It was the day after All-Star Weekend — Monday, February 14th.
The Iron City Roarers wouldn't resume training until Tuesday, their next game slated for Thursday, a home stand against the Starships.
But Ryan had been on the move since early morning.
First stop: the Department of Motor Vehicles—he was finally getting his driver's license.
Truth was, Ryan didn't even have plates when he bought the K3 coupe.
The whole thing had been rushed—an impulsive move, fueled by Eddie's casual comment:
"Come on, man. You're Ryan Carter. In Iron City, no traffic cop's gonna pull you over."
So he just kept driving, promising himself he'd sort it out eventually.
Today was that day.
He breezed through the written test, the questions on traffic laws and road signs clicking into place after a night of cramming the DMV handbook.
By mid-morning, he had his learner's permit in hand and a road test scheduled for a few days out, a small victory that set the tone for the day.
