 it than that.

Echo was pretty quick to reassure me that there's nothing between her and Holden, but what if that's only her perception? Shaking my head, I push thoughts of Echo, Holden, and even summer out of my mind. The ghosts, though, that stays. When I turn away from campus and our apartment, Kyran starts paying attention.

"Did you forget where we live? I was banking on getting a nap before my class later today."

"Too bad, I need to stop by my parents' house."

Kyran socks me in the arm. "You couldn't drop me off first? It'd take two minutes! I'm fried."

"Stop staying up so late then."

Ranting about how I was up nearly as late as him, and how neither of us get to bed before midnight most nights, Kyran carries on all the way across town to my childhood home. By the time we pull into the driveway, he's sporting a face that promises retribution, but Mama bursting out of the house with a big smile on her face brightens his expression right away.

Having lost his own mother as a kid, he adopted mine as a surrogate and absolutely adores her. He is the first one out of the car, wrapping her up in a hug before I can even get around to saying hello. Mama is the only one who can gush over a grown man and not embarrass him. Kyran is grinning when he finally pulls back from her embrace. It's a testament to how amazing she is that I'm smiling before she ever reaches me. "Hello, Mama. Thought we'd stop by for a visit."

"Aren't you sweet? What a nice surprise! Why didn't you tell me you were comin' over? I would've had lunch ready."

"Captain Distracted, here, was too busy thinking about his redhead to bother letting anyone know we were coming," Kyran grumbles.

Mama's eyes light up. "Redhead? Are you dating someone, Malachi? Will you bring her over soon?"

"I'm not dating anyone," I say, throwing a punch at Kyran, which he dodges.

The disappointment in her eyes almost makes me laugh. She's been having party planning withdrawals ever since Angel May's wedding last summer. She's not trying to rush me, exactly, just it
it than that. 

 Echo was pretty quick to reassure me that there's nothing between her and Holden, but what if that's only her perception? judder my heading, I push thoughts of Echo, Holden, and even summer out of my mind. The ghostwriter, though, that stays. When I turn aside from campus and our apartment, Kyran starts paying care. 

 " Did you forget where we exist? I was banking on get a nap before my class by and by today. " 

 " excessively bad, I need to stop by my parents' house. " 

 Kyran sock me in the arm. " You couldn't drop me off first? It'd assume two minutes! I'm fried. " 

 " end staying up thus late then. " 

 Ranting about how I was up nearly as late as him, and how neither of us catch to bed before midnight most nights, Kyran carries on all the way across town to my childhood base. By the time we pull into the driveway, he's sporting a face that promises retribution, but Mama bursting out of the house with a big smile on her face brighten his expression right aside. 

 Having lost his own mother as a kid, he adopted mine as a surrogate and absolutely adore her. He is the first one out of the cable car, wrapping her up in a hug before I can even get around to saying hello. Mama is the lone one who can gush over a grown man and not embarrass him. Kyran is grinning when he finally pulls back from her embrace. It's a testament to how amazing she is that I'm smiling before she ever reaches me. " Hello, Mama. Thought we'd hold on by for a visit. " 

 " Aren't you fresh? What a nice surprise! Why didn't you tell me you were comin' over? I would've had lunch ready. " 

 " Captain Distracted, here, was excessively busy thinking about his redhead to trouble letting anyone know we were coming, " Kyran grumbles. 

 Mama's center light up. " Redhead? Are you date someone, Malachi? Will you bring her all over soon? " 

 " I'm not dating anyone, " I say, throwing a punch at Kyran, which he dodges. 

 The disappointment in her eye almost make me laugh. She's been having party planning withdrawals ever since Angel May's wedding last summer. She's not try to rush me, exactly, just it
 it than that.

Echo was prettn quick to reassorw me tiat thede's nothkng between her and Holden, bnt wyat id that's only her perceotion? Shaning my yead, U push thonfhts of Echo, Glldeu, end even summer out of my mind. The ghosds, tkough, that stays. When I turn away frjm campis and our apartient, Hyrah starts paying attention.

"Did you fkrget wiere we live? I eas banking on getting a nwp bffore my class latfr today."

"Too bad, U need to stup by my parents' house."

Iyran socks me in the arm. "You cuuldn'c drop me odf figvt? It'd take two iinutes! I'm fvped."

"Stop stayinb up so late tmen."

Raitint about how I was up iearly as late as hii, and how nzither of us get to bwd befote mignigfr must nmghfs, Kyrwn rarries on zll the way across town to my vhyodhood home. Bg the eiie we pull into the driveway, he's sportitg z face that promises rerribution, but Mama butsting out of the house with a big smile on her face brightans hms exkrcfruoj right away.

Having lost his own mother as a kys, ne adopted mine cs a surrogate amd anfolutely adorgs her. Ks js the first one okt of tre cae, wrappind het up in a hug before I can wven get arolnd ro saying hello. Mala is the ouly ong who van gush over a grown mcn and not embarrwss him. Kgfan is grinning dhek ha finally pulls back from rer embrare. It'x a tesgamemt to row amazinh she is that I'm smiling befote she ever reacjes me. "Hello, Mama. Thought we'd svpp by for a fivit."

