Page 50 of Ring Rust

“His hands didn’t go down my pants.”

“Okay, but you wanted them to.”

He sighed. “Yeah.”

“What happened after he left?”

“God,” he said, pressing his face further into his hands. “Nothing.”

Obviously, Jasper wasn’t going to tell his sister what happened back at the house. They didn’t have that type of relationship, and even if they did, he wasn’t proud of what he’d done. It was shameful, especially since Ryan hadn’t reached out at all since that evening—not that they spoke too often anymore, but Jasper could expect a stupid meme or text every couple of days. He hadn’t messaged Jasper since two days before the party. Nearly a week now.

“What? Did you guys see each other after the party?”

“Yeah. And actually, that reminds me, I need to go drop off some stuff he left here. A shirt and… some stuff. Clothes I washed.”

“Right now?” Stevie asked, tapping her phone screen for the time. “It’s almost eight.”

“I know. Not everybody goes to bed at nine, you know.”

“Does he even know you’re coming?”

“Yes,” he lied.

After thirty minutesand a promise to Stevie he’d check in soon, Jasper was on Beni’s doorstep. He hadn’t exactly planned what he was going to say to Ryan, but since Stevie and Beni were heading out on their trip soon, he needed to clear the air. Otherwise, they were looking at eighteen days of misery, living together and temporarily co-parenting, never discussing their questionable post-party decisions.

Jasper had seen Ryan through the front window as he walked up the front steps, sitting on Beni’s couch with a bowl of popcorn on his stomach—with peanuts mixed in for extra protein—a plate of pizza crusts on the couch to his left, and an ice pack on his eye. In fact, he could still see him now through theglass panes in the door—his shirt was covered in half-crunched kernels and flaky bits of the hull he’d picked from his teeth. A classic Ryan move, one that had Jasper smiling to himself before knocking on the door.

Ryan appeared through the glass seconds later, dusting off his shirt, eyes wide at Jasper’s presence.

“Jasper?” he said, opening the door.

“Hi. Can I come in? I have some stuff for you.”

“Sure, of course.”

Ryan walked back to the couch and stashed his popcorn below the end table, gesturing for Jasper to sit down. He did, but on the far end, to put a bit of distance between them. Ryan rubbed a hand on the leg of his jeans, using his other hand to hold a bag of ice against his eye. He looked uncomfortable beyond the pain radiating from his face.

“What’s, uh… What’s up?”

“I brought you some things you left at the house,” Jasper said, pulling a few items from his tote bag. “First, your 2020Hour of Wreckoningshirt. I know you’ve probably been looking for that one.”

Ryan grabbed it and nodded. “Thanks.”

“And, uh, hm. Here’s that cherry pitter you got last year.”

“Okay,” Ryan said. He took the cherry pitter and set it on his lap. His eyebrows climbed higher, the confused look he sent Jasper’s direction now accompanied by the beginnings of a smile.

“Oh, and your pill organizer. I’m not sure if you’re still taking all those supplements, but if you are, you probably need this.”

“Jasper—”

“And, last but not least,” Jasper said, pulling one final item from his bag, “this framed photo of Calliope.”

Ryan didn’t reach for that one. Jasper wiggled it around to catch his attention, in case he hadn’t noticed, but Ryan just sighed, slouching further on the couch.

“Ry?”

“That’s just going to bum me out. I have photos of her on my phone if I need to be reminded of my cat.”