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

Chapter 190 I'm Getting Sober

*Trisha*

I bite my thumbnail nervously while watching the news. Casey and Jonah are sitting and watching it as well. Nate is on the phone with Paul, apparently dealing with something related to Julia. For once, I can't blame her if she is having a fit. Her ex-husband just told the world she killed her own son. Then her ex-boyfriend goes and slugs him. And now it's all over the news. I have a feeling Evan has something to do with that. 

"Why would he say something like that?" Casey frowns as the scene on TV is replayed. "She obviously didn't kill her son. It was a head-on collision, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Her son was texting while driving. He was responding to a text Julia sent him." Jonah explains, and I sink into the couch a little more. Julia probably already blames herself, just like I blame myself for not being the one to get behind the wheel when James was tired. If I were driving, he wouldn't have fallen asleep at the wheel and run that red light, so I get it. But to have someone she was married to tell everyone it's all her fault? That's debilitating for Julia.

Jonah and Casey's conversation fades into the background as I listen to Nate talk on the phone. He is literally telling Paul how to get Julia to stop crying step by step. Right down to how to hold her and what to say. Nate always knew what to do. I think it's because of Cara, so Nate is used to it. 

When Nate ends the call, all eyes are on him. He drops his head back on his pillow and stares up at the ceiling. This is just another thing for Nate to stress about. Jonah pulls up a chair beside his bed, choosing to be a friend rather than a nurse. Something Nate needs right now. I come off too harshly when we try to talk about Julia. But Jonah doesn't.

"It should be me with her," Nate mutters.

"I know, friend," Jonah says.

"You've definitely made headlines on the news today, Playboy," I attempt to lift his spirits. When is Nate NOT headlining the news these days?

"What else is new?" He sighs.

*****

A good ten minutes go by before Evan returns, sporting a guilty look on his face. It WAS him who leaked the footage.

"What the hell were you thinking, Scofield?!" Nate pulls off his blood pressure cuff and slams on the button of the monitor to silence it. 

"I'm sorry, sir. My intentions were only for your benefit." Evan stands straight and keeps his eyes on Nate.

"The whole world is seeing this? Me punching someone? Can you imagine how Julia feels with this all over the news? You didn't think about that, did you?"

"No, sir. And to answer your question, I'm sure she feels terrible. No, I didn't think about Miss Moretti's reaction to this. But, Mr. Hollan, the man went on TV and told his side of the story, making you look at fault. I needed to set things straight so everyone was aware of what really happened. Again, my apologies. I didn't think it would air right away. I was hoping to come up and make you aware first."

"Jesus, Evan." Nate shakes his head, but I give him a look. He's being a little hard on the guy. Evan meant well, but his approach was poor.  "You should have asked me first! Gotten my approval!"

"Yes, sir."

I study the bodyguard, standing with his shoulders back like one of his commanding officers in the Army is reprimanding him. He's polite, apologetic, and agrees with everything Nate says w and to the point, and that frustrates Nate. He's trying to get a rise out of Evan, but it's not working. Evan is just like Paul. Maybe that's why I have a soft spot for him.