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

Chapter 153 The Distance Between Us

*James*

It seems Julia may have damaged her relationship with Paul. He is known for not giving second chances. In all the years knowing him, he has never once extended a second chance to a woman. I don't see him changing that now. He has completely distanced himself from Julia. He talks to Nate very little, mainly because Nate is his boss, so he has no choice.

 I'm not sure how I feel about this. In a way I feel bad for Julia. She ruined a good thing. If I had to choose to see her with Nate or Paul, I would have rather seen her with Paul. He's a decent man, not that Nate isn't, but Paul is also a stable man.

But Nate has this hold on Julia. I don't know what it is about the man. It's not the money. It's not his good looks. Something deeper. Whatever it is, it keeps drawing Julia back in. It's not healthy.

"Hey... you're off in your own world again, Jamie." Lindsay pokes me in the ribs while helping me with my salad.

"Sorry." I murmur, still concentrating on other matters and not on her. Lindsay, like Julia, has the patience of a saint when it comes to taking care of me, but I've noticed she still has a lot to learn. I try not to get frustrated with her over the little stuff but am feeling on edge today.

"I can't eat this, Linds. I don't know who you gave me a salad. It's too hard." I snap and slam my fork down onto the plate, gaining Nate's attention as he glances up from his laptop on the couch.

"Oh." Lindsay frowns. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"Just... I don't know... can you make me a sandwich or something else, please?" I push the plate to the side and drop my head in my hands.

"Of course."

"Sorry, Linds. I didn't mean to-"

"No. It's ok!" Lindsay perks right up and fakes a smile. She makes me a ham and cheese sandwich and helps me grip it properly before sitting back down next to me. While eating, my mind begins to race.

"Linds... how are we gonna make this work?" I ask, making sure my voice is soft so Nate can't hear our conversation.

"What do you mean?" Lindsays blue eyes sparkle and her smile fades.

"This. Me. Everything. It's a lot and-"

"I can learn." She rests her perfectly manicured hand on my thigh and gives me a slight squeeze. "No salad when you're a little off. Got it."

"But you can never tell when I'm a little 'off'. That's the thing. And it's why it was too hard for me to be in my sisters care." I admit. "And you travel for work so much... I just don't see where this is going."

"Are you breaking up with me over a salad?"

"No! No, I'm ju-just. Sorry. I don't know what m-my problem is today." I inhale deeply and take another bite of my sandwich.

"We can figure it out as we go, ok?"

I nod with a half-smile on my face but in the back of my head I realize I am just like Julia.  I'm gonna need stability. Like Nate, Lindsay can't provide the one thing I am going to need.

Stability.

*****

*Trisha*

I give in and finally agree to go to the Avalon to visit the other half of our circle.  But it's awkward as all hell. I assumed Jonah and Casey would have been here before us to cut the tension, but Evan and I were the first to arrive. Evan catches up with Paul while me and James sit on the couch.