"Yeah," he says, then, immediately, "No," realizing that Nico might mean like like, not just like. (And a little of the rapidity of the response comes from the fact that, yeah, he's lonely, she's sharp and intriguing in all kinds of dangerous ways, and if he were completely unattached he may have considered it, despite the warden/inmate thing and the definitely a murderer thing. Hey, Amos has probably done some shit, and he's still someone Holden trusts beyond reason -- and wow this train of thought has far enough.)

"Not in the -- I have someone in my life already." Which is the most simple explanation, and the one best suited for not continuing to embarrass himself. "But mostly yes." A beat, and he contemplates the fact that knowing the reason for the question would go a long way towards clarifying the question. "Why do you ask?"