can’t even look at Clara without feeling guilty.”
Julian squinted at him. “Stop being a dick! It’s not your fault. Get over it and stop feeling sorry for yourself. They got married. Did you forget that? Noel and Clara got married and have a house together. Stop being a depressed shit and grow some balls.”
Max nodded and pushed off the car. Upon opening the boot, he placed Julian’s suitcase inside and mumbled, “Thanks. I needed that.”
Julian shrugged once Max had closed the boot and faced him.
“Clara’s waiting for you. We better get you in there before she gets a hold of Rob and demands that he find you.” Max began to walk away from the car and towards the golf course.
Julian stood still, his eyes firm on Max’s back as he called out, “Does Noel know what happened back in New York?”
Max halted. Then he turned around and faced Julian, guilt written all over his face. “No.” His nostrils flared. “He can’t know.”
“He’s not gonna care. He’s just married Clara,” Julian explained.
Max glanced away from Julian’s probing eyes and at his car. “Just leave it, Julian. You’re forgetting where she lives. I’m here and she’s in Boston. I’m all kinds of fucked up. I was with Sarah, for God’s sake. She doesn’t need anyone like me, especially after Noel. Let’s just go enjoy tonight.”
Julian breathed out and nodded. He would let it go but only for so long. But he couldn’t forget what had happened on that golf course in New York all those months ago. Just as Julian was about to speak, his phone vibrated in his pocket. With a groan, he retrieved it and unlocked his phone.
Tara Morris: Don’t forget Monday morning you have that consultation with Rogers & Co. advertising.
As he and Max entered the brightly lit ballroom, Julian noticed his father talking to Alex and Clara’s father, James. The smile he wore made Julian happy. He had missed him and neglected to keep in contact. But Julian had his reasons. If his father had known why he had left for Sydney, then he would have undoubtedly stopped Julian. It was flight instead of fight but waking up alone all those years ago cemented his actions. Flight for a burdened heart.
Alex and Rob walking towards him had Julian returning his phone in his pocket and ignoring his boss’ text message.
“You finally made it!” Alex pulled Julian in for a hug. When Alex let him go, Julian saw the large smile on his face.
“Sorry. The delay in Sydney was ridiculous,” he explained with a shrug. Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket for the second time, Julian took it out to see Tara calling.
“Who’s Tara?” Alex asked with a cocky grin.
Julian declined the call and returned it back into his pocket. “Just my boss.”
“I thought you were moving back to Melbourne for good? I thought that meant quitting your job,” Rob said, disgruntled.
“I have one more consultation job and then I’m done. Tara gave me this one job to decide whether I want to run the Melbourne office or break off and find somewhere else to work.”
Max, Rob, and Alex swapped questioning glances.
“Tara?” Max asked.
Rob sighed and shook his head, disapprovingly. “My little brother is banging the boss. For fuck sake’s, Julian!”
It was just like Rob to jump to conclusions. What Rob didn’t know was that he had been offered a VP position at a competitor’s firm in Melbourne, hence the real reason for his return home. This consultation job would be his last before he quit Tara’s advertising firm. What good would Julian’s promotion be to Rob? He had never been proud and that had made the decision to move to Sydney all the more easier.
“I’m not banging Tara! You forget that I just got back from Milan. I had Italian models almost every night while you had your right hand,” Julian retorted.
I only had drinks with those models, but Rob doesn’t need to know.
There was a thick silence between them before Alex and Max burst into laughter.
“He has you there, Rob!” Alex chuckled and patted Rob’s shoulder.
“Someone want to tell me why you boys are blocking me from Julian?” Her voice broke through their chuckles. Rob and Alex parted, and Clara stepped forward and pulled him in for a long and warm hug.
“Hi,” he said softly in her ear.
“I’m so happy you’re here, Julian,” Clara whispered, and Julian hugged her tighter.
“I’d never want to disappoint you.”
“You sure do have this problem controlling yourself around my wife, Julian.”