—Not just the house, the entire country.
He bolts through the building, avoiding everyone in both the dining room and the salon as he runs down the long hallway and out the front door.
At his car, Julien’s hands shake as he tries to get a good hold of his car keys. He drops them to the asphalt twice before he can successfully connect with the door lock and turn.
He falls into the driver’s seat, slams the door, and screams into his hands.
It was too good to be true.
Ofcourseit was too good to be true. Just look at Rafael! A guy like that doesn’t give rookies advice and fuck them unless they’re in love with their fuckingbrother!
I didn’t really consider men until last year. After it didn’t work out with that guy?—
That guy.
It was supposed to be some faceless, nameless,nobody, not Julien’s ownbrother!
The front door to the house opens, and Julien’s family crowds around the doorway as they stare out into the dark of the night. Julien should’ve parked on the other side of the giant SUV. At least then, he’d have an ounce of privacy for his monumental breakdown.
Actually, Rafael can take the SUV back to the hotel. He can ride with Thomas and Sam since they’re all suchgood friendsinlovewith each other.
Julien stabs his key into the ignition and turns. There’s a sharp crack, but the engine doesn’t roar to life like it should. When Julien tries to get a better grip, his key ring falls to the footwell.
He didn’t miss the ignition, right?
Julien shines his phone’s flashlight at the side of his steering wheel. In the ignition, there’s a sliver of metal where an empty key slot should be.
Great! His key snapped in half!
It’s onlymetal—why wouldn’t it snap in half when Julien is desperate to leave?!
Julien forgets all about his audience until after he stumbles out of his car. He slams the door hard enough for the entire vehicle to shake and kicks the wheel for good measure.
He needs a better car.
“Julien, mon loulou,”Maman calls out in French.“What’s wrong? Come back inside.”
“Nothing!”Everything.“I’m leaving now. See you Sunday.”
The very last thing Julien wants to do is go back inside that house. He shuffles down the long driveway, heading towards the main road. It’s late, but not too late for a rideshare.
He’ll get his car towed tomorrow. It’ll be fine. He’ll be fine.
“You can’t just walk home from here.” Rafael is nearly out of breath when he catches up to him. Probably because he has all of those duck skins weighing him down.
“Watch me.” Julien just needs to get to an intersection before he orders a ride. “Take the SUV back, it’ll give you more time withThomas.”
“What? Julien, stop.”
Rafael’s grip is like stone, and Julien has to choose between slowing down or ripping his arm off. He stops, but only because he needs both arms to drive.
“So what was your plan? To make Thomas jealous? Well, he’s obviously pissed, so I guess you got what you wanted!”
Rafael has the gall to look confused. “Being with you has nothing to do with Thomas.”
“Itdoesn’t?!” Julien’s voice cracks as he laughs. “How am I supposed to believe that?! How do I know you don’t think of my brother—mybrother!—when you fuck me?”
A third voice answers, “Oh man, that’d be ironic.”
