*James*

I spent all of yesterday ignoring everyone under the Hollan roof. Instead, I headed to Lindsay's house to give Maggie some much needed attention. I think my pup could tell her owner was having a rough day. The Golden Retriever pounced on me the second she saw me and was all over me with love and wagging her tail.

"She's missed you."  Lindsay sits on the front step while I kneel down and pet Maggie. "That, or you're going through something hard, and she's in her 'therapy dog' mode." Lindsay studies my face. "James. is it your father??"

"No. Nothing like that. I'm just stressed out a little." I scruff up Mag's ear, and she rests her head on my bent knee.

"Is it that girl Julia? They still talk about her and my husband on tv." She waves her hand in a fanning motion near her face like she's all hot and bothered. God, if she only knew the REAL Nate Hollan. If she only knew I fucked up his perfect face this morning.

"Just everything. I'm gonna take Maggie for a run but unsure if I can keep her overnight. Not sure what's going on..." I sigh. I just want to spend time with my dog and go back to a simple life.

"No worries. I'll only be gone a few hours later. I've got a hot date tonight..." She smirks and I raise my eyebrows at her. "Don't worry. I'm spending the night at home. Unlike YOU... I have some self-control." Lindsay teases.

"If I recall, you were the one calling me up at work wanting to fuck in a storage room before."

"Yeah yeah yeah. Go take your dog for a run." She laughs and walks back into her house to get ready for her date.

****

First message I get when I wake up this morning isn't from Julia. No, it's from the nurse Jonah. 

 "Guys, she's struggling. Like REALLY struggling. This is why I'm having this meeting with you." Jonah sits at the dining room table, forcing me and Nate in this meeting. He made Trisha take Julia out to run errands with her, food shopping, and Target to stock up on supplies. Paul is also with them. 

"We already know this, Jonah. This is not new news." Nate blurts out, irritated that he's in the same room as me. Neither of us will even look at each other, never mind having a conversation.

"No. Nate. She's really struggling. It's not getting better. It's getting worse." Jonah starts. "Something happened last night. I don't know. It's hard to explain. Last night... Not just last night. God... I know I'm not making sense here." The nurse is struggling to find the words sand that concerns me. He's usually very straight forward.

"You're really not. What are you trying to say, Jonah??" I question.

"I think she's still suicidal. Or at least having thoughts about it."

The room falls silent. Completely silent. For a good minute straight while both me and Nate stare at Jonah dumbfounded.

Did he just say what I think he said? Did Julia mention wanting to her life or give him that impression somehow? My palms suddenly get clammy, and I feel lightheaded.

"Then find the RIGHT FUCKING MEDS to help her!! What the hell are you doing Jonah??" Nate bursts out and stand ups, banging both my hands on the table hard and letting the chair fall back and hit the ground. "Jesus Christ. Figure it out!"

He storms out to the balcony and slide the door hard. 

I shake my head and turn my focus back on the nurse.

"How do we help her??" I ask softly. "I can't... I don't...." I'm at a loss for words and put a hand on my forehead in frustration. "I don't know what to do."

"I know. This isn't something for you to fix, James.  I'm not asking anything of you. I just wanted to make you aware. In case you notice anything." The nurse says with empathy.

"What I notice is fucking Hollan is messing with her head." I sigh without looking back towards the balcony. I know Jonah is on team Nate... but I'm on team Julia. All I want is her to be happy and healthy. She deserves that much.

****

*Trisha*

I have to play pretend today. Jonah needs to have a private meeting with Nate and James about Julia's wellbeing. So, I have to pretend like I WANT Julia to come run errands with me. There was a time in the beginning when I first met Julia where a day like today would actually be fun. She was easy to talk to and fun to shop with. Things changed once she started sleeping with Nate, and James....God who will be her next victim.  Paul? Jonah? Whoever else she can catch in her web.

I never food shop myself in the actual grocery store. It's always easier for me to do it online and set up a pickup time at my convenience.  I think Paul and Julia are catching on that I have no clue where I'm going as I nonchalantly walk down aisles without picking anything out. Mainly because I already have a grocery order scheduled for later this afternoon.

"Trisha. Stop. Please." Julia grabs my attention, and I turn around. 

"What?" I shrug my shoulders.

"Can we just leave. You know you don't physically go into grocery stores to shop. You do it all online. Can we please just cut the act?"

"Fine. I give up." I push the carriage off to the side and throw my hands up in defeat as we head to the exit.

"Why is he doing this?" Julia asks.

"I haven't a clue. But he had some kind of meeting and needed everyone out of the apartment. That's all I know."

"You schedule his entire life. You probably schedule what time he can take a shit every morning. Trisha, you must know." Julia says sarcastically once we are outside.

"Seriously, I really don't. Believe it or not. I had no part in whatever's going on right now. My job was to ensure no one was around. That's it. And you're making my job fucking hard, Moretti." I snap as we pile in to my car. "So I don't know where to go then."

"Can you take me back to the hotel for a while? I want to grab some clothes." Julia asks softer. Shit. I probably got her upset when I snapped.

"I can do that."

We head to the Marriott.

"I may take a shower too while I'm here and have all my stuff." 

"Take your time. We can't go back till I get a text from Nate, anyway." I head to the coffee bar and Paul follows me while Julia heads to her room.

*****

James

"What do you mean, you can't get into her room?" Nate says and I listen in on his conversation.

Me and Jonah both stare at him while Trisha rambles on and then hangs up.

"Fuck."

"What's going on?" Jonah gets up from his chair and walks over to Nate, filled with concern.

"They're at the hotel. Julia wanted to go up to her room for a while but isn't opening the door for Trisha. "

"Paul should have a key to get in." I chime in.

"Yeah, not on him. This was unplanned and the lobby is packed today. He can't really advertise he needs to get into a room on the 4th floor. I need to go figure out what's going on."  Nate grabs his wallet and pulls out a Marriott key card.

"Wait. I should go and check on her." I stand up

"Like hell you will, James." Before I can even say another word Nate hops in the elevator and the door closes.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shake my head and look at Jonah.

"Let him go. He is used to dealing with her when she gets like this. He's had experience with his sister who is bipolar. We haven't." Jonah admits. "I could do all the research in the world on my laptop and still never fully understand what to do when she gets like this." He sighs. "Let Nate deal with the hard shit."