Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 25 Two-Headed Beast

So yeah, I have some conflicting feelings.

But I did say yes to meeting Noah at a coffee shop near our hotel. In walking distance so I can escape if things go south without worrying about a ride.

"What do ya say we head back? My legs are Jell-O." Casey says, which surprises me since, like me, she is a runner. But the way she won't let go of Jonah's hand and how she is gazing up at him makes me think our little mini-Julia wants some alone time with her boyfriend. 

Paul is looking pretty tired as well, though he is used to me dragging his ass all around town as my bodyguard. It's three in the afternoon, and I could go relax for a little bit before Noah gets out of work.

"Sure. Let me call the driver to come get us."

*******

*James*

"She wants to what??" I ask Nate while sitting on the couch petting my dog.

"She wants to start her detox. Jeremy agrees that things are only going to get harder the longer we wait." Nate paces around the large living room. Julia is sleeping right now after a full day of being an emotional rollercoaster and barely eating breakfast or lunch.

"Yeah, but how do we even do that? Don't we have to travel tomorrow?"

"We do. I'm gonna have a meeting with Jeremy first thing in the morning before we head out to see how we are going to make this work. It needs to be done, James." Nate is persistent, but he's also right. Things are only going to get worse for Julia the longer we wait. "Should we order room service for dinner tonight while she rests, or would you like to go out?" He changes the subject.

"Room service sounds good to me. Can you set me up to face time my sisters around five? It will be 8 pm back home." I ask, knowing on Sundays my sisters all go to mom's house for the day.

"Of course." Nate grabs the Room Service Menu off the kitchen counter, and we look at it together on the couch while Julia sleeps.

"I'm probably just going to order everything on the menu so Julia can pick something to eat. She's been a bit difficult today." Nate's British accent shines through a little while he talks, which I've learned happens sometimes when he is nervous. He is nervous about Julia. Nervous about her detox. We all are.

"I remember when you ordered the whole damn menu at the Marriott that day. God, I hated your guts." I laugh just thinking about it.  At the time, I wasn't aware of any of Julia's struggles. Not like now. Nate laughs, and it echoes through the suite.

"Feeling was mutual, pal. I was such a dick to you, too." He smirks. "Now look at us. I only hate your guts when you sleep with her. AHEM....." Nate raises an eyebrow at me, making it known he heard us last night.

"Hey man, she molested me last night, not the other way around. I was content sleeping." Are we really talking about our sex life right now when it concerns the woman we are both in love with? I mean, I could care less, but I'm very surprised Nate brought it up so lightly the way he did.

"Yeah, yeah, let it be known she was high as a kite last night, Gallo." He shakes his head while looking at the menu, purposely avoiding eye contact.

"She had more than her usual dose??"  I ask, very concerned now.

"No. But, and she doesn't know I know this, she caught on the meds are stronger on an empty stomach.  I think, aside from this morning, which I know full well was genuine since she was dry heaving uncontrollably, she has been purposely making sure her stomach is empty before her dose. Forcing herself to throw up if need be.