Page 95 of Ring Rust

“Then what?”

“I think I want to start my own handyman company.”

Jasper broke into a cautious grin. “Okay? That’s cool! You’d be great at that.”

It was cool, Ryan thought, but it was also exactly what Jasper feared. Wasn’t it? That Ryan would find something other than Jasper to fill his time?

“I swear, I didn’t bring you to the carousel just to drop this news on you.” He was nauseous now, bile creeping up his throat. “Please believe me. It’s not like that.”

“I don’t think anything! I want to hear more about your idea, but right now I’m a little worried about you.”

“I was going to tell you about this at some point, but this is just really bad timing.”

“Bad timing why? Because you just showed me months of hard work you put into making something functional and beautiful? The exact skills you might need to be a good handyman?”

“Because I make decisions without you and force you to go along with them, and then I give you expensive gifts to buy your forgiveness. And it turns out you really don’t like that. And that carousel is the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought you, and my totally unrelated news of starting a business is…” Ryan sighed. “A lot, I’m guessing.”

The amused grin Jasper had leading up to this moment had faded away. “Ryan,” he said.

“I just don’t think I’d be happy staying at home. I like working with my hands, and I like being around people.”

“I know that. I think a handyman company is a great idea for those reasons exactly.”

“You do?”

“Ryan,” Jasper said, grabbing Ryan’s hand back, bringing it to his lips to drop a kiss on his fingers. “I’m sorry I made you think the only way I’d be happy is if you suffered at home, bending to my every whim. That’s not what I want for either of us. All I want is to be involved in your decisions, but that doesn’t mean you’re not in charge of your own life.”

“Oh,” Ryan said.

“I’m not looking for reasons to bolt. You can be honest with me, and I hope you’re not this scared every time.”

“I’m sorry.” Ryan let out a shaky laugh. “I guess I freaked out a little, huh?”

“Just a little.” Words gave way to silence, and Jasper leaned over the console to give Ryan a kiss. “Are we okay to keep going?”

“Yeah. Of course, I’m sorry.”

Jasper gave him another kiss and turned the car on, pulling back onto the empty roads. Ryan’s body felt noodly and weak from the stress leaving his body. His head dropped against the headrest and he shut his eyes.

“So, tell me more,” Jasper said. “I want to hear all your ideas.”

“I don’t really have any ideas yet. I don’t know anything about starting a company. Working on the park just reminded me how much I love that type of stuff. I was actually a little sad to be done.”

“Well, the good news is, the park needs constant maintenance. There will always be work for you to do.”

“That’s true.”

“Plus, maybe if you’re lucky, Logan will be looking for a job.”

“Hmm. And just like that, I’ve lost all interest.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Glue.”Ryan said, hand outstretched.

“Glue,please?”

Ryan sighed. “Yes. Glue, please.” It dropped into his hand, and he grumbled under his breath. “Nina isn’t even here anymore.”