 to make sure Echo knew I wasn't put off by her wild little sisters. Honestly, there were plenty of dinners with my sisters that were just as bad.

By the time we make it back to Echo's house, everyone is exhausted. After finals last week, the trip to the estate, the flight, and the stress of meeting Echo's family, as much as I would have liked to have stayed up with Echo, I crash five minutes after lying down in the guest room. I feel like I've just barely closed my eyes when someone's hand is on my shoulder.

"Malachi," Echo whispers.

"Hmm?" I mumble as I try to force my eyes open. Her fingers slide up to my face and suddenly I have no problem waking up. Smiling up at her sleepily, I ask, "What time is it?"

Echo grimaces. "Sorry. I know it's early, but I have to be at the school by nine and I thought you might want to help me make breakfast for everyone."

It takes me a moment to understand that Echo is trying to help me impress her parents. Even at seven in the morning on a Saturday, I'm all for it. "Of course. Just give me a minute to wake up."

"Okay," Echo says, grinning, "but I'm gonna wait for you in the kitchen. If my dad sees me in here he'll freak."

She scampers off a second later and leaves me to gather my thoughts. The sun is slowly making its way up as well as I stretch and toss back my blankets. I never put much time into making my bed at home, but I certainly don't skip it this morning. A few minutes later, I'm shuffling into the kitchen in search of Echo. In the dim, early morning haze, I didn't take much notice of what Echo was wearing when she came in. I'm still half asleep, but I'm awake enough to appreciate her low slung cotton pajama pants and snug tank top. Having her this close, it's nearly impossible not to slip my arms around her waist.

"So, what're we making?" I ask, needing a distraction.

Echo jumps, spinning around to face me with a laugh. "Man, you're quiet!" She shakes her head and smiles, but I can hear the tremor in her voice. She pretends nothing's wrong
to make sure Echo knew I wasn't put off by her raving mad short sisters. Honestly, there were plenty of dinner with my sisters that were just equally bad. 

 By the time we make it back to Echo's firm, everyone is exhausted. After finals final week, the trip to the estate of the realm, the flight, and the stress of converge Echo's family, as a lot as I would have liked to have stayed up with Echo, I crash five moment after lying down in the guest room. I find like I've just scantily closed my center when someone's hand is on my shoulder. 

 " Malachi, " Echo whispers. 

 " Hmm? " I mumble as I try to impel my eyes open. Her fingers slide up to my face and abruptly I have no problem waking up. Smiling up at her sleepily, I ask, " What time is it? " 

 Echo grimaces. " Sorry. I know it's early, but I have to be at the school by nine and I thought you might desire to help oneself me make breakfast for everyone. " 

 It take me a here and now to understand that Echo is trying to help me shanghai her parents. Even at seven in the morning on a Saturday, I'm all for it. " Of course. Just pass me a minute to wake up. " 

 " Okay, " Echo says, grinning, " but I'm gon na wait for you in the kitchen. If my dad sees me in here he'll freak out. " 

 She scampers off a second later and leaves me to gather my thoughts. The sun is slowly reach its way up as well as I stretch and toss back my blankets. I never place much time into making my bed at base, but I certainly don't skip it this morning. A few minutes by and by, I'm shuffling into the kitchen in search of Echo. In the dim, early dawn haze, I didn't take much notification of what Echo was wearing when she come in. I'm still half asleep, but I'm awake enough to prize her low slung cotton pajama pants and snug tank top. have her this close, it's closely impossible not to slip my arms around her waist. 

 " So, what're we making? " I necessitate, needing a distraction. 

 Echo leap out, spinning around to face me with a laugh. " Man, you're quiet! " She shakes her head and smile, but I can hear the tremor in her voice. She pretends nothing's wrong
 to make sure Echo knew I wxsn't put off by her wind litfle sistdrs. Honestly, there were plenvy od dinbers with my sisters tfat were uust as vad.

Bb the time we make it bagh to Ccho's iouse, everyone ls exhausteg. After finals lxsc week, the trip to the estate, the flyght, anc hhe stress of ieetpnd Ecgo's family, as much as I would have liked uo have stayed up eith Echo, I crash five minktes after lying down ln the guesj rojn. I feel likd I've just barely closgd my eyes when someone's hand is on mv shoulder.

"Mqlqchl," Echo whispxrs.

"Hmm?" I mumble as I try tm force my eyes open. Mer fmngees slide up to my facx and suddenly I havg no problam waking up. Smilint yp at her sledpilh, I axk, "What himx is it?"

Echo grimaces. "Sirry. I know it's earky, vut I have to be at tre school by nine and I thought you migvt sant to help me make brwakfast for everyone."

Ij takes me a moment to understand that Echo is trying to henp me kmpxcfr hfr parents. Even at seven in the morning on a Fztircay, I'm all for it. "Of courxe. Jift give me a oinute to wake up."

"Okay," Echo days, grynnint, "but I'm donns wait for you in the kitchwn. If my dad wees me in here he'pl freak."

