Page 97 of Ring Rust

“I might like you, too.”

“Yeah?” Jasper said, leaning over his side of the table. There were still a couple feet between them, so Ryan pushed himself further, the table cutting into his stomach.

“Yeah. Maybe we could go out sometime.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Beni groaned, reentering the dining room with a cake she’d brought.

“What?” Ryan said.

“You two are sick.”

“Excuse me for being in love!” Ryan said. “And you say this to me on our anniversary! I’m moving to sit next to my husband.”

He did, settling into the seat Nina had called for herself because it had the best view of the chicken coop, brushing the back of his fingers against Jasper’s hand. Jasper threaded their fingers together. They stayed that way through dessert, Ryan using his left hand to eat because he wanted to become fully ambidextrous as an interesting challenge. Jasper sighed every time Ryan dropped his fork, even offered to switch chairs, but never let go.

An hour later,the house had cleared out. It happened the way it always did at the end of a good night—the chaos of gathering coats, the drag of dawdling goodbyes, Winnie slipping out first while Nina took her sweet time choosing a miniature figurine to take home with her. Ryan stood with Beni at the door and she leaned in to hug him.

“Happy anniversary. I’m really happy for you,” she whispered.

“Me too.”

The door clicked shut and he blew out a big breath, relieved to be in the peaceful quiet of a house shared with only Jasper. He felt hands wrap around his waist and a kiss to the back of his neck. It was exactly what he’d wanted all day, but he lookedup and noticed the half-empty mugs scattered across the table, the plates littered with cake crumbs, a few slips of ribbon next to wadded up wrapping paper.

“We can clean up in the morning,” Jasper said.

Ryan nodded. “I guess so.”

“It was a long day. Fun, though.”

“It was.” He turned in Jasper’s arms, so the front of their bodies pressed together. “But I’m glad we’re alone.”

“Me too.” Jasper kissed him quickly before pulling away. “Hey, I got you something.”

“We already exchanged gifts!”

“Yes, and I loved mine. This isn’t an anniversary gift, though. It’s something else. Don’t get too excited, it’s not that great.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Jasper darted out of the room and came back holding a small, surprisingly heavy box. He placed it in Ryan’s hands and smiled, before twisting his fingers together nervously. “Okay. Open it. But seriously—it’s not that great. It’s… whatever.”

It was confusing at first—a line of thick white paper cards he couldn’t figure out the purpose of. “Paper?”

Jasper rolled his eyes, reaching into the box and pulling one out. He held it up and it all made sense.

“Business cards!”

“Yeah!” Jasper said, turning it in his hand to read it out loud. “Ryan Sullivan Handiwork. And there’s your number, and your email address. That’s a little hammer and nail so they know you’re handy, and a dumbbell so they know you’re strong. And that’s the website I set up for you.”

“You made me a website?”

“Well, no, I hired someone to do it. But the idea was mine.”

Ryan threw the cards on the table and grabbed Jasper in a rough hug, hard enough that Jasper squeaked out a puff of air.“You’re the best,” he said, kissing Jasper repeatedly. “Thank you so much.”

“I just want you to know I believe in you. And I want you to trust that you have my full support. And I’m so excited to see what you do with this.”

“I love you so much. I wish I had another present for you.”