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

Chapter 100 Here And Now

"I bet you're friends with all your exes."

"Actually, I am." I smile over at the bodyguard right as we hear a knock on the Avalon door. 

Julia is done with her sleep study.

******

*Trisha*

Nate is struggling this morning. This is more than a man-flu. I now understand why Jonah was so concerned last night. He hasn't left the couch and is coughing up a storm. I make him a cup of tea and he sits up a little.

"Do you think you have the flu like Ren?" I ask, sitting on the recliner instead of next to Nate.

"I'm fine." Nate says in a raspy voice. He sips his tea but flinches a little as he swallows. He's been coughing so much he probably irritated his throat.

"You don't sound fine, sweetie."

 I lean over and put my hand on his flushed cheek. "You're hot."

"That's what they say." He smirks, making me roll my eyes. "Can you grab my laptop and tell Jonah to come here? The doctor wants to have a zoom meeting to go over Julia's sleep study."

Nate never asks me to fetch him things. Ever. He must be really weak. I don't like this...he's making me nervous now.

"Yeah, sure." I get up and grab his laptop off the dining room table, then knock on Jonah and Casey's door. Casey is still sleeping but Jonah is up. He looks like shit. He really did stay up all night to keep an eye on Nate, didn't he?

I don't bother sitting in for this meeting, and Jonah lets Casey sleep. I head to James's room.

I look around the vacant room and frown. This living space was perfect for James. It was like his own hotel room. It had everything he needed. I know I should be getting over the fact that he chose to stay with Julia at the Avalon but it still stinks. I really thought we'd work out. But he's SO infatuated with Moretti. I should have known it wouldn't. In a way- it's a blessing in disguise. Paul is giving me a second chance and I'm grateful for that. I can't hate on James for the way he feels because I'm the same with Nate. No one can hate James anyway.

 He's "Un-hate-able." 

I think about Paul and I. Could we really make this work? Even when I go on tour? Will her eventually decide not to stay at the Avalon forever and ever? Because I sure as hell am not gonna visit him there every day. I want this to work out for us. 

"Are we hiding in here now?" Evan asks, standing in the doorway.

"Maybe we are."

"You didn't want to be part of the meeting?" Evan laughs and scratches his perfect beard.

"Yeah, no thanks. Why? Did it not go well?" I'm curious now. Mainly because I worry about Nate and his stress level more than anything else. Evan walks in a little more and crosses his arms. 

"They are still talking but it sounds like that Jeremy guy really messed her up."

"Yeah, he's a winner."

"It was interesting though. I guess the guy went up and hung out with the technician during it and-"

"Of course he did." I cut Evan off. Jeremy is fucking obsessed with Julia. She can't get away from the guy. Not even in her sleep.

"Anyway- the other doctor said when he entered the room and she heard his voice, her brain waves and shit went crazy. Even showed us the graphs. It was nuts. That poor lady."

I frown hearing this. No, me and Julia will never be best friends, and I always thought she overexaggerated shit- The Woe Is Me, Damsel in distress weak crap. But brain waves don't lie. Donovan really fucked her up long term and I'm sad for her. She'll never be the same. Just like I will never be the same from Dave. I just hide my trauma better than she does.