*James*

[Hey. You never answered me earlier. Is everything fine?]

Shit.  I completely forgot to text Julia back.

[Sorry. I went to the hotel to lift weights and then went for a run. I didn't see your message. Yes, everything is fine. All good. ]

[call me]

"What's up, babe?" I sit up in bed now and pinch the tension at the bridge of my nose. I'm really hoping she's in a good mood. You just never know by the hour lately and I'm starting to feel emotionally drained with everything going on in life.

"I don't know. I feel like you're so far away lately."  Julia softly sighs on the other end of the call.

"How so? I've been with you practically every day?" This is the first night I've slept in my own bed in, Christ, I don't know how long.

"Emotionally, James. You know what I mean. You seem so far away emotionally."

"I'm fine." I respond, but it comes off flat.

"Can you hang up and have 'my best friend James' call me back when he gets a chance? You know, the best friend who tells me everything? Who I tell everything to? Cuz, this guy... he's got the wrong number." Julia teases me. I laugh a little. Then, let out a long sigh.

"I just miss you. We went from being alone together every single night for hours and hours in the lobby... to not being able to be alone at ALL lately. I feel like we are in a long-distance relationship or something. We can't even have a private conversation without someone being there. Jonah and fucking Nate see more of you than I do lately. It's frustrating." I vent. 

"I'm sorry. I'm trying to get better. I am-"

"I know you are, sweetie. None of this is your fault. I'm just missing you. The real Julia. Not the act you have to put on for the nurse. Pretending you're fine so you can get through another day."

"I'm just trying to get out of here as soon as possible, that's all." She explains.

"I MISS you miss you." My voice gets a little lower. Julia knows what I mean. We haven't been able to be alone in forever. I can't remember the last time we had sex.

"I MISS you miss you too. Believe me...I do..."

"I feel like I was getting more action when you were messing with Hollan on the side. Now NO ONE is getting any." I joke but when you think about it...it's kinda true. I'm almost wondering if one of her medications decreases urges.

"Well don't worry. I'm sleeping on this damn recliner while you're not here so there will be no fooling around here."

"Babe. sleep in the bed. Don't sleep in that thing. Seriously. I already know shit happens with you and Nate. You're not Luke though. Stop treating yourself like him. Hell, why do you think I came home? That recliner may have cost an arm and a leg but it hasn't been broken into. It's so uncomfortable. Sleep in a bed."

"I want to sleep in YOUR bed." She whispers. Christ, she needs to stop talking like that. It's already been forever...her voice talking about being in my bed sure as hell isn't helping.

"Mmhmm. I want you in my bed right now too."

"Wait." Julia pauses like a light bulb went off in her head. "I took my meds for the night. And I ate. A lot. Long story but I did everything I was supposed to. Why can't I spend the night with you and just come back here in the morning? It's only 9pm."

"God I need that to happen." I blurt out desperately.

*****

Jonah FINALLY can't come up with a reason  to keep Julia at Nate's so she gets to be mine for the night.

"Thanks for picking me up. My car...well Nate's car, has been sitting at the hotel since before my detox." She hops in to my SUV and I smile at her. I really didn't want to go up to the apartment and have to see everyone. All I want to see is Julia.

"No, thank YOU for figuring out a way to sleep somewhere other than Nate Hollan's bed. Do you want to go to the hotel first? You said you needed to grab some more clothes, right?" I ask.

"If you don't mind, yeah."

"We'll use the side door. I don't feel like dealing with Cheryl tonight. I didn't give a very detailed reason on my leave of absence. Let's just hope my job is still waiting for me when I return or I'm screwed." I joke as we pull up to the Marriott.

"I'll make sure you have a job. I will talk to Nate." 

"You think he's some God or something that everyone bows down to, don't you?" I shake my head and look away from her for a second.

"No, but he has a way with his words and with his money. If he wants something bad enough, he'll get it." Julia says.

"Yet you're coming home with me tonight." I glance over to Julia and raise my eyebrows.

"Because I could give two shit about Nate Hollan's money. About anyone's money. You know that."

"I think that's one of the reasons he loves you so much."

"And the way you put your family first and take care of your mother and sisters is one of the reasons I love YOU so much. C'mon."

We park and get up to the 4th floor and into the hotel room. Julia packs a bag while I sit on her bed and wait. Then  walks over and stands in front of me. I look up in to her eyes as she swipes her hair off to one shoulder. It's the little things she does that drive me insane.

"You ready?" She asks. I shake my head and pull her in between my knees, wrapping my arms around her hips.

"No..."I rest my chin on her stomach and look up at her. Julia threads her fingers through my hair, and I let out a slight hum. She knows I love that. God it's been forever since we've been alone. 

"I've missed being alone with you. I don't want to rush it, though. I don't care if we stay up all night and I sleep all day tomorrow." She says.

"Oh yeah, Miss Moretti? Watch what you say because you KNOW I'm a night owl. I'm not tired at all...." I smile devilishly.

"Oh, I'm aware..."

"I have an idea. But you gotta be real quiet, ok? C'mon." I grab her hand and drag her out of the hotel room. We use the stairs to get all the way down to the first floor.

"James," She whispers but I don't respond. I pull out my  key card and unlock the  glass door. The room is completely dark, except for the light coming from the windows on the other side.