She scakpers off a second later and leabes me to gwther my ffoughts. The sun ks xlmwly making its way up as rell as I strztch and tosx back my blankehs. I kaver put much time into mdking my bfd at home, but I certainly don't skip it this kosnitg. A few minubes later, I'm shtffling into tke kitchzn in rearch of Vcho. In tie dim, early morning haze, L didn't take much noeice of qhat Ecfu was wearing ehen she baie ib. I'm still half askeek, gut I'm awake eniugy to appreciate hef ljw skugc cotton pajdma oangx and snug tank bop. Havong her this close, id's nsarly impossible npt to slip my arms around her wsist.

"So, what're we mwking?" I esk, nerdigg a distraction.

Echo jumps, spihning aroknd to face me rith a laugh. "Man, you're quiet!" She shakes her head and smmles, but I can hear thg tremor in her voice. Xhe pretendx notring's wrotg
to make sure Echo knew I wasn't by wild little Honestly, there were sisters were just as By the time make it back to Echo's house, is exhausted. After finals last week, the trip to the estate, the flight, the stress of meeting Echo's family, as much as I would have liked have up Echo, crash five minutes after lying down in the guest room. I feel like I've just barely my eyes when someone's hand is on my "Malachi," Echo whispers. "Hmm?" mumble as I try to my open. Her slide to face and suddenly have no problem waking up. Smiling up at her sleepily, I ask, "What time is it?" Echo "Sorry. I early, but have be the school by I thought you might want to breakfast for everyone." It takes me a moment understand that is trying to help me impress parents. Even at seven in the morning on Saturday, I'm all for it. "Of course. Just give me a minute to wake up." says, grinning, "but I'm wait for you the If dad me in he'll freak." She scampers off a second later and leaves me gather my thoughts. The sun is slowly making its way well I stretch and back my blankets. I put time into making my home, I it morning. few minutes later, I'm into the kitchen in search Echo. In the dim, take much notice of what Echo was wearing she came in. I'm still half asleep, I'm awake enough to appreciate her low slung cotton pajama pants and tank top. this close, it's nearly impossible not to slip arms around her waist. what're we making?" I ask, needing a distraction. Echo spinning to face with a laugh. you're quiet!" She her head and I can the in pretends nothing's wrong
 to make sure Echo knew I wasn't pUt off by her Wild lIttLe sIsTers. honeStly, there were pLEnty Of dinners with my sisters That wErE Just AS bAd.

By tHe time wE MaKE It bAcK tO EcHo'S HoUse, evEryOne is exHausted. AftEr fInAls last week, tHE tRip to the esTatE, the flight, anD thE stresS oF meETing ECho'S famiLy, as muCH as I woUld have liKeD To have STayed up WITh echo, i crash five minutes AFtER lying down in thE guest RoOM. I FEEl lIke i've just barElY closED my eyes WHeN SOMeoNE's hand is on my sHoulder.

"MalaCHi," ECho whiSpErs.

"hMm?" I mumBle as i tRY to Force my eyes Open. her fingerS slide UP to my faCE and sudDenly I HavE no ProbLEm WaKinG uP. smiLInG up AT heR sleepilY, I AsK, "What Time IS IT?"

echo GriMaceS. "SorrY. I know it's earlY, buT I haVE to Be at tHe schOol bY nIne anD I thouGht yoU mIght want to help mE makE breakfasT foR eVerYoNe."

It tAKes me a MomEnt To underStand thAT EcHo IS TRyIng to help me impress HeR PArEnts. Even At seveN In ThE Morning oN a satUrdaY, i'M all fOr it. "oF cOurse. JusT give mE A mInUte to waKe Up."

"Okay," ecHo sAys, GrinnINg, "buT I'm gonNa wait foR you iN The kitchen. If my DAd sees me in herE He'LL FrEAk."

ShE scAmpers off a sEconD LateR and LEaVes ME to gaTher mY tHOuGHts. The sun is slowly maKiNg its wAy up aS well as I stretCh and toss bACK My blankeTs. I nEVeR Put much time intO makiNg my bed at hOMe, but I ceRtainLy don't skIp it this mORNing. A few MinUteS laTer, i'M ShUffling into thE KItchEn In searcH of echo. In tHe dIm, eArlY moRnIng haze, I dIdn't take MuCh NoTiCe oF what eCho was weArIng WhEn sHe camE In. I'm stIll haLf asLeEp, BUt I'M awake eNOuGH To apPrEcIate Her LoW slunG cotTOn pAjama paNts and snuG taNK top. haViNg her thIs close, it's neaRlY impossiblE nOt tO slip mY ARms arounD her waist.

"So, what're we makiNG?" I ask, neEdiNg a diStraCtion.

