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Robbie’s mouth fell open, and then he took a step toward Julien and touched his arm. “But you…why did you take me today?”
“Because you had no other way to get there, and—”
“I could’ve taken an Uber.”
“No. I wasn’t going to let you do that,” Julien said, shaking his head, and when Robbie looked at Priest as though he should’ve said something or stepped in, Priest held his hands up.
“Don’t yell at me,” Priest said.
“I wasn’t going to yell.”
“Really? Because you had that look in your eyes like you were winding up to tell me how horrible I am,” Priest said. “But before you get all blustery, Julien assured me he was fine and wanted to do this. I checked in on him and you throughout the day.”
Robbie tried to ignore the way his heart flipped over the fact that both of these men had cared enough about him that they went out of their way today to make sure he was okay. But he turned to Julien and said, “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” Julien said, and put his empty glass down on the counter. He looked Robbie in the eye. “I knew exactly how you were feeling today, and I wasn’t about to let you go through that on your own.”
“How I was—”
“The guilt,” Julien said. “I can see it in your eyes. I’ve seen it all day, princesse. I know how that feels.”
“Ugh, I know,” Robbie said. “I’m sorry. I don’t blame you two. But I just feel so guilty for not being there.”
“We understand,” Julien said. “More than you know. Do you remember last night when you asked if we had any brothers or sisters?”
Robbie thought back to the conversation they’d had at dinner and nodded, realizing they’d never answered him.
“Well, Joel is an only child, and so am I—now.”
“Now?” Robbie said, his voice barely audible even to his own ears.
“Oui,” Julien said, his voice cracking a little. “I had a sister. A twin sister. Her name was Jacquelyn. She died eight years ago.”
Oh my God, Robbie thought, as he stared into the saddest eyes he’d ever seen. It was strange that they were also the most beautiful. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
He didn’t know what else to say. What could you say to that? He couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be to lose a sibling. He wouldn’t know how to keep going if something happened to any of his sisters. And a twin? No, he couldn’t even imagine it.
He wanted to ask more, but knew now wasn’t the best time with Julien finally seeming to settle a little. He hadn’t even known Julien had a sister, and he had practically stalked the guy. So it was clear this wasn’t something Julien talked about, and if that had happened eight years ago and he’d been on Chef Master…what was it…seven years ago? That meant his sister’s passing would’ve just happened.
How had that not come out in any of the gossip magazines? He probably got Priest to draw up a contract stating they couldn’t mention it, Robbie thought. That might also explain Julien’s attitude on the show, because he’d been around the man for the past, damn, nearly two weeks, and he’d yet to really see the hair-trigger personality that had earned him the nickname “the Prick.”
“It’s okay,” Julien said, and offered up a smile that told Robbie it really wasn’t. Julien was trying to be strong, trying to keep whatever memories haunted him locked away. But it was clear he’d lost that battle today and had gone to Priest for support.
What had Julien said last night? “Priest has this innate ability to make you forget everything bad when he’s around. He takes control. He lifts the burden and worry from you and allows you to just be. He makes you feel safe.”
“This time of the year is always a little more difficult,” Priest said, his eyes on Julien. “And with the hospital and circumstances, everything just came together and triggered a stronger reaction than Julien expected. That’s all.”
Priest ran a hand up and down Julien’s arm, and then looked over to Robbie. “Would you like something to eat? I still have that Chinese food, or you could have some of that amazing juice Julien was making this morning. He kept it in the fridge for you.”
When Robbie’s eyes widened in alarm, Julien smacked Priest on the chest and chuckled. “Give the man some Chinese.”
Priest smirked. “Yeah, you’re right. He’s had enough shock to his system for one day. Why don’t you two sit at the counter and I’ll get the food.”
Robbie walked around one side of the kitchen island and Julien the other, and as they climbed up on the stools and Priest started to dish the food onto three plates, Julien rested his head on Robbie’s shoulder and whispered, “He’s pretty amazing, isn’t he?”
