Page 55 of sWitch

He flicked me off before disappearing to feed the kids. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting a little bit having Trevor join Dad in the family business, solidifying his spot as the favorite. Really, I didn’t care who was favorite. I cared that my twin had abandoned any hope of having their own ambitions in favorof being on our father’s salary. Countertop sales, how riveting. Pencil me in for lunch like I’m some grey suit business, bro.

My phone buzzed with an alarm, reminding me to make sure the venue was ready. Shit, I needed to shower and change first. Fauna was getting boba with Joss, who’d then bring her to the spot. After cleaning up in my black button-up shirt, my tattoos freshly moisturized, and my hair slicked back in that way that drove my girl crazy, I was ready to sweep her off her feet.

My phone buzzed with another alarm.

GET KITTENS

Oh, shit, that’s right. I needed to pick up the kittens from Fauna’s place, dress them in bowties and kitten tuxedos, and bring them with me. Technically, they were full-on cats now, but it annoyed Fauna that I still called them kittens and she was cute when she was irritated, so I kept doing it. Suddenly, it halfway crossed my mind that she might say no to my proposal. Worry dampened my mood for only a moment before I realized that if she said no, I could keep pulling stunts to propose over and over again until she had to say yes just to get me to stop. That idea instantly made me feel better.

SET UP VENUE

Shit, okay, I had time.

Text from Joss: We are stopping by the comic book store.

Okay, I definitely had time. Checking my hair once more before leaving, I arrived at Fauna’s to collect the kittens. God, they’d gotten so big. She overfed them, though she swore she didn’t. Three in one large carrier was cutting it close, but they’d manage for a short trip to our destination. Turnip lookedhandsome in his bowtie. Fauna would flip out over how cute they were. Pinecone tried to evade the fate of his brothers by climbing the curtains, but the rod flew off the wall as I tried to pull him down, knocking over one of Fauna’s game ammibo collections.Great. I’d fix that later. Waffles flopped onto his back, offended at his bowtie, feigning death as I gently shoved him into his holding place. They meowed loudly in protest. “Guys, do me a solid. This is for your mom.”

GET KITT— I silenced that alarm but could not silence the actual alarm of cat yowls as I carried them down the stairs.

GET YOUR ASS TO THE VENUE buzzed in my palm. Okay, I was a tiny bit late.

I made it to the mall, sweaty, hauling really heavy cats in a really bulky carrier. Why’d I choose to wear a sports coat? Because Fauna thought I looked hot in a suit is why. Rollo and Lennon were setting up. “You guys didn’t really have to wear pink bowties. I was joking.”

Rollo and Len gave me a group hug, and Rollo answered. “You know I already had an assortment of multi-colored bowties on standby. I can’t believe our first Mall Rat is getting engaged.” He faked a tear. “It seems like just yesterday you were doing really naughty things to Fauna on your drumset.”

“That probably was yesterday.”

They laughed, and I passed the box of dramatic kittens to Len. The cats immediately calmed, and I shot our keyboardist awhat the helllook. With a chuckle, they shrugged.

The gears worked on the pinball machine. Now, I just needed to win a game and make sure all was in order… I flicked the ball,the machine lit up, I won. Across the display screen in analog green flashed?—

FAUNA WILL YOU MARRR ME

“What?” I fiddled with it more. “Len! It’s supposed to say MARRY not MARRR. Will youmarme does sound pretty rock and roll, but I’m going for romance today.”

Lennon came over with a purring Waffles draped around their neck and began working on the machine. I pointed at the cat. “You’re a fuzzy little traitor. I’m the one who feeds you.”

Rollo shouted across the room. “I think Fauna feeds him after you do.”

My alarm buzzed.

GET YOUR ASS TO THE VEN— silenced.

YOU FORGOT THE RING DIDN’T YOU? Alarm buzzed. “Fuck,” I swore. “Why the fuck would I set an alarm reminding myself I forgot something instead of reminding myselfnotto forget the thing?”

Len scoffed, crawling underneath the pinball machine, the analog lights blinking. Pinecone sauntered over and rubbed against my legs. “This is turning into a disaster,” I grumbled. “But it’s alright, we got this. She should be here in twenty minutes; I have time to run home and grab the ring.”

TEXT FROM JOSS: We are ahead of schedule. Heading to the arcade now. Ring emoji. Heart emoji. Two girls kissing emoji. Church emoji.

“I have to run home; I forgot the ring. Look after the kittens and fix the damn pinball machine, and—ah fuck, I still need to set up my drums.”

Rollo sat his guitar down. “I got the drums, don’t worry. We’ve got the cats too.”

After thanking them, I jogged to my car, phoning Trevor. “Hey, are you still at the apartment?”

“No, we’re on our way to the arcade. You wanted me to pick up the pizzas and slushies, remember? Where are you?”

I replied to Joss, begging her to avoid the arcade. MISSION COMPROMISED STALL TARGET OVER AND OUT.

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