GLITCH

FIRST EDITION May 2023 PUBLISHED BY Jackie D and Erin Zak COVER DESIGN: Erin Zak EDITOR: Victoria Villasenor Copyright © 2023 by JACKIE D AND ERIN ZAK All rights reserved. This book is for your personal enjoyment only. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. All characters & happenings in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons (living or dead), locales or events is purely coincidental. ALSO BY JACKIE D The After Dark Series Infiltration Pursuit Elimination Standalone Titles Lands End Lucy’s Chance The Rise of the Resistance: Phoenix One VIP Profile Co-Write Spellbound, with Jean Copeland Swift Vengeance, with Jackie D and Jean Copeland ALSO BY ERIN ZAK Standalone Titles Falling Into Her Breaking Down Her Walls Create a Life to Love Beautiful Accidents The Road Home The Hummingbird Sanctuary Guarding Evelyn Novella Closed-Door Policy Co-Write Swift Vengeance, with Jackie D and Jean Copeland ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM JACKIE D Thank you to our editor, Vic Villasenor. Your ability to take the words we spent two years crafting and make them even better is so appreciated. Thank you, Mom, for taking an extra hard look at the finished product when it’s nothing but blurry words on the page to our weary eyes. Thank you to my wife and son, who never complain when I spend hours locked in the office hammering away on the keyboard. Thank you, Julie, Stacy, Stacey, and Christina, who never fail to help me rationalize my impulses, justify my feelings, or challenge my thought process—you’re all priceless. Thank you, Erin Zak, for being a phenomenal writing partner and one of my best friends—you’re pure sunshine, little fish. Last but certainly not least, thank you to all the readers who continue to take this journey with me no matter what genre I hop into. I love you all. FROM ERIN ZAK This book has been a complete labor of love. We’ve been working on it for quite some time. Some days, I look back on those first lines we scribbled and can’t believe we finally made it. I feel almost like a parent, letting our little book out into the world, alone, with the knowledge of only a few lessons we’ve taught it. Oh, how I hope it flourishes! Thank you, first and foremost, to Jackie D. You are literally the most amazing friend and writing partner. I cannot imagine my life without you. You’re my partner in Pisces, and I love you for it. Next, thank you to Gail. You’re only second because you’re first in everything else, especially my heart. Thank you for always supporting me. And being so amazing. Always. Thank you to Melissa Tereze, you rockstar, you! Where would I be without you? Your friendship and knowledge and humor have kept me sane. Thank you to my Bird, you are my favorite bird and I love our chirp-chirps. Thank you to my Besties thread, Melissa, Sheri, Jen, Valeri, Charlotte. Y’all make me so happy. Thank you to our beta readers. All three of you really came through for us and I am so thrilled with everything you helped us with. Thank you to Donna, Jackie’s mom, for just being a fantastic human and for your super quick To our 17-year-old selves: love yourself, love others, be courageous, and trust your gut. But above all else, remember you’re enough. CONTENTS Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 AMARA SIGN UP! LISTEN! CONNECT DID YOU ENJOY IT? ALSO BY JACKIE D ALSO BY ERIN ZAK PROLOGUE AMARA ELEVEN YEARS EARLIER I catch a glimpse of Isa in my peripheral. Her communication glasses are nowhere to be found, and she’s tightening the string on her bow. “If you don’t pay attention, you won’t pass this class.” She pulls on the string and smiles at me. “I’m not going to learn anything in this class that I haven’t heard from you.” She leans over and kisses my forehead. “In fact, we should blow the rest of it off and go back to my place. My mom won’t be home for hours.” My breath catches at her suggestion. Isa has that effect on me. I wake up longing to touch her and go to sleep, anticipating seeing her again. It’s a cycle I don’t ever want to end. She knows how hard it is for me to say no to her, which is why she’s toying with me now. I pull her face down and kiss her until she’s breathless. “As much as I want to spend my afternoon in bed with you, I can’t cut class. The teacher would alert my mother before we reached the hyperloop.” I kiss her again and pull my glasses back down. “Sit down and pay attention.” Isa flops down next to me just as the teacher begins the next section of the lesson for the day. “In the year 2100, the great Climate Wars began. Who can tell me the major trigger that started them?” I touch the side of my glasses to indicate I know the answer, and he smiles. “Anyone besides Amara?” He pushes a button on his desk, and Chelly Boxer appears on the screen. She fumbles a few words before she seems to get her