Page 60 of Fool Me Twice

Which works out well, because Ez isalsocurrently doing her best not to think about the conspiracy subplot. Cass is stalwartlypretending the whole episode never happened, and while Ez suspects that Obie might be poking around to find his own evidence, he’s loyally avoided mentioning the subject, as well.

In short, they’re just a mess of denial. Ez is almost proud of their obstinacy, although she does think it’s going to come back to bite them at some point.

Probably some point soon, considering their track record.

“You can take this book with you to show Roma,” Obie continues, and Ez’s mood immediately sours. “Justbe carefulwith it, understand? It’s older than most countries.”

“I’ll treat it with the utmost care,” Ez promises, sticking a napkin between the pages as a bookmark and snapping it shut. Obie rolls his eyes. “And I’ll have it back to you as soon as possible. Gutierrez and I will do the spell at our earliest convenience, and we’ll have this mess sorted out in no time.”

Cass looks entirely unconvinced. “Uh-huh. Any idea when your ‘earliest convenience’ will be?”

Ez jabs a finger at him. “You don’t have to come out andexposeme like that, Chin.”

Because, truth be told, Ez’s earliest convenience is this evening. In fact, it’s literally right now‍—most spells tend to work best at sunrise and sunset, and the sun is just starting to edge towards the horizon. She’d love to grab Roma, spend an hour working out the kinks of the spell side by side, figure out if the Deep is involved in their current tribulations, and move on with her life.

She’d love to do all of that at this very moment, but there’s just onetinyproblem.

Namely, the fact that Roma hasn’t shown up for her rift-closing shifts for the past week.

It’s driving Ez up a wall. The last time the two of them spoke was in the Courtyard after their trash fire of a meeting with Micah, Gregorio, Naomi, and Sawyer, and Ez honestly thoughtthat she and Roma left on pretty good terms. In particular, they made it through the entire hour as a united front against what Ez has unaffectionately started calling “the Conspiracy Fam,” which she’s counting as a resounding success.

Not to mention that Ez was seriously starting to think that she might be able to convince Roma to defect, just like Cass convinced JJ. Not that Ez wants to date Roma and adopt a small child and move in together, of course.

She just thinks it might be nice to have Roma unequivocally on their side. That’s all.

But, clearly, Ez was wrong. Roma promptly ghosted her after that night, not coming down to town atall,and Ez is trying not to think about how irritated‍—and worried‍—that’s making her feel. Irritated, because Ez’s rift-closing shifts are a lot more cumbersome without her hypercompetent human spellcaster by her side, and worried, because‍?—

Well. Theydidjust meet with two former hunters of dubious intentions. It’s not inconceivable that Naomi and Sawyer might still have connections back in the Sanctum, connections that could put Roma in danger. Ez knows it’s unlikely‍—after all, Micah and Gregorio didn’t even want to invite Roma at first‍—but right now, she doesn’t trust anyone in the Conspiracy Fam as far as she can throw them.

Obviously, she’s complained to her friends about this. Not the worrying part, though. Just the irritation part. “We’ll get to it when we get to it,” she says loftily, wrinkling her nose at Cass. “She might’ve just gotten sent on one of her actual hunting jobs. That happens sometimes, right, JJ? Hunters get sent on actual hunting jobs?”

“They do,” JJ confirms. Ez is proud of him for not saying “we,” becausethatwas a surprisingly difficult habit to break. “The longest job I ever worked with Kappa took a little over twoweeks. I wouldn’t start worrying yet, but the sooner you and Roma can cast this spell, the better.”

Desi trots back into the kitchen with clean hands, lifting her arms expectantly towards Cass. He obediently pulls her onto his hip, eyeing Ez warily. “And that’s another thing. Are wesurewe can trust Roma Gutierrez?”

Ez’s heart does something funny. She pointedly ignores it. “Nope.Iam sure thatIcan trust Roma Gutierrez inveryspecific circumstances. For the most part, I don’t want the rest of you anywhere near her.”

Obie seems to sense her hesitation. “But…?”

Ez lets out a slow breath, glancing at JJ. “Look, I’m not condoning what she did to you and Cass back in March,” she says quietly. “But part of me is starting to think that she might genuinely regret betraying you.”

JJ’s face shuts down. “Good. She should.”

Cass squeezes JJ’s shoulder with his free hand. “Having a conscience doesn’t equal trustworthy, Ez,” he says softly.

“I’m not saying it does,” Ez says. “But I think we might get to trustworthy someday. Maybe not anytime in the near future, but‍—but someday.” She nods at JJ. “After you two left, Roma chewed out Naomi and Sawyer for trying to put you in danger. I think she still cares about you, but those feelings are getting mixed up with all the Sanctum’s brainwashing.”

JJ doesn’t look at her. “I don’t know. Maybe. I‍—I still care about her, too. Honestly, I miss her. I really,reallymiss her and Chester and Bryant and‍—‍” He cuts himself off. “But I don’t know if I’m ever going to get them back, you know? Not in a way that actually matters.”

Cass slips an arm around JJ’s shoulders, pulling him close. “We’ll figure that out with time,” he murmurs, and he shoots Ez a meaningful look. A “please change the subject” look. “So is there anything we can do to help you with that spell?”

Not unless you can summon my stupid spellcasting buddy.Ez shakes her head. “Nah, I’m good. But I should get out of here and spend some quality time studying it. Catch you guys later?”

“Bye, Auntie Ez!” Desi chirps, waving at her. “See you soon!”

“Later, Ez,” Obie says. “And be careful with that spell book. It’s more valuable than your entire life.”

“Bite me.”

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