*Trisha*

 It took me a full week to rearrange Nate's schedule so he could go home to London to visit his aunt for the weekend. I help him pack his bag and wait for his driver with him. I know he needs this. Dealing with Cara alone has got to be hard, and he doesn't let anyone help him. I feel awful for him. Once he's gone, I clean up around his house and lock up for him.

I haven't heard from or seen "James The Receptionist" since the day he delivered waters to Julia's room, but I didn't really expect to either. I think we are just friends. Which is fine by me. I'm too busy for anything more.

Once I'm in my car I decide maybe I'll text him and see if he wants to grab coffee. Right as I'm about to a text comes in, interrupting me.

[ Hey. Looks like I'm gonna be in town for a while. Can we please talk over coffee today? I really want to clear the air. ]

Dave. Shit. Why the hell is he texting me? And why the hell am I about to respond?

 Because the truth is- he's my addiction.

*****

*James*

The week flew by. I didn't get to see my mom the past weekend thanks to her not having a great day with awful abusive memories clouding her mind. Lindsay let me stay with her for the weekend which Maggie loved. I know me and Linds will only be friends but she's a good friend to me. I'll always care for her.

The workweek sucked ass, but I didn't let it get to me. I had a therapy appointment, a group grief counseling session and spent the rest of my free time with Lindsay and our dog. Mostly working out and running since we are both health addicts. It helps Lindsay likes to cook and fed me well.

This weekend is the weekend Julia heads home to Boston to visit her family. One thing with Julia...she keeps quit about her personal life. I know absolutely nothing about her family aside from a husband she is no longer with.  

She has avoided me this week once again, being busy with Hollan for rehearsals and interviews. By the time she did walk through the lobby doors she was exhausted and went straight to her room. They are clearly fucking on the side. How no one has caught on to this and how it hasn't made the news is beyond me but I'm still not giving up on her. Not yet.

*****

*Trisha*

"Ok... Go ahead." I say harshly. I sit in my same booth with Dave across from me, uninterested in what he has to say and still uneasy about being near him. Things didn't end well between us and got messy towards the end of our relationship. But if Dave is gonna be here for a while then we need to set boundaries and get over this shit.

Dave lets out a sigh and I study the "Ken doll" in front of me. He could be a model, that's a given. But that's not what attracts me to him.  There's something else. I hate to admit it but there's something both him and Nate share that I can't get enough of.  It's more than just physical attraction. Like Nate, Dave is broken inside and like Nate, he hides it well. 

"I just wanted to let you know I'm doing better. I'm not asking for anything from you, Trisha. You know that. But I'm gonna be here for a few months on a work project and don't want things to be awkward every time we bump into each other."

"After today, I don't really see us seeing each other, Dave. You know that, right?" I bravely say but then melt the minute he takes both my hands in his.

"I know. I'm not even asking for friendship. But, Trish, I'll always care for you. We were gonna get married."

I look at the man across from me holding my hands and sigh. "I know. I'm glad you're not drinking anymore. That shit really messed you up."

"Sure did. I can't believe I let it get that bad. I wanted to see you today to apologize. Not because it's one of my AA steps or anything like that, Trisha. Because I never did apologize to you, and you deserve that much. I really am sorry for how everything went down between us. You know I never meant to hurt you. I was a monster, and I know this now." He looks down at my shaky hands in his and let's go, placing his hands on his coffee cup.

I don't know why my hands still shake when I'm around him. I don't FEEL scared. But for some reason my body says otherwise. It's a reaction I can't control.

"I never want to be the one to make you shake like this. I never meant to be that guy. I really am sorry. "

"I know, Dave. Thank you. I'm glad you are getting the help you need."

We talk for a good hour on stupid shit. His life. My life. The past. He really has changed, hasn't he? He's like the Dave I first met, not Drunk Dave.

And the truth is, I may always be addicted to him like I'm addicted to Nate.