Page 152 of Solanum

"C'mon." Sali hopped up and smacked my boot. "Let's go enjoy the giggling faces of our bitches."

I smirked and followed her without complaint.

All three of them sat around the coffee table chatting with each other. Harper had Nora's hand down on the table in front of her while painting her nails a pale pink. Sali sat behind Maggie and swept her fingers through her hair.

"Hungry, babe?" she asked, then caught her in a stranglehold of a hug.

"Yeah. Actually." Maggie leaned into her, holding her hands outstretched in an awkward position as to not ruin her manicure.

I sat beside Nora and she smiled at me while Harper continued. I tossed her a wink and she leaned sideways to smooch my knee.

"Are you two hungry?" asked Sali, glancing to her sister and Nora.

"I could eat," said Nora, her eyes brighter than before. "Even though I already ate."

"Yes, Salinger. Are you going to say pizza?" Harper narrowed her eyes at her sister.

"Up to Nora." Sali gazed down at her. "What's your call?"

"How come Nora gets to pick?" Harper pouted, but continued to work on her nails.

"Because I said so." Sali flipped her off. "What's it gonna be, Brody?"

"Um…" She glanced at Maggie and the two of them shared a grin. "Eggplant parmesan."

"Pizza it—"

"From Valencia's," Nora finished and everyone burst out laughing, save for Sali.

"No way!" she protested. "They don't have pizza."

"They do so." Maggie swatted her knee. "Little personal ones."

Sali's frowny-pout only perpetuated their hysterics. Nora's eyes twinkled with mischief in the way I adored. It brought a smile back to my face.

"We're just teasing you," Nora said, snickering. "We're getting it from the regular place."

"Fuck you, Nor." Sali pretended to boot her in the rear. "That was evil." She glared at Maggie. "Instigated by you."

"Yup." Maggie grinned and squealed when Sali dove at her.

The two of them wrestled around the floor while Maggie held her arms above her head.

"Sali! Don't smear my polish."

"I'll smear you, all right." Sali pinned her and plopped down to sit on her stomach.

"What does that even mean?" Maggie laughed at her, her face red with amusement.

"It means get me fucking pizza!"

Nora's giggles stood out against the deeper chuckles of the others. Harper smiled, though seemed unphased by the raucous around her. She finished off Nora's nails then capped the polish.

"There you go. All done," chirped Harper.

"Thanks." Nora smiled, and held her nails out in front of her before showing me.

"Very cute." I grinned and held my arms out for her.

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