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

Chapter 175 The Garden

I watch her get escorted out by her own bodyguards and sniff Nate's shirt, scrunching up my nose. "God, Moretti was right. You fucking smell like her now. Go change your shirt, Playboy. You have soundcheck soon.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Nate brushes me off and rolls his eyes.

We walk out together and split up. Jonah and Casey are off to sightsee while Nate heads for soundcheck. Evan stays close, guiding us through the busy backstage halls. The venue is alive with movement, crew making adjustments, voices overlapping, and last-minute preparations.

Nate barely reacts. He's locked in and focused. Tonight will be amazing.

*****

It's now four in the afternoon. I sat in the audience to watch the entire soundcheck, and it was perfect. Now everyone is back together in the rec room, killing time before tonight's show. Nate is attempting to eat a little, though I think his nerves are getting to him about the concert tonight. His plate is still full. 

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and check messages.

[Wanted to keep you in the loop. Not texting Hollan because I know he has a big show tonight.

Oh, shit. It's Paul. This can't be good.

[Hey, Paulie. What's going on?]

[ It's all my fault, Trish. I should have known better.]

I want to get up and call him, but that would just draw attention and alert Nate. Whatever Paul has to tell me is stressful.

[What happened?]

[Julia. She got hold of extra Ativan and took all three of them. AFTER  already having two doses in her system. It's a shitshow here now, and she had to be moved to a regular room for IV fluids. Donovan is trying to flush out her system. Fortunately, Julia told me right away and didn't hide it this time, so she is getting the treatment she needs right away.]

Oh my God. SHIT! Paul is right. We can't tell Nate this before his concert. No way. But I do need to let Jonah know, so I open another text box and send him a screenshot of the conversation before replying to Paul.

[How is that your fault, Paul? What do you mean you should have known better? The girl's a fucking addict!]

[Yeah, I know, but.... she wouldn't have gotten the pills if she hadn't gone through my pockets. Jeremy thought she was still sleeping this morning when he handed me the meds. I put them in my pocket but she must have seen the exchange because she fucking got them while I was in the shower! I grabbed a nurse to get Donovan right away. It's such a mess, Trish. ]

Christ. Paul is going to beat himself up for this one. I can already tell he's blaming himself for this.

[Paul- none of this is your fault. Again, Julia is a substance abuser. She will find all kinds of ways to get her hands on that shit. That's what addicts do, so don't you dare start blaming yourself.]

While waiting for Paul to respond, I glance at Jonah, who is on the couch with Casey. I watch him look down at his phone. His eyes snap up to look at me, and my shoulders drop.

[Do NOT tell Nate this. Not right now. How did she get the Ativan?] Jonah texts back, but Paul doesn't. I had a feeling he wouldn't.

[Paul had her doses in his pocket. He said she must have seen Jeremy give them to him. They both thought she was still sleeping. She took them when Paul was in the shower. Good thing he only had three pills on him.]

I exhale sharply and watch Jonah show his screen to Casey. She throws her hand up to cover her mouth. Nate notices that and looks at all three of us now.

"What? What's going on?" He asks suspiciously.

"Everything's under control, Playboy."

"Bullshit." He snaps. "Is it James? Julia? What?"

"Julia, Nate. It's Julia." Jonah pushes his plate aside, wipes his mouth with his napkin, and walks from the couch to the table to sit across from Nate. "But everything is being handled, so there is no reason to worry, ok?"

"Tell me."

"Maybe we should wait-"

"Fucking tell me, Jonah!" Nate slams a fist on the table, making me flinch.

"Julia got her hands on some pills. Just a few, but enough to move her into an Avalon room for IV fluids. Trevor and a nurse are with James." Jonah explains, and I watch Nate's expression change from anger to shock to... sadness.

"Wha—what?" he stammers. "How many pills?"

Jonah hesitates. "It's... under control now."

"How many pills, Jonah? And how did she get them? How can she be in a FUCKING detox facility and get her hands on FUCKING pills?!"

Evan walks over and puts a firm hand on Nate's shoulder, his voice low. "Boss, let's go outside...get some air."

"No." Nate shoves his hand off, his gaze locked on me and Jonah. "I need answers."

Jonah exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. "She had two doses in her system. Then took three more Ativan pills."

"Oh my God..."

I shift in the chair and study Nate's face. "She told Paul right away."

"What?" His brows knit together.

"She didn't hide it this time," I explain. "She told him as soon as it happened. He had a nurse get Jeremy right when he found out, and they got her into an Avalon room right away...."

"She told him," Nate repeats.

Jonah nods. "Yeah. She knew she had done something wrong. She found the pills in his pocket. Apparently, Donovan gave Paul her daily doses when they thought she was sleeping. But she saw the transfer and when Paul was in the shower...she... went through his clothes. She's an addict, Nate. You and I would most likely do the same stupid shit if Paul was carrying bottles of whiskey in those pockets."

"This is all Donovan's fault. He NEVER should have started her back up on that shit in the first place."

"She's bipolar, Nate." I remind him.

"I know what she fucking is!" He stands up and slams his chair into the table, clearly pissed.

"So what happens now?" Casey asks in a small voice from the couch.

Jonah exhales sharply. "We wait."

"You're right." Nate turns to Evan. "I need air."

He pushes through the Rec Room doors, and Evan quickly follows him. I drop my head into my hands, feeling tears starting to form.

"She's gonna give him a fucking heart attack one of these days." I cry, and feel Jonah put a hand on my shoulder.

 Moretti will be the thing that kills Nate.

*****