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

Chapter 171 Bring Down The Rain

*Trisha*

We wait for Paul's call, an update...any update. Paul isn't great with that stuff though. Nate is trying to keep it together but I can tell this shit with Julia is weighing him down.  I could hear him tossing and turning for awhile last night and this morning is no better. Of course, it doesn't help the weather is gonna be a factor in getting to our next stop on time.

"Nashville is preparing for severe storms expected to bring various weather conditions, including heavy rain and strong winds." I hear Nate and Jonah watching the morning news on TV.

"Fucking great. Anything else, oh holy one?" The British accent asks.

"Bite your tongue Hollan, or Locusts will be next." I roll out of bed, not caring about my early morning appearance.

"Trish, you look like the before picture in a sleep-deprivation ad." Nate teases.

"Am I the only one hearing the freight train disguised as Mila's snoring?" I scoff, low enough for just Jonah and Nate to hear. Casey, Evan, and "Freight Train Mila" are still dead to the world.

"Like a chainsaw and a foghorn had a baby," Nate adds, making Jonah nearly spit out his coffee.

"She's hitting three different octaves...are we sure this isn't a warning siren?" I continue.

"You two are awful. What do you say about ME behind my back?"

"Nothing. We say it to your face, Tapeworm." I raise my brows at the nurse.

"I think Rotisserie Chicken is on the menu for dinner tonight. Lemme see that chest of yours again, Scarface?" Nate goes one step too far as always.

"Brutal. Listen, you walking STD..."

"Hey now, that's how rumors start. I'm clean as a whistle, my man." Nate whistles and I roll my eyes.

"How is beyond me, Playboy." I snort, ending our banter when Freight Train climbs down from her castle and sleep walks her way to the bathroom.

"I hear you... Non sono un treno merci." Mila mutters, shutting the bathroom door with a little more force than necessary.

Oh my gosh. I burst into laughter. Full blown laugher, tears and all for a good minutes before I can pull it together. "She said she's not a freight train."

Jonah and Nate exchange looks and Nate points at me. "You started it."

The air thickens as Nate's phone rings...Paul's name glaring on the screen like a warning.

"Go ahead," Nate says, voice clipped. "On it." He hangs up and redials, switching to FaceTime. I watch him, unsure if Jonah and I should stay, but something in his posture keeps us rooted.

"Jule, please talk to me. Tell me what happened."

Silence. Nate stares at the screen, breath shallow, waiting.

"You look happy with Mila Giovanni."

The words land like a bullet, clean and cruel. Nate flinches, his face contorting with a pain so sharp it's unbearable to witness. My stomach knots, my pulse quickens.

"I love you, Jule." His voice wavers, tight with emotion. "I haven't been with anyone. I haven't done anything. You may never believe me, but it's the truth. And I'm worried about you."

"You should be."

The call cuts out. My throat constricts. Nate's eyes brim with tears, and something inside me hurts for my best friend.