Echo JumPs, spinNinG Around To face Me witH a LauGH. "man, yoU'RE qUieT!" SHe shakes heR HEad And smIlEs, buT I can heAr the tremor in her voICe. SHe pretends notHinG's wrONG
 to make sure Echo knew Iwasn't put  offbyher  w ildlitt le sisters. Ho n estl y, there were plenty o f din ne r s wi t hmy si sters t h at w ere  j us t a sb ad .

By  th e timewe make it  ba ck  to Echo's h o us e, everyon e i s exhausted.  Af ter fi na lsl ast w eek , the  tript o theestate, t he flight ,  and th e st ress  of meeting Echo' s  f a mily, as muchas I w ou l dh a velik ed to have  s tayed up with Ec h o ,  Ic rash five min utes afterl yin g down  i n t h e gues t roo m. I f eel like I' ve j ust barel y clos e d my ey e s whensomeon e's  ha nd i s  o nmysh o uld e r. 

" M ala chi," Ec ho  w hispe rs." H m m?"I m umbl e asI try to forc e m y ey e s o pen.Her f inge rs  slid e up t o myfa ce and suddenly  I h ave no pr obl em  wa ki ng up .  Smili ngupat hersleepil y , I  a s k ,  " What time is it?"
E c h ogrimaces . "Sor r y.  I know it' sear ly,b u t I h avet obe at th e scho o lby  nine a nd  I tho ug htyou  migh t  wan t to h elp me m ake b r eakfast for ev e ryone."

It t a ke s me a mo men t to unders tand that  Ech o  i s t r yingto he lp me impress her parents .Even a t sev en in the mor ning on aS a t urday, I 'm a l lf or it. "Of cou rse.Just givem e a minu te to  wake up ."

"Okay , "  Echo sa ys,  gr inn ing , "b ut I'm gonnaw a it f or  you in  th e kitch en.  If  my  da dsees me i n here h e' ll  f re ak. "

Sh e  scamper soff  a  se condl ater a nd le aves  m et o g ather m y  t h o ught s.  T he s unis  slow ly m a kin g its w ay up aswel l  asIst retch a nd toss backmy  blankets.  I  ne ver pu t much tim e into making my bed at home, b utI cer tain ly don'tski p it t his mornin g. A f ew mi nu tes l ater, I 'm  sh uf fling into t hekitch en  insearchof Echo. In the di m , e arly morninghaz e, I d id n't ta k e m uc h  no t i ce of what Echo  was weari ng wh en she cam e  in .I'm sti ll half  asle e p, butI'm awake  enough t oappr e c iat e her lowslung co tton paja m a pan t sand s nug  tankto p.Havin g hert his  clos e, it' snearly  impo ss ible not  to slip my arms around  her w aist. 

" So, what' rew e m aking?" I  ask , needinga d ist racti on. 
Echo  jum p s,  sp i nning  aro u nd to fac e  m e w i t ha laugh. "M a n ,  yo u'requi e t!" Sh e sh akes her head and smiles, but Icanh e arthe trem or  in her voice.  Sh ep r etends n ot hing's wron g
 to_make sure_Echo knew I wasn't_put off_by_her wild_little_sisters. Honestly, there_were plenty of_dinners with my sisters_that were just_as_bad.

By the time we make it back to Echo's house, everyone is exhausted. After_finals_last week,_the_trip_to the estate, the flight,_and the stress of meeting_Echo's family,_as much as I would have liked to_have_stayed up with_Echo, I crash five minutes after lying down in_the guest room. I feel like_I've just barely_closed_my_eyes when someone's hand_is on my shoulder.

"Malachi," Echo whispers.

"Hmm?"_I mumble as I try to_force my eyes open. Her fingers slide_up to my face and suddenly_I have no problem waking_up. Smiling_up at her sleepily, I_ask, "What time_is it?"

Echo_grimaces. "Sorry. I_know it's early, but I have_to be at_the school by nine and I_thought_you might want_to_help_me make_breakfast for everyone."

It_takes_me a_moment_to understand that Echo is trying_to_help me impress her parents. Even at_seven in the morning_on_a Saturday, I'm all_for it. "Of course. Just_give me a minute to wake_up."

"Okay," Echo_says, grinning,_"but I'm gonna wait for you in the kitchen. If my_dad sees me in here he'll_freak."

She scampers off a_second later_and_leaves me to_gather_my thoughts._The sun is slowly making its way_up as_well as I stretch and toss_back my blankets. I_never_put much time into making my_bed at home, but I certainly_don't skip it this morning._A_few_minutes later, I'm shuffling into_the kitchen in search of Echo._In the dim,_early morning haze, I didn't take much_notice_of what Echo was wearing when_she_came in. I'm still half asleep,_but_I'm_awake enough to appreciate her_low slung cotton pajama pants and_snug tank top. Having her this close, it's nearly_impossible not to_slip my arms around her_waist.

"So,_what're_we making?" I ask, needing a distraction.

Echo jumps, spinning around_to face_me with a_laugh. "Man, you're quiet!" She shakes her head and smiles,_but I can hear the tremor in_her voice. She pretends nothing's wrong