Page 123 of Fool Me Twice

“I have never once seen Gregorio Ricci ‘thrilled’ in the two thousand years I’ve known him.”

“He does this thing where he tilts up the side of his mouth and slightly raises an eyebrow at the same time,” Naomi explains. “That’s his ‘thrilled’ face.”

“I should take a picture,” Obie says, and he salutes the rest of the group. “Later, guys. See you at dinner tomorrow.”

“See you!” Roma says, waving at Naomi’s and Obie’s retreating backs before turning to Ez. “Well, I guess we’re done here. JJ, Cass, are you heading home, too?”

Cass wrinkles his nose. “In a bit. We still have some work to do on this sandcastle. It’s not prepared for dragons yet.”

“Not prepared for dragons,” Ez repeats. “Well, that’s averyspecific thing to prepare a sandcastle for, Cass.”

Desi’s eyes widen. “But dragonslovecastles! All the storybooks say so!”

“They do,” Roma assures her, and she threads her fingers through Ez’s. “Enjoy your sandcastle, guys.”

Desi waves. “Bye, Auntie Ez and Auntie Roma!”

“Stay safe out there,” Cass orders. “Both of you.”

JJ gives Roma a small smile. “Text you later?”

Roma smiles back. “Text you later,” she agrees, and she follows Ez through the rift back to their safe house.

The moment Ez snaps it shut behind them, she stretches her arms above her head, yawning. “Well, that’s a wrap on themysterious case of the mega-rifts. Hopefully, we won’t have to think about the Deep again for the next decade or so.”

“Do you really have to tempt fate like that?” Roma complains.

Ez’s lips twitch. She reaches out to take Roma’s hands, squeezing lightly. “But if we do,” she says, “then we’ll face it together. Right?”

Roma’s heart feels full. “Right,” she whispers, and when Ez leans in to kiss her, Roma closes her eyes and knows that this is the life she’s always wanted.

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