My hands are sweaty. I don’t even know why—they’re always bloody or busted up, but sweaty? That’s new. Del’s sitting next to me, kicking gravel with her boots like it owes her something. Sun’s setting behind her and it hits her hair in this way that makes her look… golden. Like a person from a dream I don’t wanna wake up from.

I’ve been trying to say something for, like, ten minutes. Maybe more. My tongue keeps sticking to the roof of my mouth like I forgot how to be a human being.

“Del,” I finally say, and she looks up. Just that. Just looks at me. And everything I wanted to say—every damn word—gets stuck again.

She raises an eyebrow. “What?”

I rub the back of my neck. My heart’s going a hundred miles an hour. “You ever… I mean, I was just thinking, you and me… we’ve been doing this—this thing—together. And I like it. I like you.”

Del blinks. Then squints like she’s trying to read me. I keep going before I chicken out.

“What I mean is… I never done this before. But if I was gonna do it with anyone, I’d wanna do it with you. So… do you wanna be my girlfriend?”