Page 205 of Solanum

She nodded and stroked my arm in soothing rotations.

"Want to watch a movie with me, Nor? I promise to cuddle you until the pizza gets here." Maggie wiggled her fingers at her, and Nora smiled.

"Can we watch something funny?" Nora returned the gesture like the two of them were schoolgirls before unfolding herself.

"Anything you want. As long as it's not too hetero." Maggie screwed up her face and Nora snickered.

"Deal." Nora linked her elbow with Maggie's when she offered it. "But it's going to be a RomCom. You know that, right?"

Maggie let out a dramatic sigh on their way to the living room. "I'm aware."

Sali and I watched them go with matched amusement. Eventually, she looked at me and I smirked.

"You know I'm about to chew your face off," Sali said.

"I know. I can't make decisions for her, Sal. Nora might not look it sometimes, but she's fiercely independent. One hard limit she's always set was about money and finances. If I even tread close to the notion of it, she gets upset." I sighed and leaned with my elbows on my knees. "She's not ready to hear it yet."

"What's it going to take for her to be ready?" she asked, motioning to me. "Seeing you upset isn't enough?"

"She doesn't see me upset," I shot back.

"Dude, you're a fucking idiot. Of course she does. You're upset right now." Sali's brows narrowed and she pointed to the living room. "Your girlfriend's a fucking psych, Donovan. Of course she knows you're upset. She's probably wrapping her tits in a knot trying to figure out why you feel different to her. Get over yourself and talk to her."

"Fucking hell, Sali."

"Don't fuckin' hell me, asshat. Nora's not stupid. She knows something's bothering you. She might not know exactly what, but she knows." She dropped her hands down on the table with a thud. "So get the fuck over it and deal."

Instead of getting angry, Sali's words wrapped around me in a harsh clarity that calmed me down. I thumbed my chin while thinking about what she said.

"She's not stupid," Sali repeated after a moment. "The same way Maggie knows I'm upset when I'm acting like a total asshole—"

"How does she distinguish that from any other way you behave—"

"It's a science, okay? Calm down." She shoved her hand in my face and I laughed. "All I'm saying is she knows. The same way you know when she's upset."

"You know who is very strange when they're upset?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Harper." She nodded enthusiastically.

I laughed and shook my head. "No. Anita. She's very…what's the word?"

"Aggravating?" Sali smirked.

"Not quite." I laughed and considered it. "Obstinate. Stubborn. Like you."

"Heh." Sali scoffed. "Not surprised. She's been really quiet lately."

"I know. Something is going on with Marita. They had dinner one night and things got a little rocky or something."

"Rocky? Aren't they head over heels for each other?"

"Marita is for Anita. Been pining for her for years. Anita doesn't seem ready to admit she shares similar feelings. She will though. She'll get there."

"We all do." Sali smiled and glanced toward the living room again. "Talk to your girl, Beast. She needs to be called out on shit."

"How do you know that?"

"Because she practically begs for it." Sali smirked and I laughed at her.

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