 arms and stare him down. "Yeah, Malachi, how many girls have you kissed?"

The panic that springs onto his face instantly makes me feel guilty. We were all just teasing, but that's clearly not a question he wants to answer, not in front of my sisters, at least. Feeling responsible for this, I effectively distract the twins when I ask if they want popcorn to eat while we watch the end of the movie. Both girls squeal in delight and beg for homemade popcorn with real butter instead of the microwave variety. Given that it'll take longer, I'm quick to agree.

"All right, you two be good. I'll be back with the popcorn in a few." I wiggle my way out from between them and start for the kitchen. Making it only as far as the hallway, I'm pulled to a stop when Malachi grabs my hand. When I turn to look at him, the panic in his eyes has softened, but it's still there, mixed with something else now.

"Echo, I..."

Pulling him away from the den, I say, "Come help me with the popcorn."

Whatever he has to say, I'm not sure I want the twins to hear it. A sinking feeling hits me as I wonder why asking about girls he's kissed sent him off the rails. Do I want to know? My hands start to shake as I grab out the big soup pot and pour oil into the bottom. Malachi stands back, and from the corner of my eye I see him drag his hands down his face. My stomach drops into my toes.

How many girls has he kissed...or is it more than that? He knows I've never kissed a guy, never had a boyfriend, never even been on a real date. Being a third wheel doesn't count. Surely Malachi's made the connection that I've never had sex either. I never really stopped to consider whether he has or not, or with how many people. Pressing my hand to my stomach, I try to keep it from churning.

Is that what freaked him out? Has he slept with someone before? Has he slept with a lot of women? It's not my place to judge. It's really none of my business. We don't even know each other that well yet. But if...would I want to become just another notch on someone's bedpost? If that's how Mal
arms and stare him down. " Yeah, Malachi, how many girls have you kissed? " 

 The panic that bounce onto his grimace instantly makes me feel guilty. We were all precisely teasing, but that's clearly not a motion he want to answer, not in battlefront of my sisters, at least. Feeling creditworthy for this, I effectively distract the twins when I ask if they desire popcorn to eat while we watch the goal of the movie. Both girls squeal in joy and beg for homemade popcorn with real butter instead of the microwave diverseness. Given that it'll take longer, I'm flying to agree. 

 " wholly right, you two be adept. I'll be back with the popcorn in a few. " I wiggle my way out from between them and begin for the kitchen. Making it only as far as the hallway, I'm pulled to a stop when Malachi grabs my hand. When I turn to look at him, the panic in his eyes has softened, but it's still there, mixed with something else now. 

 " Echo, I... " 

 Pulling him away from the den, I state, " Come help me with the popcorn. " 

 Whatever he have to suppose, I'm not sure I want the twins to hear it. A sinking feeling hits me as I wonder why ask about girls he's kissed sent him off the rails. Do I want to know? My hand start to shake as I grab out the big soup potentiometer and pour petroleum into the bottom. Malachi stands back, and from the corner of my eye I see him dredge his hands down his face. My stomach drops into my toes. 

 How many girls has he kissed... or is it more than that? He knows I've never kiss a guy, never had a boyfriend, never even been on a substantial date. Being a third wheel doesn't count. Surely Malachi's make the connection that I've never had sexual activity either. I never really stopped to consider whether he has or not, or with how many multitude. Pressing my hand to my stomach, I try to keep it from churn. 

 Is that what freaked him out? Has he slept with someone before? Has he slept with a lot of women? It's not my place to judge. It's really none of my commercial enterprise. We don't even know each other that well however. But if... would I want to become just another pass on someone's bedpost? If that's how Mal
 arls and stare him down. "Yexh, Malachi, how many gicls havs you kirsed?"

The panic that springs oito yis fqce instantly makes me feel guipty. We wwre ell just teasing, but thab'f clswrly iot a question me wants to answer, not in ffout of my sisters, at least. Feeling refponsibke for this, I efsectpvqly spsuract the twins when I ask if theg want kopcorn to eat whike we watch the end of the movle. Both girls squewl in deligyt age beg for hooemade popbmrn with rgal butter instead of the microwxve vcriety. Giveb rhah it'll take oongeg, I'm quick to agree.

"Aln right, you two be gopd. M'll ve back with the popcmrn in a few." I wigdle my waf kut from between rhwm ang stdrt wir ghe kmtcgen. Maninj it only aa far as thw hallway, I'm pulled tj a stop when Jalachy drabs my hand. When I turn to look at hik, tge panic in his eyes haw softened, but it's stlll there, mixed with something else now.

"Echo, I..."

Pulling him afay fcoo tkc awn, I say, "Come help me with the popcorn."

Whatever rs nax to say, I'm nob sure I want the ywlnx to hear it. A sinkiuf reeling hits me as I wondgr why asking afout girls he's kissed sent him iff the railf. Do I want to know? My hands scart tp shale as I grab out the biy soup pot and pokr oil infu the bottom. Malxchp stdnds back, and from the corger of my eye I see fim crag hys hands dlwn hlv face. My stomach frops itto my toed.

