Unfortunately, living close to Xander meant that Julian got frequent visits from his younger brother, since they lived only about fifteen miles apart. Micah, who was headquartered on the East Coast, visited when he was in town for business, so Julian’s interaction with his older brother was sporadic.
It wasn’t that Julian didn’t care about his family, but since he lived a completely different lifestyle, he felt like none of them could relate to his struggles. Being reminded by his siblings and parents that he actually had a portfolio worth billions of dollars, which his father had settled on his kids when he’d retired, could tempt Julian to give in and use his money and connections. It would be so much easier. But it wouldn’t feel the same as making it completely on his own.
Xander rose and kicked the chair out from under his butt, easily catching the back of it to return it to its place against the table. “I give up. I promised the folks I’d do what I could to bring you with me, but I can’t make you understand that you’re being a self-centered asshole to parents who love you regardless of what you’ve achieved.”
Julian rose, furious now. “It’s not like I’m sitting on my ass doing nothing. My career matters, dammit!”
“I know that. Mine matters, too. But your priorities are all fucked up, Julian. We’re lucky to have great parents. All of us were raised in a life of privilege, and unlike our cousins, we had a great mom and dad who’ve always been supportive of whatever our personal dreams might be. I’m never too busy to go see them, because I want to spend time with them.”
“Yeah, you were always their precious baby boy,” Julian sneered as he stepped up nose-to-nose with his sibling.
Xander slammed Julian in the chest to push him back. “Bullshit. They never played favorites with any of us and you know it. You just want to justify the fact that you’re a dick. Go ahead. Tell yourself whatever makes you feel better. Just remember, you may regret not seeing them more often someday.”
Julian flinched as Xander walked out of his apartment and slammed the door.
“Fuck him,” he cursed as he strode back to the table and picked up his movie script. “I’ll make it up to Mom and Dad once the movie is done.”
He’d eventually apologize to Xander, too, for his angry words. Honestly, Julian’s parents hadn’t played favorites with their children. But he and his brothers were close in age, and Micah had always been brilliant with business and eventually special because he was skilled with extreme sports. Xander had excelled as a gifted musician from a very young age.
And I’m still trying to find my damn place in the world.
It wasn’t that Julian hadn’t gotten the same amount of attention. It had just been . . . different. He’d been a kid who’d liked books and movies. Pretty boring when one compared his childhood interests with Micah’s and Xander’s talents. But his mom never failed to discuss the books he was reading with him, and his dad took him to movies and shows that he wanted to see, on opening day.
Nothing his parents or brothers had done had caused Julian’s discontent. He just wanted to be extraordinary in his own way, which was why he needed to make it without using the Sinclair connections or money.
He forgot Xander’s words a few moments later as he focused on movie scenes.
The next time he thought about what Xander had said, it was at his parents’ funeral. They were both dead, and Xander was in the hospital clinging to life.
Julian had been wrong. He’d never gotten the chance to make anything up to his parents, and Xander had been right.
Julian had what seemed like a million regrets, and even though he wanted to turn back the clock and do things in his adult life with his parents all over again, he couldn’t.
There were no do-overs, and no second chances sometimes. Life wasn’t like a movie or a Broadway show, where you could have multiple takes, rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and then, hopefully, a perfect opening night, or a polished, finished movie after an incredible amount of preparation.
Life was finite and unpredictable.
Unfortunately, Julian grew up and learned that lesson much too late.
CHAPTER 1
The Present . . .
“Order up!”
Kristin Moore cringed as Ned, the cook at Shamrock’s Bar and Grill, slammed another plate down at the service window. The grumpy old man got the job done, but he made sure everyone knew he didn’t like the fact that he was behind the bar instead of in front of it. Ned was a drinker, and Kristin didn’t know from one day to the next whether he’d show up for work. Today was one of those days she wished Ned, along with his shitty attitude, would have stayed home.
My lucky day! He decided to come to work.