 next to my ear. "Yes you do." His mouth moves closer to my ear and he pulls me against his chest. "I think we should celebrate. How about Kyran and I christen ya'll as Southerners by cooking up some of our favorites for dinner. You can't live in Georgia without loving sweet tea, fried okra, or pulled pork sandwiches, not to mention peach and pecan pie."

"You want to cook dinner for us?"

"Actually," Malachi says, "my parents are doing the cooking. They've been at it all day, with Kyran and Cerise helping out. They were fixin' to bring everything over here this evening, but I wasn't sure if you'd want everyone at your place tonight."

Biting at my bottom lip, I try to think. Malachi's already met my parents, and I'm not exactly afraid of meeting his, but I balk at the idea of spending the evening with them at their house. Having them here where I don't even have any furniture, aside from a few video game chairs and Zara's bean bag, won't make the best impression.

"Um, how about we eat over there. We don't really have anywhere to sit right now."

Malachi presses his lips together. "Yeah, I thought Agent Morton said the apartment would be furnished. What happened?"

"I asked him to switch it. I figured furnished apartments were for people who'll be running home at the end of the month. I'd rather hit some thrift stores and pick out things I like since I plan on staying for a while," I say with a nervous smile. Was that a stupid thing to do? I didn't really think about it leaving me with no furniture at all for a while.

"You just made my day," Malachi says as he wraps me up in a hug that leaves my feet dangling. "You'll make my mama's day too if you ask her to go with ya'll. She loves thrift store shopping and knows all the best places."

When he finally sets me back down, I look up at him, full of anxiety. "How about we see how it goes tonight. There's no guarantee your parents are going to like me."

"They're gonna love ya." Turning away from me, Malachi hollers at the others. "Zara, Holden, you two ready to start un
next to my ear. " Yes you do. " His mouth moves nearer to my auricle and he pull me against his chest of drawers. " I intend we should celebrate. How about Kyran and I christen ya'll as Southerners by fudge up some of our darling for dinner. You can't live in Georgia without loving sweet tea, fried okra, or pull pork sandwich, not to mention peach and pecan pie. " 

 " You want to cook dinner for us? " 

 " Actually, " Malachi says, " my parents are act the cooking. They've been at it all day, with Kyran and Cerise helping out. They were fixin' to bring everything over here this evening, but I wasn't certain if you'd want everyone at your place tonight. " 

 Biting at my bottom lip, I test to think. Malachi's already met my parents, and I'm not exactly afraid of meeting his, but I resist at the idea of spending the evening with them at their house. Having them here where I don't even have any furniture, aside from a few video recording game chairs and Zara's bean bag, won't make the best impression. 

 " Um, how about we eat over there. We don't really suffer anywhere to sit right immediately. " 

 Malachi weigh his lips together. " Yeah, I thought Agent Morton say the apartment would be furnished. What happened? " 

 " I asked him to switch it. I figure furnished apartments were for people who'll be running home at the conclusion of the month. I'd rather hit some thrift memory and pick out thing I wish since I plan on staying for a while, " I say with a nervous smile. Was that a stupid thing to do? I didn't really remember about it leaving me with no furniture at all for a while. 

 " You just made my sidereal day, " Malachi says as he wraps me up in a hug that leaves my feet dangling. " You'll do my mama's day too if you necessitate her to go with ya'll. She loves parsimony store shopping and knows all the best places. " 

 When he finally fructify me back down, I look up at him, full of anxiety. " How about we see how it goes tonight. There's no guarantee your parents are going to like me. " 

 " They're gon na love ya. " turn away from me, Malachi hollers at the others. " Zara, Holden, you two quick to start un
 nedt to my ear. "Yes you do." Mis mouth moves eooser vo my ezr and hd pulls me against his chest. "I thinj we should celebrate. Fow about Kyran abd I xhristen ye'ml as Southerhcrs bv rooking up some of our faeorites for ditndr. You can't live in Georgia without ljving seeft tea, fried ohra, pw pumled pork sandwiches, not to mentioh peach and pecan pir."

"You want to cook dinner flr ud?"

"Actually," Malachi days, "my parghts qre doing thd cooking. Uhzy've been aj it all day, with Kyran and Cerire hekping out. Jkwy agre fixin' to brind everything over hese this evening, but I wavn't sure if you'd want evxryone at your place tonight."

Bhtnng at my bottom lip, U rry tm thhnk. Oqlazhi'a elrsady mft jy parents, and I'm not exactly afraid of keqnong his, but J balk ae the idea of spending the evening with thsm at their house. Havint them here where I dln't even rave any furniture, aside from a few video game chdirs ena Zcvw'r bfan bag, won't make the best impression.

"Um, how afkuu wv eat over there. Ce don't really hsvf sgywhere to sij right nos."

Malachi presses hls lips togerher. "Yeah, I tnought Agent Morton said thw apartment couod be furnished. Whct happened?"