How many girls has he kissed...or is it more thsn thdt? He knjws I'ye never kissed a guy, never hcd a boyyriend, never eveh been mn a real dwte. Being a tvlrd wheel doxsn't coune. Sueely Malachk'r made the conmection tkct I've necer had sex either. I vsver really sto'ked to consider whrthdr re hes or tot, or with vow oanh peopue. Pressing oy hsnd to my stomach, I dry fo keep it from chirking.

Is thqt what sreaked him oit? Has he slept wiuh somxone bxfore? Nas he slept with a lot of women? Jt's not mj pjace to judgq. It'w really nonz of my business. We don't even know each ither that well ygt. But if...would I want uo become jusv anotrer notch on someone's bedpost? If that's how Mal
arms and stare him down. "Yeah, Malachi, girls you kissed?" panic that springs me guilty. We were just teasing, but clearly not a question he wants answer, not in front of my sisters, at least. Feeling responsible for this, effectively distract the twins when I ask if they want popcorn to eat we the of movie. Both girls squeal in delight and beg for homemade popcorn with real butter instead of microwave variety. Given that it'll take longer, I'm to agree. "All right, two be good. I'll be with popcorn in few." wiggle way out from them and start for the kitchen. Making it only as far as the hallway, I'm pulled to stop when my hand. I to at him, the his eyes has softened, but it's with something else now. "Echo, I..." Pulling him from the I say, "Come help me with popcorn." Whatever he has to say, I'm not I want the twins to hear it. A sinking feeling hits me as I wonder about girls he's kissed him off the Do want know? hands start shake as I grab out the big soup pot and pour into the bottom. Malachi stands back, and from the corner eye see him drag hands down his face. stomach into my toes. How has kissed...or than He I've never kissed a never had a boyfriend, never been on a real doesn't count. Surely Malachi's made the connection that never had sex either. I never really to consider whether he has or not, or with how many people. my hand stomach, I try to keep it from churning. that what freaked him Has he slept with someone before? Has he slept a of women? not my place judge. It's really of my business. even know other well I want to become just another on bedpost? If that's how Mal
 arms and stare him down. "Yeah, MaLachi, how maNy girLs hAve YoU kisSed?"

THe panic that sprINgs oNto his face instantly makEs me fEeL GuilTY. WE were All just TEaSINg, bUt ThAt's ClEArLy not A quEstion hE wants to anSweR, nOt in front of mY SiSters, at leaSt. FEeling responSibLe for tHiS, I eFFectiVelY distRact thE Twins wHen I ask if ThEY want pOPcorn to EAT wHile We watch the end of thE MoVIe. Both girls squEal in dElIGhT ANd bEg fOr homemade PoPcorn WIth real BUtTER InsTEad of the microWave variety. gIveN that iT'lL taKE longeR, I'm quIcK To aGree.

"All righT, you Two be good. i'll be bACk with tHE popcorN in a feW." I wIggLe my WAy OuT frOm BEtwEEn TheM And Start for ThE kItcheN. MakING IT onlY as Far aS the hAllway, I'm pulleD to A stoP WheN MalaChi grAbs mY hAnd. WhEn I turN to loOk At him, the panic in His eYes has sofTenEd, But It'S stilL There, mIxeD wiTh sometHing elsE Now.

"ecHO, i..."

puLling him away from thE dEN, i sAy, "Come heLp me wiTH tHe POpcorn."

WhAtEveR he hAS To say, i'm noT SuRe I want tHe twinS To HeAr it. A siNkIng feeLiNg hIts Me as I WOndeR why asKing abouT girlS He's kissed sent hIM off the rails. DO i wANT tO Know? my hAnds start to ShakE As I gRab oUT tHe bIG soup Pot anD pOUr OIl into the bottom. MalaChI standS back, And from the corNer of my eye i SEE him drag His hANdS Down his face. My sTomacH drops into MY toes.

How Many gIrls has hE kissed...or IS It more thAn tHat? he kNowS i'Ve Never kissed a gUY, NeveR hAd a boyfRieNd, never EveN beEn oN a rEaL date. BeinG a third wHeEl DoEsN't cOunt. SURely MalaChI's mAdE thE connECtion tHat I'vE nevEr HaD Sex Either. I NEvER RealLy StOppeD to CoNsideR wheTHer He has or Not, or with How MAny pEoPlE. PressiNg my hand to my sToMach, I try to KeEp iT from cHURning.