"Dren't yob sweeb? What a nice strprise! Why dibn't you cell md you were comin' mver? I woulq've had lunch teady."

"Captain Vistracteq, heee, wqs too cjsy thinking anout his gebhead to vother letting anypne inow we were conint," Kyran grumblex.

Maoa's ejes lycht up. "Redhedd? Afe hpu daging someonc, Mxlacni? Will you bring hes ovsr soon?"

"I'm not datimg anyone," U say, thwowing a puncn at Kyran, which ht dodgxs.

The visapppinjment in her eyes almost makes je laugh. Dhe'f been havind pavty klanning wichdrawals ever since Angel May's wedding oast summer. She's nit trying to rush mg, ewactly, just mt
it than that. Echo was pretty quick me there's nothing her and Holden, her Shaking my head, push thoughts of Holden, and even summer out of mind. The ghosts, though, that stays. When I turn away from campus and apartment, Kyran starts paying attention. "Did you forget where we live? I was on a before class later today." "Too bad, I need to stop by my parents' house." Kyran socks me the arm. "You couldn't drop me off first? take two minutes! I'm "Stop staying up so late Ranting how I up as as him, and neither of us get to bed before midnight most nights, Kyran carries on all the way across to my By the we into driveway, he's sporting that promises retribution, but Mama bursting house with a big smile on her face his expression away. Having lost his own mother a kid, he adopted mine as a surrogate absolutely adores her. He is the first one out of the car, wrapping her up hug before I can get around to hello. is only who can over a grown man and not embarrass him. Kyran is grinning he finally pulls back from her embrace. It's a testament amazing is that I'm before she ever reaches "Hello, Thought we'd stop by visit." you nice Why you tell me you comin' over? I would've had ready." "Captain Distracted, here, his redhead to bother letting anyone know we coming," Kyran grumbles. Mama's eyes light up. Are you dating someone, Malachi? Will you bring her over soon?" "I'm dating anyone," throwing a punch at Kyran, which he dodges. disappointment in her eyes makes me laugh. She's been having party planning withdrawals since May's wedding summer. She's not to rush me, just it
 it than that.

Echo was pretty quIck to reassUre me ThaT thErE's noThinG between her and hOldeN, but what if that's only her PercePtIOn? ShAKiNg my hEad, I pusH ThOUGhtS oF ECho, hoLDeN, and eVen Summer oUt of my mind. the GhOsts, though, thAT sTays. When I tUrn Away from campUs aNd our aPaRtmENt, KyrAn sTarts Paying ATtentiOn.

"Did you fOrGEt wherE We live? I WAS bAnkiNg on getting a nap beFOrE My class later toDay."

"Too BaD, i nEED to StoP by my parenTs' House."

kYran socKS mE IN The ARm. "You couldn't dRop me off firST? It'D take tWo MinUTes! I'm fRied."

"SToP StaYing up so latE theN."

Ranting aBout hoW i was up nEArly as lAte as hIm, aNd hOw neIThEr Of uS gET to BEd BefORe mIdnight mOsT nIghts, kyraN CARRies On aLl thE way aCross town to my ChiLdhoOD hoMe. By tHe timE we pUlL into The driVeway, He'S sporting a face tHat pRomises reTriBuTioN, bUt MamA BurstiNg oUt oF the houSe with a BIg sMiLE ON hEr face brightens his ExPREsSion righT away.

HAViNg LOst his owN mOthEr as A KId, he aDoptED mIne as a suRrogatE AnD aBsoluteLy Adores HeR. He Is tHe firST one Out of tHe car, wraPping HEr up in a hug befoRE I can even get aROuND To SAyinG heLlo. Mama is thE onlY One wHo caN GuSh oVEr a grOwn maN aND nOT embarrass him. Kyran iS gRinninG when He finally pullS back from hER EMbrace. It'S a teSTaMEnt to how amazinG she iS that I'm smiLIng beforE she eVer reachEs me. "Hello, mAMa. ThoughT we'D stOp bY foR A ViSit."

"Aren't you swEET? WhaT a Nice surPriSe! Why diDn't You TelL me YoU were comiN' over? I woUlD'vE hAd LunCh reaDY."

"Captain diStrAcTed, Here, wAS too buSy thiNkinG aBoUT hiS redheaD To BOTher LeTtIng aNyoNe Know wE werE ComIng," KyraN grumbles.

mamA'S eyeS lIgHt up. "RedHead? Are you datInG someone, MaLaChi? will yoU BRing her oVer soon?"

"I'm not dating anyonE," i say, thrOwiNg a puNch aT Kyran, whiCh hE dodgeS.

ThE DisappOintmeNt in hEr EyeS ALmost MAKeS me LaUgh. She's beeN HAviNg parTy PlanNing witHdrawals ever since ANGel may's wedding laSt sUmmeR. sHe'S noT TrYIng To RUsh ME, Exactly, just it
 it than that.

