What We'll Leave Behind: a prequel [Preview]

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Julian

"You're all assholes and I hope you fuckers get dengue fever!" Julian growled as he threw the beach ball at Justin, who caught it with ease.

"Come on, Julian. We were kidding. You're not your brother's li'l bitch," Rick teased. The smirk on his face and the glint in his dark blue eyes had Julian's nostrils flaring.

Assholes. All of them. A bunch of assholes.

"Whatever," Julian mumbled as he started to make his way back to the beach.

"Julian!" Dean called after him.

He stopped at the sound of his name then turned around. "Yeah, I'm the screw-up. I'm not going to win a gold medal. Whoop dee do."

"That's not what Rick meant," Justin tried.

"I'm my brother's bitch. While he trains for the damn Olympics, I put my life on hold and support his whole career. Clean his boat and shit. Li'l bitch, I am."

It wasn't that Julian hated his brother. Rob had used rowing as a way to deal with his grief, and Julian had been there to support. But assisting Rob had gone from being there for his brother to becoming a slave-being oppressed was a daily routine at the row club.

"Julian-"

He interrupted Rick with a shrug. "I'll see you boys for dinner. Make sure your girls don't take too long. I want to hit the moonlight party before you idiots run off because of your bedtimes."

This time, Julian didn't let them continue as he spun back around and slowly made his way to shore-avoiding other tourists. He knew he was overreacting, but he wanted to forget about his brother and his life back in Melbourne. He already had offers from advertising firms in the city and even out of state. When his holiday ended, he'd have to decide where he wanted to start his career.

When Julian reached the beach, he sighed, knowing he'd shout the boys a round of beer later tonight. They had been right. He was Rob's bitch. And Julian hoped that, now that he had finished university, his brother would see that he was capable of being an adult; that he was no longer the kid who had lost his mother and needed guidance.

From the corner of his eye, near the lounge chair and beach umbrellas, he noticed something blonde. Julian shifted his focus to see her. Beautiful, blonde hair slightly blowing from the warm wind. And when he had a proper look at her, he took in her vibrant, blue eyes. Her skin wasn't overly tan, more like sun-kissed. And her legs were long and a vision. The tight tank top and the shorts she was wearing hugged every curve of her body perfectly. He prayed that she glanced his way. He hoped that, if he stood in that spot long enough, she would.

And that's when her eyes shifted his way.

Houston, we have contact.

Too blue.

Too stunning.

The colour of her hair.

Perfect.

Do I look away?

She might think I'm a creeper.

Julian, look away!

Come on, son.

Wait.

Was that my dad's voice?

Piss off, Dad!

Julian, this is Julian.

She is out of your league.