Is tHat what freaked him out? Has HE slept wIth SomeoNe beFore? Has he SlePt with A loT Of womeN? It's noT my plAcE to JUDge. It'S REaLly NoNe of my busiNESs. WE don't EvEn knOw each oTher that well yet. But IF...woUld I want to becOme Just ANOtHer NOtCH on SoMEonE'S Bedpost? If that's hOw Mal
 arms and stare him down."Yeah, Mal achi,  ho w m an y gi rlshave you kisse d ?"
The panic that springs  onto  h i s fa c einsta ntly ma k es m e f ee lgui lt y .We we reall jus t teasing,  bu tthat's clear l ynot a ques tio n he wants t o a nswer,  n oti n fro ntof my  siste r s, atleast. Fe el i ng res p onsible f or  thi s, I effectivelyd is t ract the twins  whenIa sk i f t hey  want popc or n toe at whil e  w e w atc h  the end of t he movie. B o thgirlssq uea l  in de light  a n d b eg for home made  popcornwith r e al butt e r inste ad ofthe  mi crow a ve  v ari et y . G i ve n t h atit'll ta ke  l onger , I' m q u icktoagre e.

" All right, yo u t wo b e  go od. I 'll b e ba ck  with  the p opcor nin a few." I wi ggle  my way o utfr ombe tween them a ndsta rt forthe kit c hen .M a k in g it only as far a st h ehallway,  I'm p u ll ed to a sto pwhe n Ma l a chi g rabs my  hand. W hen It ur nto look  a t him,  t hepan ic in hiseyes h as softe ned,b ut it's stillt here, mixed w i th s om e thin g e lse now.

" Echo ,  I.. ."
P ul lin g  himawayfr o mt he den, I say, "Com ehelp m e wit h the popcorn ."

Whatev e r he has t o sa y ,I 'm not sure Iwantthe twinst o hear i t. Asinkingfeeling h i t s me asI w ond erwhy a sk ing about gir l s  he' skissedsen t him o ffthe  ra ils .Do I want  to know ?My  h an dsstart to shake  a s I  g rab  outt he big  soup  pot  a nd pou r oil i n to t he b ot to m. M ala ch i sta ndsb ack , and f rom the c orn e r of  m yeye I s ee him drag h is  hands dow nhis  face. M y stomac h drops into my toes.
H ow many  gi rls h as h e kissed. ..o r is i t m o re tha n that ? Hekn ows I 've n e v er  ki ss ed a guy,n e ver  hadaboyf riend,never even been on a r eal date. Bei nga th i r dwhe e ld oes n' t  co u n t. Surely Malac hi's madeth e  c onnectiont hat  I 've nev er hadsex e i ther. I  never re ally stop pe d to c ons ider wheth er he ha s or not, or wi t hhow m any  peopl e.  Pr essin g my h a ndto my  stoma ch , I tr y toke ep it fr om churning.

Is that w hat fr eaked  hi m out? Ha s h e  sl ept withsome one before ? H ashe sl ept witha lo t  o f w o men?It's not my pl a ce  to j ud ge. It's re a l l y n one o f m y  busin ess.  We don't even kn o w each other t hatw e llyet .  But  i f...would I wa ntto b ecome ju st  another no tch on s om e one's  bedpo st? If  that's h ow Mal
 arms_and stare_him down. "Yeah, Malachi,_how many_girls_have you_kissed?"

The_panic that springs_onto his face_instantly makes me feel_guilty. We were_all_just teasing, but that's clearly not a question he wants to answer, not in_front_of my_sisters,_at_least. Feeling responsible for this,_I effectively distract the twins_when I_ask if they want popcorn to eat while_we_watch the end_of the movie. Both girls squeal in delight and_beg for homemade popcorn with real_butter instead of_the_microwave_variety. Given that it'll_take longer, I'm quick to agree.

"All_right, you two be good. I'll_be back with the popcorn in a_few." I wiggle my way out_from between them and start_for the_kitchen. Making it only as_far as the_hallway, I'm_pulled to a_stop when Malachi grabs my hand._When I turn_to look at him, the panic_in_his eyes has_softened,_but_it's still_there, mixed with_something_else now.

"Echo,_I..."

Pulling_him away from the den, I_say,_"Come help me with the popcorn."

Whatever he_has to say, I'm_not_sure I want the_twins to hear it. A_sinking feeling hits me as I_wonder why_asking about_girls he's kissed sent him off the rails. Do I want_to know? My hands start to_shake as I grab_out the_big_soup pot and_pour_oil into_the bottom. Malachi stands back, and from_the corner_of my eye I see him_drag his hands down_his_face. My stomach drops into my_toes.

How many girls has he kissed...or_is it more than that?_He_knows_I've never kissed a guy,_never had a boyfriend, never even_been on a_real date. Being a third wheel doesn't_count._Surely Malachi's made the connection that_I've_never had sex either. I never_really_stopped_to consider whether he has_or not, or with how many_people. Pressing my hand to my stomach, I try_to keep it_from churning.

Is that what freaked_him_out?_Has he slept with someone before? Has he slept with_a lot_of women? It's_not my place to judge. It's really none of my_business. We don't even know each other_that well yet. But if...would I want to become just another_notch on someone's bedpost? If that's how Mal