"Nothing," he said.
She took his hand. "Have we pushed ourselves at you too much? Has our jabbering bothered you? We're a loud-mouthed family and I didn't think to ask if you were loning."
"Loning?"
"Solituding."
"In a way," he said. They didn't speak for a moment. Then, "Are you happy, Lois, in your life here?" he asked.
Her smile was instant. "Of course. Don't you like my group?"
He hesitated. "They make me feel rather no good," he said, and then admitted, "but in a way I'm more attracted to them than any people I've ever met."
"You are?" Her grip on his hand tightened. "Then why don't you stay with us for a while? I like you. It's too early to propose anything, but I think you have a quality our group lacks. You could see how you fit in. And there's Joyce. She's just visiting, too. You wouldn't have to lone unless you wanted."
Before he could think, there was a rhythmic rush of feet and the Wolvers were around them.
"We're swimming," Simone announced.