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

Chapter 30 California Crying

"Oh, that's right... cmere and give your mom a hug, Jamie." My mom smiles brightly.

Today is going to be a rollercoaster of a day, isn't it?

*******

*Trisha*

In between Nate's events and soundcheck he has an hour to spare. Me? Not so lucky. Leslie drags me into a vacant room for one of her "meetings." Aka getting high and talking smack about people or the production team. Leslie can be very talkative when she is comfortable, and I know this meeting is just to hang out because everything that needs to be done is done-you're welcome, Leslie.

"Ok who's the new bodyguard???" Leslie asks after popping some random pill that does God knows what.

"Oh.. Evan. That's Nate's personal bodyguard. Paul had to head back."

"Is he single?" She gives me a wink and opens up her big binder. I guess we ARE going over tour shit. I rummage through my bag to pull out my Tour binder as well.

"I have no idea! You should go up to him and ask him."

"Or just go up to him and escort him to the nearest bathroom so I can have my way with him."

"You really are the girl version of Nate Hollan, aren't you?" I scoff and Leslie shrugs.

"Nothing wrong with that. How else are we going to get action with the careers we have. Long term relationships just aren't an option for us workaholics."

She's not wrong there. When you are part of the Nate Hollan Show, as I call it, or any celebrity really, you dedicate all your time to your job. You need to. It's a requirement. Having a social life outside of your job is rare.  The job is very fulfilling but if you think you have a future settling down with a husband and children, good luck. It's just not happening.  Even Holly, being Nate's hair and make-up lady, has a hard time now that she has children of her own. They are pretty much raised by their nanny. Because Holly's job is being available and willing to drop everything if Nate has an interview or any public appearance. She's good at what she does and is in high demand, but Nate comes first before any other celebrity client. And while we are touring. She flies with the production team and on their schedule, so her liver-in Nanny has the kids for months at a time. Imagine not seeing your kids...or husband for weeks sometimes months at a time?

Maybe that's why I'm so invested in my best friend. If I can't settle down with him at least I can be with him as much as possibly by working for him.

*******

*James*

"Holy crap James." Lindsay catches her breath as I roll off her. Yep. Booty-call.  After we all went out to eat for lunch, Lindsay wanted to "take the dog home" for a little while, and I joined her. 

I joined her all right.

"I forgot how good you feel." She wraps her leg around me.

"You did??" I smirk and slide under the covers. Lindsay rests her head on my bare chest, letting her long blonde hair flow across the pillow.

"No. There's no forgetting that. How can you be so good in bed but can barely button your jeans?" She teases me and I roll my eyes.

"Gee, thanks for reminding me, Linds. That was a buzzkill." I joke back.

"I've missed you. I've missed this. Why did we break up again?" She looks up at me with her big blue eyes. I tuck my chin in and kiss the top of her head.

"I think we got bored with each other. Not in bed, obviously. Just in general. And your job and all the tra- traveling for work... sorry." I apologize for my slight stutter, but I don't think Lindsay even noticed.

"Yeah. Traveling for work did become an issue. It's always an issue." She sighs.

"What happened to that Chad guy... or Brad or whatever his name was?" I ask, remembering Lindsay talking about a hot date she was getting ready for before I left for tour.

"Brad. Yeah, he just wanted to get in my pants. Not happening."

"Yet you let me... and we're not together......" I smile down at her and shake my head.

"Yeah, cuz you're James Gallo. Any woman would want James Gallo."

Yeah, except the one woman that I-I-I want...

***

"Julia. Knock it off..." Paul picks up the pasta off the floor just as me and Jennie enter my house. Shit. Julia is having one of her Bipolar episodes. I don't need Jennie OR the dog seeing this.

"Please! I can't do this!" Julia cries.

"Take Maggie for a walk, Jen... please." I look back at my sister and shake my head. She knows I don't want her seeing this. Jennie has dealt with enough screaming, yelling and breaking things from our childhood. She doesn't need to witness it as an adult too. I will do anything to protect my sisters and seeing Julia like this just reminds us of times mom was bold enough to fight back. Mom was a firecracker back in the day and sometimes would lose her cool with Joe when he would do something bad. It never ended well. Usually trips to the emergency room and us cleaning up broken shards of plates or something stupid.  Jennie quickly leaves my house with the dog.

"Babe, what's going on?"

"I need another dose. James... I threw up my first dose and the afternoon one didn't work. And THIS dickhead won't give me anymore till tonight!" Julia cries. I look around my small kitchen and see she must have had her meltdown during lunch. Pasta is all over my floor, her dish AND glass on the ground shattered. I won't be able to clean this up with my coordination and the dog can't come back in until all the glass is picked up. She could cut her paws.

"How bout we not  wreck my house, sweetie. I worked hard for what I have." I frown at the mess. 

That's all it took. Julia bursts into tears and runs upstairs, slamming my bedroom door behind her.

"I-I need to clean this before my sister comes back with the dog." I stutter and kneel down, trying my best to pick up the shards of glass.

"I got it Gallo, you're gonna slice your hand open. Where's your broom and dustpan?" Paul sighs and I show him where the hall closet is that has all my cleaning supplies, broom and vacuum.

"She can't be doing this shit Paul. Not in front of my sisters. Julia sometimes forgets what we went through as kids... doing stuff like this...... it will mess with Jennie's head, ya know?"

Paul knows. He knows exactly who Joe Gallo is. Most of L.A. know who Joe Gallo is. He's made a name for himself and it's not a good one.

"I know. It came out of nowhere." Paul grumbles while cleaning up the mess Julia made.

This can't be happening. Not here. Not in my home. Not around my sisters. I hate thinking badly about Julia. It's not her fault. She's been through hell and back. But so have we. 

 And my family will ALWAYS come first no matter what.