“The real food in Ag 6 looked like old people before aging-reversal treatments.”

“He's so unlucky it's almost lucky," Gren said. "It's like he has reverse luck.""He's reverse good-looking, too" said Hyde."I'm going to reverse punch you," Strag said to his brother."That was reverse smart, man. It means you're going to punch yourself.”

“Snake eyes again. Damn dice,” Straggler said. He lifted the cup to reveal two ones on the table.Hyde smirked. “Strag, I didn’t think it was possible to be as unlucky as you are.”“He’s so unlucky it’s almost lucky,” Gren said. “It’s like he has reverse luck.”“He’s reverse good-looking, too,” said Hyde.“I’m going to reverse punch you,” Strag said to his brother.“That was reverse smart, man. It means you’re going to punch yourself.”

“That was my first kiss," she said. "My first real one."He brought his head close, resting his forehead on hers. Blond waves fell around her face, soft against her cheeks. His chest rose and fell as he drew in a breath. "Felt like the first real one for me, too.”

“He watched as she pressed the berry to her lower lip. He kept looking at her mouth after she'd done it. He knew he should look away, but he couldn't. "Right. Good. If there's no stinging, you'd put it to your tongue."Perry shot to his feet before he finished the words, nearly tripping over himself. He ran a hand over his head, feeling skitty, like he needed to laugh or run or do something. He picked up a stone and tossed it into the creek, trying to get the image of her tasting the berry out of his mind.”

“Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food.”

“To the return of old friends and to an unexpected but most welcome new one.”