Chapter 24: The Sky

"Yes," Colt said.

He said it at once, with no pause, and then he said it again as if he wanted to be sure it was heard.

"Yes, Della. I'll stay."

"Then ask me the other thing."

"What other thing?"

I held the ring out in my open palm, and the last of the sun lay on the gold.

"Ask if you may put it on me."

He took it with his good hand, and the hand shook.

"May I?"

"Yes."

He slid it over my knuckle, slowly, the same knuckle I had dragged it off in the sun five weeks before.

It fit, and neither of us said anything.

My father had taken Junie down to the boat, with a bottle, a blanket and a pair of earplugs for himself.

The dock house was empty and the porch light was on.

I led Colt through the kitchen by his good hand, and he followed me without a word.

My old room was at the back, under the eaves, with a narrow bed and a window over the creek.

I shut the door.

I turned around and found him standing very close, with his hands held away from his sides.

"You can touch me," I said.

"Term five."

"Term five is dead. I killed it myself."

"Is this a decision?" he said, and his mouth almost smiled.

"It's mine. Yours is to say yes."

"Yes."

He put his good hand against my face, and I leaned into it, and I had not known until then how long I had been cold.

He kissed me.

It was slow for about as long as it took us both to remember that we did not have to be slow.

Then my back was against the door and his hand was in my hair, and I had my fingers in his shirt, pulling.

"Della," he said against my mouth. "Della."

"Say it."

"Please."

"Please what?"

"Please let me take this off you."

He had my sweater up over my ribs before I could answer, and I laughed into his shoulder.

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