantic toward Trevor. Our situation was a platonic, a mutually beneficial means to an end. Regardless, I didn’t even like men romantically. Maybe Remy was right—maybe I should have fessed up long ago and spared them the guilt. Part of me didn’t want to embarrass Trevor by spilling the secrets of our arrangement to his twin. Part of me was protecting myself and my secrets, the reason I needed Trevor as a shield in the first place.

I flipped open my ancient phone, wishing I could text Remy and beg them to come over. I could have rode my moped to their apartment, but they wouldn’t be there. Remy wanted nothing to do with me now. I’d lost everything—and despite it all, despitethe tears streaking down my cheeks, I had to log on to that stupid game and play all night.

My door swung open, and my foot landed on one of my pink pony figurines. That was odd; maybe the kittens were playing with it. As I flicked on the lights, I gasped. My place was trashed. I dropped my bag and raced into my room, not caring about my collections strewn about the floor or the stuffing from my stabbed and tattered stuffed animals. My computer was smashed, glass scattered everywhere from the broken monitor.

But I didn’t care—the only thing that made my heart sink and a sob pull from my lips was the window. The wide open window—the absence of meows or paws at my ankles.

My kittens were gone.

LEVEL 12

PLAYER ONE: REMY

Rollo plucked at guitar strings.“At least we have a major, life-changing, Earth-shattering gig tonight. That’ll take your mind off your soap opera of a love life.”

I tossed a rubber toy basketball in the air and caught it, over and over again, as I reclined on my friend’s fold out sofa. “My brother sneaking around with the girl I was dating stings, I’m not going to lie.”

“Weren’t you doing the same thing withhisgirl?”

“Yeah…and she lied to me. I can get over a lot of shit, but lying…” I sighed heavily. “I’m over it. This is all a fucking mess, man. My drums will probably sound like shit tonight.”

Rollo finished tuning his guitar and clicked at his desktop keyboard. After a moment, he hummed.

Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I asked, “What?”

“Oh, nothing. You’re over it.”

I cracked open one eye. “Tell me.”

“Pink Pony Club, Ms. Fauna Belrose, isnotonline. I didn’t know she ever stopped playing V for Valin.”

The lump in my throat intensified. I could have ignored the obvious bait my friend so knowingly laid, could have gone to my apartment and tried to talk to my brother. Mary Jane probably deserved an apology from me too. However, I chose none of those menu options. Instead, I chose my main quest, over and over again. “What do you know about Prue and Chet?”

Rollo knew almost everything about everyone, and not even for sneaky reasons. The guy was just so nice and friendly that everyone talked to him. They talked, he listened, and occasionally, he shared his gossip with the band. “Remy, Remy, Remy… Finally asking me for the tea. So I take it you’renotover it?”

I held the rubber basketball at forehead height. “You and I both know I’ll never be over it. Tell me what you know.”

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