Page 54 of Ring Rust

“I will drive myself if you’re going to play games.”

“These aren’t games! It’s just not necessary, Stevie. I promise,” Beni said, patting Stevie’s hand.

“Do you guys need a ride?” Ryan asked.

“No, we’re just gonna leave Stevie’s car in long term parking. We don’t feel like dealing with a ride and everything when we get home.”

“Fair enough.”

“I can drive you. Then I can keep the car,” Winnie said.

“No. You’re not driving around these hills alone,” Stevie said.

Winnie rolled her eyes, but then a small smirk crossed her mouth. “Well, if I don’t have a car, I won’t be able to drive Nina around, which means Ryan will have to do it all.”

“Oh, hmm…” Ryan’s plan was to spend Nina’s school days at the park getting everything done. They were so close, but thecarousel was still out of commission. Fixing the carousel was top secret, so it really would be better to have an extra car around. “You know, according to the forecast, it’s not supposed to snow much the next few weeks. I think she’ll be okay.”

Beni snorted. “Did you guys plan that together?”

“No!” Winnie said. “I’m just thinking of my favorite uncle, and how I want his life to be as easy as possible.”

“Hey!” Jasper said, his mouth full of salad.

“One of my favorite uncles, I mean.”

Ryan risked a grin in Jasper’s direction, surprised when Jasper smiled back.

“Fine. But Jasper. Ryan. Both of you. Please don’t let her do anything stupid. Okay?” Stevie said. “She’s only had her license nine months. No friends in the car, that’s a law.”

“I can have friends in the car if they’re over twenty-one.”

“Excuse me, what friends over twenty-one do you have?” Jasper asked.

At the same time, Ryan shouted, “You better not have friends over twenty-one, in the car or not,” and Stevie and Beni immediately started talking over each other, their voices climbing higher and louder with every word.

“I’m kidding! Oh my God, you guys. I know the rules. I’m the one who had to study for the test.”

Ryan rubbed at his chest and looked over to Jasper, whose face was pale from fading anxiety. He was beautiful, but right now, almost agonizing to look at. The flush in his cheeks and the sheen of sweat along his brow stirred memories Ryan had no business revisiting at the dinner table—memories of tangled sheets, sleepy smiles, and mornings when Jasper had looked at him like he was exactly where he wanted to be. Memories he had no business dwelling on, because he needed to stay focused.

He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “But just to be clear, you don’t have twenty-one-year-old friends, right?”

“No! God.”

“Risky joke to make when the car was on the line,” Jasper whispered to Winnie.

“Seriously,” she said, smirking at him.

“Anyway,” Jasper said. “Back to making fun of Stevie.”

“You’re one to talk,” Ryan said. It was a risk, teasing someone who maybe didn’t like him much. “Remember the first time we went to Mexico and you brought your birth certificateandpassport?”

Jasper glared at him. “I only did that because I spilled tea on my passport and the corner got stained. I was worried they wouldn’t let me fly!”

“I remember. It was cute.” Ryan tapped his foot against Jasper’s, but Jasper moved his foot back without acknowledging it.

Everybody finished their meals with much less chatter, which Ryan was blaming on the sisters thinking about their trip and the kids losing interest in adult conversations, and not his comment calling Jaspercute.

“May I be excused?” Nina asked.