Page 114 of Solanum

Nora and Maggie shared a hug and a cheek kiss.

"Hey, Nor." Maggie grinned up at her, wagging her brows playfully. "You look very happy."

"I am." Nora smiled, her hands all over me while she stood beside me. "My knees are still a little wobbly."

"I see this." Maggie chuckled.

I urged Nora into my lap. She sat down carefully, wrapping her arms around me when she snuggled against me, her cheek pressed to my forehead. She wore nothing under her long-sleeve T-shirt and floppy linen pants, and the thin fabric of the latter allowed me to see all of her curves just the way I liked. I rubbed her thighs, and her toes curled in her oversized tube socks that nearly dwarfed her feet. She never stopped smiling, her eyes on Maggie while the two of them seemed to share some kind of silent communication.

"What are you cooking, Sal?" I asked, when she carried over cut up slices of bread to the table.

"Harper's making a roast with some stupid vegetables. I made mac and cheese." Sali grinned proudly at the latter. "Carbs and cheese always win."

Maggie laughed and grabbed her into a rough hug on the way by. Sali tumbled dramatically into her lap, squeezing her around the neck. Maggie grinned, patting her jean-covered hip in affectionate swats.

"You always win the food wars," Maggie told her.

"Damn right." Sali smooched her cheek.

"Nora, would you like some tea?" asked Harper when she set down a tray with a kettle and mugs before unloading them.

"Sure," answered Nora, her voice soft. "Thanks."

"Caroline?" Harper queried. Her strange, English-accent voice sounded almost nothing like Sali's with its higher pitch.

"Thanks." I nodded and she poured us both out steaming cups.

The quiet of the house and the peacefulness our companions brought to it offered a soothing recuperation to the last few months. I found myself relaxing here, in their presence. After spending so much time alone, it was unusual to be around other people in general living spaces. Before Nora's kidnapping, I probably wouldn't have liked it very much. Now, however, the soothing nature of shared space became something new and comforting.

Nora sipped her tea after blowing on it, then set it back down on the table. She leaned her head against mine while we watched Sali and Harper return to the stove.

Maggie poked Nora's knee and she smiled. "Anita was here before asking how you were," she said.

"She was?" Nora perked up at the mention of her friend. "Why was she here?"

"Shrinking my head," called Sali from the peanut gallery. "Her new office space wasn't ready yet."

"Oh right." Nora's brows lifted. "I forgot she moved last weekend. She starts at the new hospital this week, too, I think. I need to call her…"

"Why?" Sali's brow narrowed in Nora's direction. "Are you upset?"

"Um…" Nora froze suddenly, glancing to Maggie then back to Sali. She gulped, her body tensing against me. "I'm not upset."

"They're friends, Sal." I offered Nora the out. "And have been for a long time."

"Really?" Sali's brow furrowed as she turned around fully to face us. "I knew you were colleagues or like, colleague-friends, but not actual friends."

"We're actual friends," Nora finally spoke, as if relieved by my disclosure. "Second to Caroline, she's my closest…"

"Well then." Sali smirked, her gaze flickering to Maggie. "You're living with your best friend's long-term patient. What a tangled web we weave."

Nora nodded, closing her eyes while she leaned into me again. Her sleepiness and softened body always followed our most intense sex, and I loved how she felt in my lap.

When Sali's attention returned to Harper, Maggie asked, "You feeling okay, Nor?"

"I'm sleepy," she said, smiling at her friend when she opened her eyes again.

"Not surprised." Maggie grinned then, playfully at best. "You've probably burned a few thousand calories today."

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