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“I did!” Snowy blurted, her face flushing crimson. “You can invite whoever you want.” She smiled at the group but it fell when no one returned it.

“Whoever I want, huh?” Covey mused. “How about this? I’ll let you use my place if you can bring the one guest I really want.”

“Who would that be?” she asked innocently.

“Sammy.”

Kana’s gasp punched through the garage before she clamped a hand over her mouth. Jun’s pulse kicked. Across the room, Kana’s face drained of color. Alex was already pulling her into his side, murmuring something only she could hear.

Snowy parted her mouth as if her lips were dry. “Sammy?” she repeated in a small voice.

Covey chuckled. “I knew she was there. I wish I could have met her. But you can bring her to this party. Right?”

Snowy glanced at Kana, who slowly pulled free from Alex’s embrace. The girls held their gazes and after a long beat, Kana nodded.

“Of course!” Snowy chirped with a pained smile.

On the other end, something that sounded like a single, delighted clap. “Fantastic! I’m really looking forward to it. Tell her if she comes, we can have you two as a double feature.” Kana stuck her tongue out, making a quiet gagging noise. “You can also tell her I have more samples if she comes to the party!”

Snowy’s smile tightened, her voice climbing half an octave. “Yes! Of course! Thank you so much for them by the way!”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” Covey reassured. Jun could hear the toothy smile he had through the phone. “Now I’m getting excited for it. Uh, how does tomorrow night sound? 7 p.m.?”

“Sure,” said Snowy, with raised eyebrows. “Can you arrange a party that fast?”

Covey laughed. “Don’t underestimate me. I got my ways. I know people. We’ll make it happen.”

Snowy awkwardly laughed back. “Sounds good. Wait, you don’t happen to have my phone by any chance?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ll ask one of my producers… if not, no worries! I know you will come by and keep your word, right?”

Snowy nodded slowly. “Of course.”

“Great. See you later.” Covey hung up, and a thick silence filled the garage.

Alex was the first to speak. “Well, that was…”

“Too easy?” Robin completed his sentence.

“Yeah,” said Alex, licking his lips. “And too eager to meet…” He glanced at Kana, who stood away from him now. She didn’t meet his gaze. With arms crossed tight over her chest, Kana stared at the floor, like she was trying to burn a hole through it.

“What the fuck?” Snowy fumed, frowning at Ken, then at the phone. Ken shoved the phone in his pocket. “Why do you still have that photo?”

Ken shrugged, sheepish. “It’s the only photo I have of us,” he muttered. His ears glowed red.

“Delete it,” Snowy demanded.

“No.”

“I deleted all of mine.”

Ken’s jaw dropped.

From the Vanquish, Jun watched the exchange with a pang of recognition. The lock screen photo suddenly made sense.

Alex cupped a hand over his mouth, barely containing his laugh.

Hal shuffled his feet, clearly wishing he were anywhere else.