Page 216 of Solanum

Chapter Twenty-Five

Moreno drove us all the way back to Sali's. None of us spoke a word. Nora remained in my lap for the entire two hours, suffering through bouts of tears or dozing off. Her silence continued when I carried her through the house, and up to our attic loft. Sali and Maggie both followed us in quiet procession.

I sat down with Nora on the futon, and she let out a shaky breath when she saw our friends. Maggie lowered herself to sit beside us, her hand falling to Nora's knee.

"So…bad day?" Sali asked, a smirk on her lips.

Nora chuckled softly then dropped her head back down on my shoulder.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sali fell to her knees in front of us. "Inspection time. Where are the holes? We need to make sure all are accounted for." She poked Nora's ear. "One." Then her nose. "Two, three."

"Sali." Nora swatted her away but snickered when she poked at her other ear.

"Only two more to go. If I find any other holes in your body, Nor, I'm calling an ambulance," Sali teased, poking Nora's hip. "Let's go. Spread 'em."

Nora laughed fully, then nudged Sali with her foot. "Get outta here, dope."

Sali grinned, wagging her brows in victory. "Aw, Mags. She loves me."

Maggie chuckled and held her hand out to Nora. "No, she doesn't."

Nora took her hand and snickered.

"Fine." Sali huffed. "I'm ordering pizza. Who's in?"

"You see what I have to deal with?" Maggie said to Nora. "Someone comes home with one extra hole and we have to eat pizza. Again."

The life returned to Nora's sparkling greens despite the heaviness that lingered below the surface. She looked between Maggie and Sali with utter amusement.

"Can we have pepperoni at least?" Nora's raspy voice croaked.

"Fuck yeah." Sali grinned and pointed at her. "Pepperoni and meat lovers. What do you say?"

"Done." Nora smiled at her and let her palm rest against my chest. She rubbed soft circles as she finally returned to life slowly. "Brownies."

"That's all you." Sali pointed at Maggie. "She was lookin' at you when she asked."

Maggie let out a dramatic sigh. "I supposed I can make some hot, fresh, gooey brownies for our favorite blonde." Maggie narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell Anita I said that."

"I won't." Nora snickered.

"Anita's the least favorite blonde, babe." Sali scoffed. "Because of all her annoying questions and when she says 'sounds like' forty times an hour."

We all laughed at that, and Nora swatted Sali's hand.

"Therapists always say that. It's called reflecting back," she said.

"Well, it's bullshit in a fancy bowtie," Sali replied while huffing and puffing. "Okay. Pizza time. Let's go order and make brownies, Mags."

"You two going to be okay?" asked Maggie, her brow softening with the question.

"Yeah," I said while Nora nodded. "We'll be down in a few."

"Okay." Maggie patted Nora's knee and Sali tried to mess up my hair.

I punched her in the hip, and she howled her way back downstairs.

Nora smiled while we watched them go then looked up at me. "I love them."

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