Page 210 of Solanum

"Want to see if Jordan's free on Friday?" Maggie asked her. "I definitely need mine done."

"Yeah." Nora met her gaze and nodded. "Maybe we can drag Anita along."

"Think she'll hang out with us?" Maggie smirked and glanced at Sali.

"If I guilt-trip her she will." Nora snickered.

It didn't take Sali long to tote the plate piled high with pancakes over to the table. Maple syrup, powdered sugar, cream, strawberries, and chocolate sauce joined the spread. Nora helped herself, and chose the strawberries and chocolate to pile on to her breakfast. Her gaze met mine when she dipped the fresh fruit in the sauce, her lips curving into a smile after her first bite.

"I see those kinky eyes fucking each other." Sali pointed at us both. "Keep it to the basement, lust puppies."

"Sal." Maggie swatted her upside the head while laughing.

"What?" Sali scoffed around her mouthful of sugar. "It's obvious!"

Nora snickered and I grinned as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

"You be as kinky as you want, Kitten." I nipped her cheek. "Ignore the little shit."

"I usually do." Nora grinned and flicked a chocolate chip off her plate toward Sali.

"Liar." Sali flicked it back. "When Caroline's at work, you wiggle your way into our bed for snuggles. That is not the definition of ignore."

"Your bed is so cozy." Nora laughed and scooted closer to Maggie. "Right, Mags?"

"Right." Maggie grinned and grabbed her in a one-armed hug. "Especially since you like sleeping in late just like me."

"Yup." Nora's amusement continued in the form of giggles while she glared at Sali. "Only jerks workout at five in the morning when they don't have to."

Sali flipped her off and scowled.

The levity of the moment settled Nora down it seemed, and we tucked into breakfast without much thought. Ben arrived to drop Olivia off at the same time that Harper meandered into the room. With her growing belly and cheerful demeanor, she greeted everyone with spirited hugs. Olivia climbed into Sali's lap and stole a pancake right off her plate.

"Hey now, you little thief. That was mine." Sali tickled her sides and she squealed.

"Okay, you can have it." Olivia smashed the pancake in Sali's face, and the entire room erupted with laughter.

Sali froze, wide-eyed in disbelief, as chocolate and powdered sugar smeared her cheeks. Olivia cracked up, her hands coated with mashed food.

Harper covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared at her sister while cracking up. Maggie tumbled sideways off her chair in a fit of hysterics and Nora wasn't far behind. I whipped out my phone and snapped a few pictures of the epic moment.

"Ols…" Sali began after swiping some chocolate from her cheek. "You better run."

Olivia squealed, wriggling from Sali's lap before bolting away from her. Sali gave chase while Olivia's giggles echoed down the hall.

"That was the best fucking thing I've ever seen," I said, the grin endlessly plastered on my face.

Maggie righted herself, still laughing while trying to regain her composure. "Shit, that was great."

Harper's surprised expression remained, tangled with amusement, as she watched her sister and Olivia race around the house. She rested her hand on her round belly as if contemplating the situation on a deeper level.

Nora's twinkly-eyed smile returned with the sudden rush of excitement and I pulled my attention away from the maniacs to observe her. She leaned her chin on her hand, and happiness returned to her in that moment. It dawned on me then, that she hadn't worn that expression in a while. In the few months since her return to work, she wasn't happy, and it showed now more than ever.

Maggie's words hung thick in the air around me.

Nora met my gaze, her broad smile meeting her eyes. I brushed my thumb over her cheek, and she turned to kiss my hand. "We better go, honey…"

"Yeah." I drew in a slow breath. "I know."

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