"Cmon. The pool is closed now. No one will even know we're down here."

I take off my shirt and throw it on one of the white plastic chairs.

"What? James. No. We can't." Julia says nervously, but I don't give her a chance to think about it. I stand up against her and slide my hands under her shirt, pulling it up over her head and throwing it off to the side."We can if we don't get caught."

"What if someone comes in?" 

"That's half the excitement. C'mon. Live a little."  I push down her shorts for her to step out of and slide my shorts off as well, making  pile of clothes on the chair.

The only light being, the natural light coming from the windows.

"We're finally alone." I lean my forehead on Julia's. 

"We are."  Julia  grins and looks at my lips. She stretches up to try and reach my mouth and kiss me but I back away slightly.

"Uh-uhh. Not yet. You know I won't be about to stop." I whisper against her lips. "I want this to last all night."

I back up to give us more space and look down at her green and white polka-dot bra and underwear.

"Take everything off, Julia." I demand.

"Wait... everything? Really, James, what if someone comes in here?"

"Everything. Let's go." I keep my eyes on her and take off my underwear revealing it HAS been a while. 

She's hesitant but I stare down at her until she finally takes off the rest of her clothing.

"Fuck." I mumble to myself when I look at the naked woman in front of me. She's always self-conscious, covering her stomach and looking down at her stretch marks embarrassed, but everything about her is perfect to me.

 Once she's naked we quietly walk own the steps into the heated pool. Julia is paranoid and keeps looking  at the door.

"What's the worst that can happen, someone tells on us and we have to get out? Relax, babe." I sink in to the water and bring her in with me. While holding her hand In start walking out to where the windows don't shine  light and the area of the pool is much darker. The only problem is,  Julia can't touch the bottom.

"Is this really over your head now?" I smirk, looking at the 5ft. mark on the side of the pool. I wrap her arms around my neck so our faces are almost touching.

"This is really over my head now."

"Guess that means you better hold on tight." I lightly peck the side of her mouth and feel myself stir under the water. Taking things slow might be a problem for me.

"James, I don't really know how to swim well." Julia admits and my eyebrows raise in shock.

"Really? Even living on the East Coast?"

"I mean, I can get from point A to point B, but that's about it."

I laugh and slowly twirl us around in the water a few times. I  walk us over to the dark corner of the pool, but it is way over Julia's head now, so I head towards the edge to calm her nerves. There's a good-sized ledge to hold on to, so she lets go of me and leans her elbows back on the ledge while the rest of her body floats. I push her knees apart and step in between then, hold her waist, wrapping her legs around me.

"Now what?" She whispers in the dark.

"Now I'm gonna kiss you, but you're in charge of stopping it. I don't want to have sex in here, and you know I won't be able to stop." I exhale, feeling her body against me under water. God, all I'd have to do is shift a little and I could take her right here. But having sex in the pool isn't all it's cracked up to be and I rather do it outside of chlorinated water for multiple reasons.

"Have you had sex in a pool before, Mr. Gallo??" Her lips graze my cheek. We are so close now that our bodies are pressing against each other, but I am not lined up to her on purpose.

"Why yes, yes I have. And it's overrated." I sigh.

"Is it.. I wouldn't know."

"You were one of those good girls in high school, weren't you?" I laugh a little while asking my question. She doesn't answer. Instead, she kisses me, unable to wait any longer. We make out like a couple of teenagers for a few minutes until we are both aching for relief.

"James..." She breaks away and kisses down my neck. She's breathing a little heavier and her hands lips are everywhere.

"Julia."

"I can't wait any longer." She presses her body up against mine harder. Fuck.

"Are you begging, Miss Moretti?" I gaze down into her eyes and smile.

"I really am..."

*****

*Trisha*

"What the hell is going on with you?" Nate asks. Why did I bother picking up the phone? I knew he would be moody tonight. He thinks I'm acting shady.

"Listen, I will tell you. But I don't want you to worry, ok? I mean it, Nate. That heart of yours can't handle shit. I'll come over." I stop short. "Wait. Do you have a house full over there?"

"Julia isn't here if that's what you're trying to ask. The nurse gave her a clean bill of health to go fuck her boyfriend all night." He says sharply.

"Nice, Nate. Real Nice." I hang up, take a deep inhale and park the car. I was already here but wanted to make sure he was awake. Do I really want to do this tonight? I do. Yeah, I do. I can't go home. This night has been too fucked up to be home alone now.

I let myself in like always. He's in the shower so I head in. I've noticed I barge in on his shower time quite frequently these days. But maybe this will work to my advantage. I'm pretty good at holding in my emotions but if I do start crying, he won't notice with the shower water.

"Knock, knock. You better be alone in here, Hollan." I slowly open the door to the bathroom. 

"You know I am. Where were you? Waiting outside my fucking loft when you called?" He says sarcastically.  I really was waiting outside his loft though. I made it here within five minutes.

"I'm coming in."

I strip down and go into the shower.

"May I help you?" Nate raises an eyebrow while rinsing his hair. He smirks but I'm not smiling, and his smile quickly fades as his face changes to a more serious expression.

 I KNEW I wouldn't be able to hold it in like I wanted to. I cover my face and cry. Not just cry. I sob. Nate wraps his arms around me all confused.

"Trish. What happened?"

"He's back."

*****