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

Chapter 47 & 48 The Road Ahead/ Be Alright

"Not a shot in hell, Playboy." He knows I won't step foot into that hospital and Nate laughs. 

" Why don't you take James out for breakfast? I'm sure he would enjoy that."

"James can't drive."

"Well, you can..."  Nate pushes on.

"Nate.... I haven't driven since..." I swallow hard. I haven't been able to get over my fear of driving since the car accident.  I have a panic attack every time I get behind the wheel.

"Trisha, you're going to really need to get over this. You're going to have to learn how to drive. What's going to happen when things get really busy, and I need you to run my errands for me again."

I frown. Part of my job needs me to be able to drive. More than part. Most of my job requires that.

"I'll hire a driver. I'll use an Uber or something. Nate, you don't understand! Every time I got behind the wheel with Paul... God, he tried but I'd have a panic attack. You saw it. You saw how I was! I'm not ready." Tears prick my eyes."Nevermind. I'm not even hungry. I'll just go home."

"Trish..."

I try to hold in my tears, but one slides out, and I wipe it away quickly.

Nate sighs as we stand and then hugs me.

"It's OK doll, I'll pick you guys up some breakfast to bring back, OK? You don't have to drive anywhere." He kisses the top of my head. "Come on, I know you're hungry." 

Thank God he dropped the conversation for me. He knows I can't do it. Not yet. 

Maybe never.

******

*James*

"Breakfast!" Trisha comes in trying to be cheery, but I can tell she's not. She's faking it. She holds a large box and balancing on top of it, coffees for everyone.  "Hey," Trish turns to Jonah. "Nate's waiting for you in the car." She hands him a smaller bag and a coffee, 

"Thanks. Casey just jumped in the shower. Can you be here with James for a bit?" 

"Of course."

 They know I can't be alone so if I had a seizure while Casey was in the shower there'd be no one to help me. Jonah takes his breakfast with him, and he is out the door. They must be going to the Avalon to see Julia. 

I feel crummy about not seeing Julia as often as I should. From what I know she was by my side during my coma, taking care of me the entire time. I should be doing the same. But she has Nate. She chose Nate. So I'm trying to move on. I should still be there for her as her best friend though.

"Mornin' James." Trisha sees me sitting on the couch petting Maggie. She sits down next to me and puts the coffee up in my hand, making sure I have it before letting go. "I got bagels and cream cheese, blueberry muffins and some kinda scone thingies. They looked good though."

"You and your sweet tooth." I smirk and sip my coffee. "Thank you. Are you good?"

"Yeah, why?" She sips her own coffee and opens the pastry box.

"You're lying to me."

I watch Trisha take my coffee from me before answering.  She puts half a bagel with cream cheese in my hand for me without me even asking her. If my sisters were in charge, they would be eating already without even thinking about me having a hard time with my coordination. I certainly can't put cream cheese on a bagel, that much I'm aware of. I'd have to remind the girls to help me. Again, not their fault but I'm glad I am here, and my sisters can be just that- my sisters.

"Nate's meeting didn't go too well."

Trisha tells me all about the meeting. The idea of hiring Mila Giovanni to be in another one of Nate's music videos. It's just an idea but I can tell this is something his producer wants in the works. 

"Julia won't be able to handle that." I inhale sharply. 

"I know. So Nate is really worried about that now. He's so stressed out. All the time." She frowns. "Anyway, he's not going to say anything to Julia until contracts are actually signed and that could be months from now. A lot can happen in a few months."

"Don't I know it." I nod.

 Trisha really cares for Nate. We are in the same position. Me and Trisha with Nate and Julia. I think that's why we connect so well.

"Did he say anything about Julia? Like how she is?" I ask. Trisha knows I've been avoiding the situation a little more lately for my own health and wellbeing. The Avalon is stressful. Trisha understands.

"No, we were too busy bickering all the way home. I can text Paul and get an update though. Would that help?"

"It really would."

 Trisha texts out to Paul while we continue eating breakfast. Like Julia, she's very intuitive and a great caregiver. I wonder what will happen in three weeks when everyone leaves me. I guess I have to go back my sister's caring for me. Claudia will be around and she's a great nurse so that will help. But it is still so very stressful being at mom's house. And then having my sisters take care of me overnights at my own house.

"Think Julia will be ok to go back on tour in three weeks?" I ask while waiting for Paul to respond.

"I highly doubt it. Why do YOU want to come back on tour with us in three weeks?"

I shrug my shoulders.

"We are always in need of bodyguards, you are more than welcome to join us. You know that, right? And as much as Nate pretends the dog is a nuisance, he loves Maggie. She's EVERYONE'S therapy dog. So regardless of what happens with Moretti, you are invited."

"Yeah, that won't go over well with Julia. I couldn't leave her. Not right now."

"Well, it's three weeks away, hotstuff. You have plenty of time to decide. And what if maybe I want you to come with me. Be MY plus one? Hmmm?" Trisha uses her thumb to wipe a dab of cream cheese off the corner of my mouth. Before I can react, her lips were on mine. Desperate, greedy, hungry. She kisses me in a way that makes my heart pound and head spin at the same time. I reach up and cup her face, reeling her in for more and then, as Julia would call it, give her my 'soap opera kiss'. Julia was cute like that. She had all these little quirky sayings and- Jesus, why the hell am I thinking about Julia right now?

The bathroom door swings open making us break out kiss. Casey is out of the shower. She didn't see us, thank God.

"Hey Casey. I brought over breakfast and a coffee for you. The kind with all the whipped cream and caramel and sugar, just the way you like it." Trisha says smoothly and leans down to grab my coffee, putting it back in my hand to make it seem like she was only helping. 

Yeah, helping me get a hard dick.

I'm not really sure why we are hiding the kiss in the first place. Maybe because there is so much going on around us and we both know this could blow up and add to the drama. Neither of us want that.

 I feel like we are on the same page here.

"Thanks! I'm just gonna blow dry my hair and then be right out. You good, James? Do you need any help with anything?" Casey asks.

"Nope. I'm good. Trisha can help me with everything I need."

Trisha can help me with everything I need....

******