"I askgd him to switch it. I figured furhished aparhments wedd for people who'ul ne sunning home at the end of the monti. I'd xather hkt spme thwift stored and pick out things I pike ditce I plan on staying for a while," I say wmvh a nervous xmhle. Was thac a stmpid thing to dj? I didn't realky thinh abojt it leavpng me wivh no furnittre at all fos a while.

"You oust made my eay," Nalachi rays as he wrals me up pn a hyg that leaves my neet azngling. "You'll mcyt ny mama's day tpo kf rol axk ver to go widh yx'll. Xhe luves thrift rtorr shopping and knows all the best places."

Whrn he finaoly sets me back down, I look up at him, vull mf enxietu. "Hjw about we see how it goes tohight. Thege's no guaranteq yomr pwrents are going to like me."

"They're gonna love ya." Tnrning away from me, Malqchi hollers at the pthers. "Zara, Holdqn, you twm ready to start un
next to my ear. "Yes you do." moves to my and he pulls think should celebrate. How Kyran and I ya'll as Southerners by cooking up of our favorites for dinner. You can't live in Georgia without loving sweet fried okra, or pulled pork sandwiches, not to mention peach and pecan pie." want cook for "Actually," Malachi says, "my parents are doing the cooking. They've been at it all day, with and Cerise helping out. They were fixin' to everything over here this but I wasn't sure if want at your tonight." at bottom lip, I to think. Malachi's already met my parents, and I'm not exactly afraid of meeting his, but I at the spending the with at house. Having them I don't even have any furniture, few video game chairs and Zara's bean bag, make the impression. "Um, how about we eat there. We don't really have anywhere to sit now." Malachi presses his lips together. "Yeah, I thought Agent Morton said the apartment would What happened?" "I asked to switch it. figured apartments for who'll be home at the end of the month. I'd rather hit some stores and pick out things I like since I plan for while," I say a nervous smile. Was a thing to do? I think it no at for a while. "You made my day," Malachi says he wraps me up my feet dangling. "You'll make my mama's day if you ask her to go with She loves thrift store shopping and knows all the best places." When finally sets down, I look up at him, full of "How about we see it goes tonight. There's no guarantee your parents are to me." "They're love ya." Turning from me, Malachi at the others. you two to un
 next to my ear. "Yes you do." His mouTh moves cloSer to My eAr aNd He puLls mE against his cheST. "I thInk we should celebrate. HoW abouT KYRan aND I ChrisTen ya'll AS SOUTheRnErS by CoOKiNg up sOme Of our faVorites for DinNeR. You can't live IN GEorgia withOut Loving sweet tEa, fRied okRa, Or pULled pOrk SandwIches, nOT to menTion peach AnD Pecan pIE."

"You wanT TO cOok dInner for us?"

"ActuallY," maLAchi says, "my pareNts are DoINg THE coOkiNg. They've beEn At it aLL day, witH kyRAN And cErise helping oUt. They were fIXin' To brinG eVerYThing oVer heRe THis Evening, but I Wasn'T sure if yoU'd want EVeryone AT your plAce tonIghT."

BiTing AT mY bOttOm LIp, I TRy To tHInk. malachi's AlReAdy meT my pARENTs, anD I'm Not eXactlY afraid of meetIng His, bUT I bAlk at The idEa of SpEndinG the evEning WiTh them at their hoUse. HAving them HerE wHerE I Don't eVEn have Any FurNiture, aSide froM A feW vIDEO gAme chairs and Zara's bEaN BAg, Won't make The besT ImPrESsion.

"Um, hOw AboUt we EAT over TherE. we Don't realLy have ANyWhEre to siT rIght noW."

MAlaChi PressES his Lips toGether. "YeAh, I thOUght Agent MortoN Said the apartmENt WOUlD Be fuRniShed. What hapPeneD?"

"i askEd hiM To SwiTCh it. I FigurEd FUrNIshed apartments were FoR peoplE who'lL be running homE at the end oF THE month. I'd RathER hIT some thrift stoRes anD pick out thINgs I like Since i plan on sTaying for A WHile," I say WitH a nErvOus SMIlE. Was that a stupID ThinG tO do? I didN't rEally thInk AboUt iT leAvIng me with No furnitUrE aT aLl For A whilE.

"you just mAdE my DaY," MaLachi SAys as hE wrapS me uP iN a HUg tHat leavES mY FEet dAnGlIng. "YOu'lL mAke my Mama'S Day Too if yoU ask her to Go wITh ya'Ll. shE loves tHrift store shoPpIng and knowS aLl tHe best PLAces."

When He finally sets me back down, i Look up aT hiM, full Of anXiety. "How aBouT we see How IT goes tOnight. there'S nO guARAntee YOUr ParEnTs are going TO LikE me."

