Page 146 of The Genius
“It’s Shelly Summers,” Nero exclaimed. “Our old mentor, remember? She changed a lot too.”
Solomon shook his head in disbelief. “Wow, you grew up fine.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shelly waved a dismissive hand. “Now answer my question. Is it a medical condition?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your size. Is it hyperpituitarism?”
“No.” Solomon shifted his weight and lowered his brows. “I’m just slightly taller than average, but it’s not that bad.”
“He says he only seven-foot-two, but I think he’s taller,” Tristan told us.
“It’s probably because of all his muscles,” Storm chimed in. “He looks freakishly large, doesn’t he?”
“Stop talking about me like that.”
None of us Nmen were small men, but we were all looking up at Solomon.
Tristan put a hand on his arm. “It’s impressive, but if you were an inflatable I would suggest you stop blowing now.” Tristan laughed. “I mean, fuck, Solo, it’s crazy to see you again after all these years.”
“Ten years, huh?” Solomon smiled.
“Enough time for your hair to grow out again,” Nero teased and let his hands run over his own hair. “Remember that time when Archer cut your hair short?”
“Sure, one of my favorite memories.” The sarcasm in Solo’s voice was thick.
Taking a step back to appreciate the full size of him, I said, “I always knew that you would be tall, what with your height and strength back then, but this is… something.”
“Is every part of you this large?” Shelly asked in a matter-of-fact tone that made all of us stare at her.
Tristan broke into a deep belly laugh. “Did you just ask Solo if he has a huge dick?”
Shelly looked unfazed and once again proved that situational awareness wasn’t her strongest suit when she locked eyes with Solomon. “Well, do you?”
Solomon’s eyebrows rose up and he looked to me for help. “What am I supposed to answer to that?”
I grinned and planted a kiss on Shelly’s cheek. “You can’t ask a man that question. At least not with me standing right here.”
“Why not?” Shelly’s eyes wandered over Tristan, Nero, Storm, and me. “Admit it. You’re just as curious as I am.”
“Absolutely.” Tristan couldn’t stop laughing. “I say we ask Solo to pull down his pants and let us see the beast for ourselves,” he joked. “Otherwise we’ll all be wondering forever.”
Solo fired back. “It’s better that you don’t know than living your lives feeling inadequate.”
The friendly banter continued with loud laughter. It woke up others who had been sleeping in tents nearby.
“What the hell, is that you, Solo?” William asked when he popped his head out of a tent. “I was going to beat up the ones making noise this early, but on second glance, I might skip that plan.”
“No, come out and challenge Solo,” Tristan encouraged William. “It would make for great morning entertainment for the rest of us.”
“Shut up, Tristan. I have a nasty hangover.” William yawned loudly and stretched his arms.
“Solo.”
The sound of a female voice made us all turn our heads to the school building from where Mila came running. “You came. I’m so happy. That means we’re all here.” She reached out her hands to him but he didn’t take them. Instead he took a small step back.
“Good to see you, Mila. You look as cute as you did when you were ten.”
