Page 25 of In Just a Year
“I’m not sick, I’m in love. I love her so much, Greg, and I have for so long.” He paced the room.
“Why did you wait to kiss her just before you left?”
“Because she’s … she’s…” Ben couldn’t find the right words and returned to the table.
Greg remained seated and eyed him with a knowing man-to-man stare. “She’s like the gems for you, isn’t she?”
“Esther is so much more precious than any of these stones.” Ben’s voice wobbled as his heart ached to reunite with her. He’d left all too soon after they’d finally admitted their feelings. He’d gone too fast too soon and then it stopped. Time passed and he remained suspended with messages between them that were meant to be spoken but had never been uttered.
“I just left, Greg. We kissed and I … I climbed into her room the night before we left.”
Greg chucked. “I supposed you climbed a tree to her window and snuck in?”
Ben’s mien fell. “There was no tree. Just the brick wall.”
Greg burst into laughter. “Oh, you Klonimuses, you’re … you’re—”
“What are we, hm?” Ben squared his shoulders and crossed his arms, pressing a large gem rough between his index and thumb into his skin until it turned white.
Greg took a deep breath. “You’re all lost the moment you fall in love. I’ve seen it happen every time. First Caleb with Lizzie … he practically turned into a raging wolf when I spoke to Lizzie one day, did you know that? I onlyspoketo her.” Greg emphasized the words as if he were describing a strange phenomenon.
Ben shrugged. His older brother’s behavior was completely understandable.
“And Raphi left Town as soon as Laila returned to him, remember?”
Ben lifted his chin as if to say, “So what?”
“Then Aaron was away and his pregnant girl followed him to London and—”
“Watch your words, Greg. That’s my sister-in-law and Liora’s not just any girl. She’s smarter than all of us combined.”
“Yes, Ben, I know that. My point is … even Gideon changed once he admitted his love to Rosie. Something happens to you Klonimuses when you give your heart…” He snapped his finger hoping the right words would find him if he called for them like a well-trained dog.
Ben waited. It was true even if he didn’t want to admit it. Something had happened to him, especially once he knew Esther returned his affections. As soon as it was out in the open, he wasn’t the same old Benny anymore.
“It feels like giving up this section of your insides.” Ben clasped his chest so tight that the white linen shirt wrinkled under his grip. “It’s as though I can’t ever be whole again without her.”
Greg shook his head in disgust. “Sounds awful.”
“It’s wonderful! There’s something about giving this piece of you … it’s like lifting the burden of carrying the love and finally sharing it with the person who’s meant to bear it with you.”
Greg swallowed, and his demeanor grew serious.
“Don’t you know?” Ben asked.
Greg shook his head. “I don’t know, Ben. Not even a little bit.”
“But you’ve been with … I know you have, my brothers told me.”
“Yes, but there’s not much to it. It’s not like what you feel. I was never supposed to have that.”
“And I’ve never…” Ben drew circles in the air as if they could explain away his virginity.
“What?”
Ben pinched his lips and shrugged again. “If it’s not Esther, it’s not interesting.”
“It’s always interesting, Ben.”
