Page 71 of Touch of Evil

Emme hops into the shower in my room. I’m just finishing brushing my teeth when she pokes her head out from behind the curtain. “I borrowed the extra toothbrush I found. I hope you don’t mind.”

I shrug. “Nope. Take it with you if you want. Dan bought a few packs right before he moved out. I have enough to last me a couple of years.”

The curtain crinkles as she tightens her grip. “Don’t you think it’s better if I leave it here?”

I rinse my mouth. “For what?”

“For next time.”

My head snaps up. “Next time?”

Emme fiddles with the curtain, appearing shy. “Bren, last night, we shared something beautiful. Don’t you think, love?”

Love? No. No way did she just call me that.

I pause in the middle of drying my hands, trying to find my words. Except, no words come.

They can’t come.

Not after Emme just said what she did, and not with my heart thumping like it is.

I release the towel, not bothering to pick it up when it falls on the floor.

I lean against the wall just beside the shower. The tile is cold, but I barely feel it. All I sense is misery. “Emme, look, last night was really,reallygreat. I mean, after we killed everything we had to kill and survived. It’s just…”

“It’s just what?” she asks, her voice sad.

I meet her face. It’s the least I can do. “I’m not good at these things. Having a girlfriend, I mean. It’s not something I’ve ever had before.”

Emme turns off the shower and steps out. Water drips down her body, gathering in droplets around her nipples. I want to lick them dry and she knows it. Instead, I reach into the linen closet and cover her with a clean towel.

She clasps my wrists, her hope fizzling out right in front of me. “I know relationships aren’t one of your strengths, and I know your life hasn’t been easy,” she begins.

My jaw clenches. “Emme, please don’t go there. Not about my folks, okay?”

I didn’t think it was possible, but her voice grows even more hurt. “I’m not trying to complicate things or make you feel bad, Bren. There’s just something between us, and I think you feel it, too.”

My frown deepens. “Em, I don’t know what I feel.”

Her gaze drops. “All right,” she says. “I understand. But I’d like you to understand that having a girlfriend, a relationship, isn’t something to fear.”

I think back to my parents. “Yeah. Sure.”

I step out of her reach but can’t quite bring myself to leave the bathroom. I take in her scent. Emme smells just like a cloud might, clean and peaceful.

Too bad I messed her up like I did.

She wraps her head in that cute turban-thing like girls do, pausing as if unsure to ask what she does. “Do you like me, Bren?”

“You know I do, Emme.”

She presses her lips. “I really like you, too. I didn’t know how much…until last night.”

“I get it, Emme. But I don’t do relationships.”

Damn. Here come the images of my parents again, loving on each other like they did, right up until they killed themselves and left me alone.

“It’s not easy for me to have people,” I remind her. “Dan, you and your sisters, you were the first.” I shake my head. “Do you see how I am with the pack? We’re supposed to be bros, but you and me know that’ll never happen.”

---