“What did that bag do to you?”
Ben landed one last punch before turning to face his brother, his breaths coming in short bursts. He lifted his shoulder to wipe the sweat from his face.
Julian stood a short distance away, also wearing workout clothes. He was on his own, which wasn’t too surprising as it was after nine in the evening. The kids were probably in bed.
“It didn’t do anything,” Ben said, turning back to tap the bag with one of his gloves. “Just needed an outlet.”
“Something happen?” Julian asked as he walked around to the other side of the bag.
Ben landed a couple more half-hearted punches as he tried to decide if he wanted to confide in his older brother. He was tempted.
“I asked Amelia out earlier,” he said. “Which was stupid, and I probably shouldn’t have done it.”
Julian regarded him with his blue-green eyes. “I have several questions.”
Ben stepped back from the bag, placing his gloved hands on his hips. “Like what?”
“Like, why did you ask her out? Why was it stupid? And why shouldn’t you have done it?”
Ben sighed and used his teeth to undo the converter strap he’d used to tie the glove by himself earlier. He worked it off,then walked over to the bench that sat against the wall and dropped down onto it.
He put the glove beside him and took off the other one as Julian sat beside him, stretching out his legs as he leaned back against the wall.
“I asked her out because I wanted to spend more time with her,” Ben said.
“So you have a romantic interest in her?”
“Yes.”
“So why would asking her out be stupid?”
Ben shrugged. “I suppose it’s because I should have known she’d turn me down. She was the one who broke things off last time, after all.”
“And you think that’s why she turned you down now?”
“I don’t know. She said that she didn’t think it was a good idea because her life is a mess, and because my life isn’t here.”
“Both of those are valid reasons.”
“Yeah, they are.”
“She is dealing with a lot right now,” Julian said, as if Ben needed reminding.
Although maybe he did need a reminder. Without an obvious physical reminder that she was dealing with pain, it sometimes slipped his mind.
“I’d like to help her deal with everything,” Ben said.
“You can do that as a friend.”
“I know.” Ben dragged a hand through his hair. “But I want to be there for her as more than a friend.”
“As long as she doesn’t have answers to what’s going on with her health, she’s probably reluctant to get involved with anyone, let alone you.”
Ben figured that was true.
“You have to realize that her health issues might have a long-term impact on a relationship.”
Turning his head against the wall, Ben said, “What do you mean?”
