"Like you don't love every second of learning."
"I don't hate it." I move to the tub. Grab the handheld shower head and turn the water on. And test it against my palm. Too hot. I turn the cold.
"You. Love. It."
"Maybe."
"Just admit it."
"Okay. I love it." There. Perfect. I kneel next to Emma. "Lean back."
She does.
I focus on rinsing her hair. It makes it easier not to spill everything rising up in my throat.
"What about your grandma?" she asks. "Do you have any more info."
"Sort of. It's... it's not good, but they're not sure how not good."
"Fuck, I'm sorry."
"Thanks." My chest gets tight. I need less of that. "Can we talk about something else?"
"Okay." She's quiet for a while.
I rinse her hair.
She squirms as water hits her ears.
The silence is nice. Even if it's heavy with all sorts of unsaid things.
"I thought about this. More than I should have." She looks up at me. "All the guys you know are from work or school. All except the guys at Inked Hearts."
"Maybe."
"So, if it's not someone from work or school, it's Walker, Ryan, Dean, or Brendon." She cringes as her brother's name falls off her lips.
"It's not going to happen. It doesn't matter."
"It is. And it does."
I finish rinsing her hair. Move on to shampoo.
"Why... why don't you want to tell me?"
I press my lips together. Rub Emma's scalp a little harder. Avoid her attempts to look me in the eyes.
"You'd tell me if you were into my brother."
"Don't be ridiculous, Em."
"Is it though? You guys have been hanging out a lot."
"Because he's always here."
"You're different around him. Nervous. Giggly."
"I don't giggle."