Page 226 of Solanum

"Yeah. I like when we're all together." She smiled at the thought of it. "Babe, don't forget dinner with Maya on Sunday. I told her I'd cook." Nora scrunched up her face and I laughed.

"Honey…" I grinned up at her while caressing her cheek. "There's something I need to ask of you…"

"What?" She laughed without even knowing my request.

"Please don't burn down the kitchen. No one needs that kind of publicity," I said, attempting to keep my tone deadpan.

"Caroline!" Nora squealed before cracking up. "That was one time! And it was just a lot of smoke…"

"I might have to call up Eden and ask to borrow her sweet little Camilla for domestic duties if you plan on hosting and catering more dinner parties," I teased through my laughter.

"Car!" She laughed and squeezed my cheeks. "Are you saying you were lying about enjoying food I cook for you?"

"No." I chuckled and kissed her wrists. "I'm teasing you to make you squeal while looking so cute."

"Shut up." The reflection of the moon on the water's surface twinkled in her bright eyes. She kissed me and I turned in a circle with her while holding her in it.

My smile ended our connection, and she gnawed her bottom lip while draping her arms over my shoulders again.

"I love my happy Nora," I confessed.

"Happy Nora loves her happy Caroline." A soft giggle escaped her, and she brushed her thumb over my mouth.

"Gonna graffiti it on public property like Sali and Mags?" I bounced her a few times and she squeaked when a harsher wave pushed us forward.

"Maybe." She snickered and pressed her forehead to mine.

"You have goosebumps all over. Let's go warm up."

"'Kay." She lowered her legs, but before she put her feet down, I scooped my hand under her knees. Her grin never faded while I toted her back to the others.

"She won't come, Ri," Anita said, the two of them caught in a tense conversation. "Being pushy will make it worse."

"Being pushy is how I care, and I feel sad for her," Marita said.

Both of them shut up immediately when they saw us, guilty faces accompanying their silence.

"Who are you sad for?" asked Nora, in typical fashion.

"A mutual friend," Anita answered right away.

"Who?" Nora pressed, her teeth chattering when I set her down by the fire. She welcomed the blanket I wrapped around her shoulders, then did the same to myself before sitting behind her with my legs surrounding her.

Marita remained unusually quiet and glanced to Anita.

"You're both acting very shady right now. It makes me anxious when you keep secrets." Nora leaned back against me and cuddled into my arms. "Also, my nipples are sharp objects right now."

"Swimming this time of year runs the risk." I chuckled and snuck my hands up the front of her to cup her tits. "Not Sali's heated pool."

"Nope." She chuckled and wiggled about, but her gaze lingered on Anita.

Anita patted Nora's foot, her expression softening. "No need to worry, Nor."

"I will anyway. Is it about Maggie?"

"No." Anita smiled, as if Nora's gentle question and worry for her friend softened her. "Maggie is just fine."

"I thought you were talking about her because of her medical thing…" Nora let out a slow breath.

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