“You’re changing the subject.”

“I’m not!”

“Oh yeah?” She raised an eyebrow. “It’s been a lot getting to know Daniel. Kind of like the time I learned to play the saxophone when I was a kid…”

“And?”

I held her gaze. “I didn’t learn. It was terrible.” Then I just stared at her, fighting back laughter.

The look on her face though

The gym hummed around us - the rhythmic whir of treadmills, the clank of weights, the squeaking of shoes on the floor. Light streamed through the windows, creating infinite reflections in the mirrored walls.

“I’ve been reading this book - when I’m done, I’ll let you borrow it…”

“Oh, what is it?”

“It’s this book about a girl and she’s the last Eskimo on Europa, and she didn’t know it but she was a princess, and the time traveler’s son ended up rescuing-”

“Oh… okay.” Sophia’s attempt at a straight face was admirable but failing.

“You don’t read?”

“I do.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t know, I guess not that kind of book.”

“Anything I would know?”

“I just read a really good book that breaks down multiple levels of human psychology, based on evolution by natural selection. Helps me better understand myself.” She paused meaningfully. “Self-awareness is everything in life.”

What the actual…

“Anything else I would know?”

“Oh, you know I didn’t go to school for law originally. Only non-law book I read recently was about recursion.”

“Anyway,” I rolled my eyes. “I would call my psychologist for something like that, sis.”

“Oh, that doesn’t work.”

“You really wouldn’t go to one?”

Her eyes settled in a new found comfort. “Only if it was court ordered.”