Page 203 of Solanum

We sat there for a few minutes in silence before Nora started nodding off again. I didn't urge her to talk at that point, instead, I made my way around to the passenger side and plucked her off the seat after releasing the buckle.

Without missing a beat, she wrapped her legs around me and squeezed me tight. I chuckled and patted her rear as we headed upstairs. She kissed my neck, and it brought a smile back to my face.

"How's that belly doing?" I asked her while unlocking the door.

"Achy."

"We'll take care of that, right?"

"Mhmm. Basement?" She squeezed me tighter, and I patted her rear.

"You know it. But I want you to eat something first, okay?"

She whined, but nodded regardless.

"Well, is this how we carry our loves into the house?" Sali announced the second we made it to the kitchen. "C'mere, Mags."

Maggie laughed at her, then scurried over from where she stood by the fridge and leapt into her arms. Sali caught her, grinning the entire time.

"Her feet nearly touch the ground when you hold her, you twerpy little shit," I said, dropping my keys down on the half-moon table next to a pile of other keys.

Nora snickered while she watched Maggie and Sali's antics as usual. Both of them cracked up, and Maggie dropped her legs to stand on her own. They switched positions, and Sali jumped up to wrap her legs around Maggie's waist.

"Is this to your satisfaction, Beast?" Sali teased, flipping me off while Maggie bounced her.

"Nah. Made more sense the other way." I carried Nora over to the table, then sat with her in my lap when we shifted about. "What are you, Sal? A hundred pounds soaking wet?"

"About that." She let go of Maggie and smooched her cheek. "Normally like one-fifteen, but I lost some after…"

"Yeah. I get it."

"I'll fatten up soon enough. I mean, I eat like a pig."

Maggie approached us when they parted and ran her fingers through Nora's hair. "Hey, bestie," she said softly.

"Hi." Nora smiled up at her, though her weariness remained in place over her face.

"You look tired, Nor. Long day?" Maggie doted on her in the way they normally did to each other. Soft words and affectionate hand squeezes accompanied their caring acts.

"Yeah, pretty long."

"What do you two have to eat around here so I can feed my beautiful girl and take her to bed?" I asked.

"Aww." Maggie grinned at Nora. "She wants to take you to bed."

"My favorite thing." Nora smiled and leaned back against me.

"We have leftover stew in the fridge, and I'm not morally opposed to ordering a pizza right now." Sali grinned at Maggie. "Right, babe?"

"You'll order pizza at three in the morning if someone would deliver it to you." Maggie grabbed her in a stranglehold.

Nora and I laughed while she snuggled against me.

"I'm okay with pizza," Nora said, her body slowly warming against me.

"Winner!" Sali grinned, wrestling herself free from Maggie's grip. "Pepperoni sound good?"

"Shh. Don't wake up Ollie." Maggie smothered Sali while the two of them tried hard not to crack up.

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