Page 56 of sWitch

Tearing through my apartment, I finally found the ring in a special game controller case I got for it. How could Fauna say no to a Mall Ratz pizza party pinball game controller proposal? I was stacking my odds here.

I raced back to the arcade, where everyone but Joss was in place on the stage, Len gave me a thumbs up, letting me know the pinball display was fixed, the kittens had their tuxedos, and Trev, MJ, the kids, and a few of Fauna’s classmate friends were there waiting. The neon lights were all set to pink, the arcade games beeped, and the smell of pizza hung in the air. As I sighed a breath of relief, my phone buzzed. I shushed everyone; the big moment was almost here. Damn, I hoped this was right. I hoped this proposal made her feel special and loved. And I really, really hoped she’d say yes.

Joss: Oh, no. Bad news.

I texted back:What????? Please don’t tell me you lost my girlfriend. She does tend to wander off.

Joss: Well…kind of. It’s her grandma. The nursing home called when we got back to her place. Fauna took off to go see what’s going on.

Shit. I had to be there for her. “Guys, I have to get to the nursing home. I’ll text updates.”

I rushed out before anyone could respond. When I got to Sunny Side, Cheryl waved me through. We’d been through a lot, Cheryl and me. I’d also spent nearly every Sunday at the nursing home hanging out with Gamma and Fauna. The residents knew me, loved me, and I loved them too. I’d made a lot of buddies and— fuck, I hoped Gamma was okay.

When I landed in Ms. Belrose’s doorway, her room was empty. Oh, shit…

A small tap touched my shoulder, and I spun around. Fauna looked up at me with big green eyes. “Remy, what are you doing here?”

I pulled her into my arms. “Are you okay? Is Gamma okay? Joss texted and said something happened, so I rushed over.”

Fauna nodded, “She’s okay. Her blood pressure monitor was broken and giving off a weird reading, that’s all. False alarm. Wait, why are you in a suit? You look so fancy.”

Leaning on the doorframe in relief, I sighed. “I’m so glad. Fuck, I was worried.”

“I’m sorry. Everything’s okay, James Bond.” My girl tucked herself into my arms, and the weight of her head on my chest made every worry disappear.

“Do you…maybe want to get going?”

“I think I’ll stay with Gamma overnight. Do you want to stay with us? It’s live music night—well, without the live music because the quartette cancelled last minute. But the recreation room is all decorated.”

“Of course, I’ll stay with you.” I kissed her on the forehead. “Let me make a quick call, okay?”

Fauna went to find Gamma, and I phoned Trev. “Hey, abort. James Bond is admitting defeat on this mission. I’m staying at the nursing home overnight. We’ll try again next weekend.”

After assuring my twin that Fauna’s grandmother was fine and that music-less music night was imminent, I joined my girl and our elderly friends for a riling viewing of Jeopardy. There would always be another time to get my proposal just right. What mattered is that I had her in my arms—and that I won all the pop culture questions on the TV show and the residents were very impressed.

Cheryl announced it was time for music-night-without-music, and we made our way down the bleach-scented halls.

Gamma held my arm and remarked. “Remy, you look so spiffy. What’s the occasion?”

“Yes, what’s with the getup?” Fauna asked from my other arm.

Charles, another resident friend, answered them. “Can’t someone just look presentable without being interrogated?”

I quirked my eyebrows as Fauna and Gamma chuckled. “I’m with Charles. Let me look sharp. Someone’s got to class this place up. Though, I’m eager to see what music-less-ness is about. Sounds very existential. I can dig that.”

However, as we reached the big double doors to the rec-room, a guitar sounded off, and something buzzed and beeped behind the doors. It didn’t sound like the dreary absence of sound to me. We opened the doors to a room illuminated byneon lights, the Mall Rats thrumming a beat as the nursing home residents clapped and cheered, excited for the promise of an actual show. Rollo, Joss, and Lennon smiled as I took in the room they’d transformed.

Fauna squealed and hugged my arm. “Whatisthis? Did you do this?”

I met Trevor’s gaze from the pizza and slushy table across the room. He raised his flask at me in salute and nodded toward the corner of the dance floor. My twin, my friends…they’d made it happen. Taking Fauna’s hand, I led her to the familiar pinball machine as the band fell into a song I’d written for her.

“This is a new song…and this is our old pinball machine from the arcade,” she said in awe, piecing it together. “Remy?” She looked up at me before pulling the lever on the game. She bounced the ball into the pocket, and the screen flashed in analog green.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Her eyes shot to mine. “Is this for real life?”

I dropped to my knee and pulled out the sparkling pink diamond ring. “You know, I knew you were mine the moment I saw you, the moment I heard your voice. Fauna, you’re it. You’re all that matters to me. You’re my home. Be my player two for life?”

---