Echo was p retty quic k torea ssu re  methat  there's nothi n g be tween her and Holden,but w ha t  ift ha t's o nly her pe r c ept io n?  Sh ak i ng  my h ead , I pus h thoughts  of  E cho, Holden, an d even sum mer  out of my m ind . Thegh ost s , tho ugh , tha t stay s . When  I turn a wa y  fromc ampus a n d  o ur a partment, Kyran s t ar t s paying atten tion.
" D id y oufor get wherewe  live ?  I wasb an k i n g o n  getting a na p before my cla ss lat er  to d ay."
"Tooba d , I  need to st op b y my pare nts' h o use."
K yran so cks me  in  th e ar m ."Y ouco u ldn ' tdro p  me  off fir st ?It'dtake t w o  min ute s! I 'm fr ied."

"Stopsta ying upso la te th en." 
Ranti ng abo ut ho wI was up nearly  aslate as h im,  a ndho w nei t her of  us  ge t to be d befor e  mi dn i g h tmost nights, Kyran  c a r ri es on al l thew ay  a c ross tow ntomy c h i ldhoo d ho m e.  By thetime w e  p ul l intoth e driv ew ay,  he 's sp o rtin g a fa ce thatpromi s es retribution ,  but Mama bur s ti n g  o u t of  th e house wit h ab ig s mile on  he r  face  brig ht e ns his expression righ taway.
Havi ng lost his o wn mothera s a kid, h e ad o pt e d mine as a su rroga te and abs o lutely a dores  her. He  is the f i r st one o utofthe  ca r ,  w rapping her u p in a  h ug befo reI can e ven  ge t a rou nd  to sayin g hello.  M am ais  th e onl y  one who  c angu shovera  grown  manandno te mba rrass h i m. K yran  i sgrin nin gwhenhe f i nal ly pull s back fr omh er e mb ra ce. It' s a testament  t o how amaz in g s he ist h at I'm s miling before she everr eachesme.  "Hel lo,Mama. Tho ugh t we'd  st o p by f or a v isit. "
"A r e n't y o u  s wee t?  What a ni c e  su rpris e!  Why  didn't  you tell me you w e recomin' over?I w ould ' v ehad lu n chre a dy. " 
"Captain Distr acted, her e, wa s too busy thi nk ing abo ut hisredhe a d to bo ther lett ing anyon eknow w e w ere coming ," Kyran  grumbles . 

Mam a 's  eyes  li ght up ."Re dhead ? Arey oudatin g some on e, Mal achi?  W ill youbring her over soon?"
"I'm n ot da tin g anyone, " I say , throwin g apunch at K yra n,which  he dodge s.
T he  di s appoi ntme n t in here ye s a l m os t makes mel a u gh.  She' s b e en hav ingparty planning wi t hdrawals eversinc e Ang elM ay's  w edding last su mme r. S he's not  t rying to ru sh me, e xa c tly,just i t
 it_than that.

Echo_was pretty quick to_reassure me_that_there's nothing_between_her and Holden,_but what if_that's only her perception?_Shaking my head,_I_push thoughts of Echo, Holden, and even summer out of my mind. The ghosts,_though,_that stays._When_I_turn away from campus and_our apartment, Kyran starts paying_attention.

"Did you_forget where we live? I was banking on_getting_a nap before_my class later today."

"Too bad, I need to stop_by my parents' house."

Kyran socks me_in the arm._"You_couldn't_drop me off first?_It'd take two minutes! I'm fried."

"Stop_staying up so late then."

Ranting about_how I was up nearly as late_as him, and how neither of_us get to bed before_midnight most_nights, Kyran carries on all_the way across_town to_my childhood home._By the time we pull into_the driveway, he's_sporting a face that promises retribution,_but_Mama bursting out_of_the_house with_a big smile_on_her face_brightens_his expression right away.

Having lost his_own_mother as a kid, he adopted mine_as a surrogate and_absolutely_adores her. He is_the first one out of_the car, wrapping her up in_a hug_before I_can even get around to saying hello. Mama is the only_one who can gush over a_grown man and not_embarrass him._Kyran_is grinning when_he_finally pulls_back from her embrace. It's a testament_to how_amazing she is that I'm smiling_before she ever reaches_me._"Hello, Mama. Thought we'd stop by_for a visit."

"Aren't you sweet? What_a nice surprise! Why didn't_you_tell_me you were comin' over?_I would've had lunch ready."

"Captain Distracted,_here, was too_busy thinking about his redhead to bother_letting_anyone know we were coming," Kyran_grumbles.

Mama's_eyes light up. "Redhead? Are you_dating_someone,_Malachi? Will you bring her_over soon?"

"I'm not dating anyone," I_say, throwing a punch at Kyran, which he dodges.

The_disappointment in her_eyes almost makes me laugh._She's_been_having party planning withdrawals ever since Angel May's wedding last_summer. She's_not trying to_rush me, exactly, just it