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

Chapter 118 The Only One

"Listen, I want to visit Julia, ok? Please keep this to yourself right now until I can talk to her. I mean it, Trish. I'm already not on good terms with her right now. Don't fuck this up more."

"Whatever, playboy." I wave him off and decide to spark up a conversation with Evan instead.

"Oh hey," Jonah greets us once inside the apartment. "I was just about to go stop by the Avalon. Casey wants to see the damn dog. Wanna come?"

"One, we're not getting a dog." Nate glares at Casey who looks at me with a shrug and a smile. "Two.. I can try but Julia may not let me in. She's still not talking to me."

"Still?" Casey sounds surprised. "You haven't done anything wrong. Yet...."

"Give it time." I tease Nate and get a little shove in return.

"I'm not slipping up guys. I can't. Julia is doing so well right now. Not with me but in general. She's no longer detoxing and is clearheaded. She's getting better."

"Really?" Jonah shuts the refrigerator door. "That's great news." He smiles but it fades a little almost instantly. "But you know there's no getting better, right Nate? I don't want you to get your hopes up if one day isn't as good as the next. When you have bipolar-"

"I know, I know." Nate cuts him off. "Your moods change and every day is different. Don't remind me."

"We can all go. I'll order a bunch of pizzas for dinner. I wouldn't mind seeing James." I change the topic, not wanting to hear about Julia. Nate had a light lunch. He'll eat a few slices of pizza. Pizza night is one of the few things he won't turn down

"You know you're dating Paul, not James..." He gives me his raised brow emoji look.

"Yeah, well Paul is acting weird lately. I don't know what's going on."

"Welcome to my world, sweetheart."  Nate slaps my ass as he walks by to go get changed before we head out.

But when we get to the Avalon, once again, Paul barely talks to me. I spend more time talking to James than anyone. Then after dinner, he said he had to go check on the Marriott while everyone was here and left the apartment.  Is he seeing someone else behind my back? Is he just no longer interested in me? If so, then just tell me. This is ridiculous.

"You good, Trish?" James notices right away as we walk out to the backyard.

Jonah figures out how to work the firepit and we all sit around it but Jonah, Casey and Evan are in one conversation while James and I are in another.

"Paul seems so off lately." I admit quietly so only James can hear me. "I don't think he is interested in me anymore."

"REALLY? No. Who wouldn't be interested in you? You're overthinking it."

"Am I? Do you see him here with me right now? We barely see each other and when we do, he fucking leaves."

James takes in my words for a second and then frowns.

"Awww, I'm sorry sweetie. I don't know what to say. Maybe you should set up time to talk to him privately about it? He could just be stressed out about the Marriott. Right now, it's Will and Dante running the show over there for the 4th floor. You know Paul. He likes things done a certain way and rather do it himself, so it gets done right." He sighs. "He counted on me to hold down the fort and now...well. now I'm pretty useless." 

James lifts his slightly shaky hands, but I bring up something I noticed tonight.

"You don't even notice it, do you? James, you were holding your own pizza tonight. I've never seen your coordination working so well. You're healing."