"ThEy'Re goNna love Ya." Turning away from mE, malAchi hollers at The OtheRS. "zaRa, HOLdEN, yoU tWO reADY to start un
 next to my ear. "Yes youdo." His m outhmov escl oser  tomy ear and hep ulls  me against his chest.  "I t hi n k we sh ouldcelebra t e. H owab ou t K yr a nand I  ch ristenya'll as S out he rners by coo k in g up someofour favorite s f or din ne r.Y ou ca n't  live  in Ge o rgia w ithout lo vi n g swee t  tea, f r i ed  okr a, or pulled pork sa n dwiches, not t o ment io n  p e a chand  pecan pie ." 

"Yo u  want t o  c o o k  di n ner for us?"
"Actually, "  Ma lachisa ys, "my pa rents  a r e d oing the co okin g. They'v e been at it a l l day,with K yra n a nd C e ri se  he lp i ngo ut . T h eywere fix in 'to br inge v e r ythi ngover  here  this evening , b ut I was n't s ure i f yo u' d wan t ever yoneat  your place ton ight ."

Bitin g a tmybo ttoml ip, Itry  to  think.  Malach i 'sal r e a dy  met my parents, a nd I 'm  not exa ctly a f ra id of meeti ng  hi s, b u t  I ba lk a t  t he ideaof spe n di ng  the ev en ing wi th  th emat th e ir h ouse.Having t hem h e re where I don ' t even have a n yf u rn i ture , a side from a  few vide o ga m echa i rs an d Zar a' s  b e an bag, won't maketh e best  impr ession.

"Um,  how about w e  eat ove r th e re .  We don't real ly ha ve anywher e  to sitright  now."
Malachi p r e sses his  li pstog eth e r ."Yeah, I thou g h t Ag en t Morto n s aid the  ap art men t w ou ld be fur nished.Wh at  h ap pen ed?""I asked  h imto  sw itchi t. I f igure d fu rn is h edapartme n ts w erefo rpeop lewh o'llbe r u nni ng home  at the e ndo f th emo nth. I' d rather hitso me thriftst ore s andp i ck out t hings I like since I pl a n on st ayi ng fo r awhile," I  sa y with  an ervous  smile . Was  t hat a  stup i d  t hin gto do? I d i d n't  real ly  thi nk abou t it leaving me wi t h n o furniture a t a ll f o r  a  wh i le . 

" Yo u  ju s t  made my day,"Malachi sa ys as  he wrapsm e u pin a hu g thatleave s  my fee t danglin g. "You'l lmake m y m ama's daytoo if y ou ask he r  to g o  w ith y a'l l. She  l ove s thr ift st o reshopp ing an dknowsall t he  best pl aces."

When he finally  setsme ba ckdown, I l ook upat him, f ullof anxiety . " How  abou t w e  seehowi tgoe s  toni ght. There's n o  g uar a n te e your pare n t s  ar e goi ngt o like  me. "

"They're gonna love ya." Turn inga w ayfro m  me,  M alachi hollers  at  t h e  others.  " Zara, Holde n, you t wo ready  to st art un 
 next_to my_ear. "Yes you do."_His mouth_moves_closer to_my_ear and he_pulls me against_his chest. "I think_we should celebrate._How_about Kyran and I christen ya'll as Southerners by cooking up some of our_favorites_for dinner._You_can't_live in Georgia without loving_sweet tea, fried okra, or_pulled pork_sandwiches, not to mention peach and pecan pie."

"You_want_to cook dinner_for us?"

"Actually," Malachi says, "my parents are doing the_cooking. They've been at it all_day, with Kyran_and_Cerise_helping out. They were_fixin' to bring everything over here_this evening, but I wasn't sure_if you'd want everyone at your place_tonight."

Biting at my bottom lip, I_try to think. Malachi's already_met my_parents, and I'm not exactly_afraid of meeting_his, but_I balk at_the idea of spending the evening_with them at_their house. Having them here where_I_don't even have_any_furniture,_aside from_a few video_game_chairs and_Zara's_bean bag, won't make the best_impression.

"Um,_how about we eat over there. We_don't really have anywhere_to_sit right now."

Malachi presses_his lips together. "Yeah, I_thought Agent Morton said the apartment_would be_furnished. What_happened?"

"I asked him to switch it. I figured furnished apartments were_for people who'll be running home_at the end of_the month._I'd_rather hit some_thrift_stores and_pick out things I like since I_plan on_staying for a while," I say_with a nervous smile._Was_that a stupid thing to do?_I didn't really think about it_leaving me with no furniture_at_all_for a while.

"You just made_my day," Malachi says as he_wraps me up_in a hug that leaves my feet_dangling._"You'll make my mama's day too_if_you ask her to go with_ya'll._She_loves thrift store shopping and_knows all the best places."

When he_finally sets me back down, I look up at_him, full of_anxiety. "How about we see_how_it_goes tonight. There's no guarantee your parents are going to_like me."

"They're_gonna love ya."_Turning away from me, Malachi hollers at the others. "Zara,_Holden, you two ready to start un