Page 78 of Ring Rust

“That doesn’t sound good,” he said.

“No. But you should be fine. Just no lifting things for a while.”

Ryan frowned. “Well, that sucks. That’s my main hobby.”

Beni laughed gently and pushed some hair off Ryan’s forehead. “It does suck. But it’s okay. You’ll move in with me and Nina for a few weeks. As rent, you will cook me delicious meals with your one good hand.”

Ryan laughed, then flinched at the pain. “Ow,” he groaned.

Beni rested her hand on his forehead, maybe to ensure he was all in one piece. “Sorry. No laughing. I called Mama and Daddy, they’re on their way.”

“Beni! They do not need to fly here for a broken arm.”

“Well, I have work. And they were due for a long visit anyway, and nobody wants you to be all alone.”

“I am a grown man. I can handle hanging out by myself.”

Beni shrugged. “Fine, you be the one to tell Mama she’s not allowed to take care of you, then. Better do it soon, because I’m pretty sure they’re packing as we speak.”

Ryan sighed and dropped his head back against his pillow. His parents were great, that wasn’t the issue. It was just another reminder that everything about his life was different now. His marriage, questionable; his career, over—doubly so now that he had this injury so late in life; his hobbies of handiwork and building, small things that made him feel useful, were impossible for the foreseeable future. And now, as the cherry on top, he needed his aging parents to take care of him because he had nobody else.

The curtain hanging in his room pulled back temporarily when someone new walked in. For a second, he expected his mom but realized quickly that made no sense. Obviously, it wasn’t her, but who it was felt nearly as surprising—Jasper, with a drink holder full of warm drinks.

“Oh! You’re awake,” he said, smiling. It faded when he glanced down to the drinks in his hands. “I didn’t get you anything, I’m sorry. I figured you’d be asleep for a while.”

“That’s okay,” Ryan said. His chest tightened from his racing heart. He was grateful the vital signs monitors were muted, sparing him the humiliation of his feelings being broadcast to the entire room.

After a few moments of small talk, Ryan’s nurse came in with discharge paperwork.

“You’re sending him home already?” Beni asked.

“He’s healthy and strong and doing great. We don’t keep people overnight too often.”

“Oh,” Beni said, worrying her eyebrows.

“I’m fine, Beni. It’s one arm.”

“That’s right,” the nurse said. “Sucks that it’s your right one though, huh? Anyway, here’s your packet. It goes over what yourinjuries were, then lists your medications, and has some follow up information on the back pages. You are good to go whenever someone gets here to wheel you to the pick-up area out front.”

“Thank you,” Ryan said.

“Thank you for your help,” Beni said. She turned to Ryan. “Well, here we go.”

“Are you sure you can handle this, Beni?” Jasper asked.

All three of them turned to look at him.

“What?” Beni asked.

“I mean, you’re... I don’t know, I’m just asking. He could come home with me?”

“No,” Ryan said, half regretting it immediately. “I’ll go with Beni. I already have a room there and everything. It’s not your job anymore. Plus, our parents are coming to visit.”

“Oh,” Jasper said. “Yeah, sure. That makes sense. I just thought I’d offer.”

Ryan was doing his best not to read into Jasper’s suggestion—it was probably just guilt talking, or practicality, or the fact that Beni would be the one stuck handling everything if other people didn’t help out. It almost had to be something uncomplicated like that, knowing Jasper. But deep down, he hoped it was something else.

Chapter Twenty-Two