"Oh, it's okay," I say quickly, letting go of the figurine, and I reassure him that he can touch anything of mine he wants. I want to be kind and open to him, even if I didn't mean it quite that way."
He pauses, surprised by my words, and a strange expression crosses his face. I realize my comment might have sounded different than intended, but I start to think that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing after all."