Page 227 of Solanum

"Maggie's just fine," Anita repeated. "Sali, too. Everyone is doing okay and they're off having fun in Hawaii. We were talking about Lauren, Nor."

"Oh." Relief flooded Nora and her posture relaxed against me. "Is she okay?"

"She's okay." Anita smiled and reached over to give Nora's hand a squeeze. "All right?"

"Yes." Nora settled down and returned her affection. "With Caroline going off to Quantico for a week, I'm on edge."

"We know, babe." I patted her hip then kissed her cheek.

"I want to go with you, but that's so many patients to cancel…" Nora gnawed on her bottom lip. "But I want to."

"I know, babe. You'll be bored to death and alone the whole time while they force me through training." I winked at her and tweaked her nipples hidden under the blanket. "Unless you want to go through training with me again."

"No way. I climbed up walls, got fake-murdered, and endured R.T.I. training long enough. And worse, they made me run every day." She scoffed, waving her hand in front of her face. "Never again."

We all laughed at that.

"Babe, running is worse than R.T.I.?" I asked, stifling my laughter.

"Yes!" Nora flopped her hands beside her. "It's miserable."

"What the heck is R.T.I.?" asked Marita through chuckles.

"Resistance to Interrogation," answered Anita simply.

"Yeah." Nora's sardonic smirk replaced her silly one. "Was never captured by the enemy at work and needed to use it. But funny, when I was captured by my boyfriend, it came in pretty handy."

"Not funny." Anita's normally stoic demeanor faded when she narrowed her brows.

"It's a little funny." Nora held her fingers an inch apart and Anita swatted her hand.

"It isn't. It was one of the worst times of my life and I'm very sure you feel similarly," scolded Anita, but in a caring manner.

"Okay, okay." Nora wiggled her fingers at Anita with her arms outstretched. "I'm sorry. Come here."

"Such a brat sometimes, Nor." Anita moved in to hug her and let out a heavy sigh.

Nora embraced her, softening while she rubbed her back. They both quieted for a moment, and Marita and I shared a glance.

"Are you more traumatized than me?" Nora whispered to Anita.

"Sometimes." Anita chuckled, then sat up properly to swat Nora's knee. "Sometimes not."

Nora smiled and winked at her. "No idea how you deal with Sali if you can't deal with me."

"Sali's delivery of dark humor is funnier and better timed." Anita swatted her again. "Work on that."

Nora laughed hard, dropping her head back against me.

"For the record, I don't want any of you explaining to me more about this R.T.I., cool?" Marita narrowed her eyes at us.

"Done," said Anita.

"Uh huh." Nora nodded.

"I make no promises." I held my hand up while shaking my head. "I can't be trusted."

"Please." Marita shoved my shoulder. "I hardly know what you even do for work, Agent Donovan."

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