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

Chapter 66 Breathe

"Tox screen came back clear, Dr. Aruda." A nurse interrupts, hands the doctor a slip and hurries away to another patient.

"Well, we can rule out drinking and drugs. Good job on that one." The old man gives Nate a thumbs up. "As I was saying..."

"No, he didn't want to be at that party." I answer for Nate. He was so stressed out over Richard forcing him to attend this event knowing he'd be near booze. Then to see Mila was there. I think that's what set him off.

"So, your bloodwork is great and your EKG normal... well as normal as it can be for someone with heart disease and an arrythmia. Here's what I think happed." The old man adjusts his glasses and looks up from his chart to Nate. "You may have had a panic attack which then raised your blood pressure into a hypertensive crisis. It can lead to complications like hypertensive encephalopathy which can result in confusion, vision changes as well as loss of consciousness."

"So I didn't have a heart attack??"

"So, you didn't have a heart attack." Dr. Aruda smiles. "We're going to keep you here for a few hours to monitor you and keep track of that blood pressure of yours. Extra security has already been put into effect, but we'd like to get you moving along and out of here as soon as possible- for obvious reasons." The doctor leaves the room to be with other patients.

"See? You're ok." I sigh like a huge weight has been lifted off me.

"This made the news, didn't it?" 

"It did." I frown, still holding his hand.

"Julia..."

"Paul is with her. Apparently, he was already there." 

"Already where? At the Avalon?" Nate looks as confused as I did when Paul texted me.

"Yeah. He didn't want Moretti to spend New Year's Eve alone. He talked Donovan into letting him stay and brought Chinese food to the nurses and an order to Julia's room. They were watching the live Ryan Seacrest party on his phone when the local news interrupted the show." 

"Wow. Tin man does have a heart." Nate jokes. Something we always tease Paul about whenever he does do something abnormally kind.

"And a healthy one, unlike some of us. Listen, I know you didn't want to chance anything with Mila but we could have just left the normal way. You didn't have to fake a heart attack and go out with a bang ya know." I earn an eye roll out of Nate from that. "You need to stop scaring the shit out of me." I begin to cry again.

"Hey. I'm fine. See? I'm completely fine." He tries to console me while in a fucking hospital bed with wires all over him.

"Yeah." I wipe my tears away. 

"Cmere love." Nate gives me his puppy dog eyes as he puts the empty space in the bed. I climb in next to him and cry harder when he wraps his free arm around me.

"You really scared the shit out of me." I repeat and rest my head on his shoulder where there are no wires. He pulls my chin up and wipes my eyes. 

"I know. I'm sorry. It was a minor thing." He pecks my lips like he's done a million times. "I'm ok."

****

By 5:00am Nate gets the ok to leave and Paul calls Ren to pick us all up. Everyone looks exhausted. Especially Paul. He looks like he's been through the ringer between dealing with Moretti, worrying about Nate and coordinating the security for the hospital. Poor James falls asleep on the car ride home and Evan can barely keep his eyes open.

"Jonah and Casey already know." I let Nate know he doesn't have to rehash anything and can go straight to bed once we get home. 

"Evan, you can crash on the couch at my place if you like. I know you live 45 minutes away." Nate offers. He has always been very open about letting people stay at his place. People he trusts at least. I think Nate likes having people around him. The more the merrier. Funny how he has changed over the last year. From living alone in that enourmous apartment to now living with all of us and even making another room for James.

Once home I set up the couch for the bodyguard while Nate helps James to bed.  Paul heads straight to his room.

When I walk into James's room, I see Maggie in his bed with him. It's seriously the cutest sight.

"Looks like someone took your spot."  Nate whispers and ticks his head to the dog.

"It's fine. He likes her more than me." I laugh but Nate raises a brow at me, knowing how James has been acting down and out lately.

"If you don't want to sleep in here, I can sleep on the couch." 

"No, it's fine. You need to sleep in bed. I'm just gonna go get changed outta this and then will take the couch in here so he's not alone. Just in case he has a seizure.

Nate wraps his arms around me for a hug. "Sorry about tonight."

"You really scared the shit out of me, playboy."  I bury my head in his chest, trying to hold in my tears but failing miserably.

"Hey, look at me. I'm ok. I'm gonna stay in bed all day tomorrow and make everyone wait on me, ok?" He smirks and wipes more of my tears away. "Thanks for keeping the booze, and Mila away from me tonight. You look really nice by the way."

"Aww thanks. You bought this dress for me."

"I did?" He takes a step back and looks at the unfamiliar dress.

"Yep. Yesterday. I swiped your card. It was $300." I admit and he rolls his eyes, bringing me back in.

"It was well worth the money."

*****

*James*

When I wake up, I see Trisha laying on the couch in my room and Maggie is gone which means Casey took her out for a walk.

"Morning sexy." Trisha puts her phone down.

"You slept on the couch??" I scoot over and pat on the bed. She knows what I want and comes over to lay down with me, pulling the covers over us both. We both lay on our sides and face each other.

"Maggie stole my spot last night. Plus, I thought you may want the bed to yourself." Trisha's smile fades and she looks away. 

"I'm sorry I haven't been acting myself lately. It has nothing to do with you." I assure her but I don't think Trisha believes me. 

I cup her face and stare down at her for a moment. We both drop our eyes to each other's lips. I brush my lips against hers and she places her hand behind my head to draw me in more.

I kiss Trisha and don't stop. Kissing her makes me feel alive again. Like all my depression just melts away. I've been avoiding everyone lately and no one deserves that. Especially Trisha.  My body comes alive, and I feel that familiar twinge in my stomach when she presses her body against mine, deepening our kiss.

"Show me how sorry you are." Trisha demands.

And I do. 

I show her how sorry I am over and over again until she can't take anymore.

It's the perfect way to start the new year.

******