*Trisha*

"I think they are blowing this out of proportion just a little, don't you?" Casey rolls her eyes just  like Julia does and looks away from the rec room TV.

"They'll make a story out of anything. Especially when it comes to Nate." I explain while watching a clip of Nate and Mila walking out of another venue hand in hand.

Jonah enters the rec room but without Nate.  We arrived at our destination- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but Nate had taken a nap in his bunk of the tour bus. No one wanted to wake him, but it's almost three in the afternoon, for God's sake. He's been sleeping a lot during the days and not enough at night.

"We'll let him rest another half hour," Jonah announces and heads straight to the buffet table.

"Hun, didn't you just eat lunch? Are you sure you don't REALLY have a tapeworm??" Casey giggles from the couch.

"Blah, blah, blah. This is a judgment free zone." He throws a grape at Casey.

"That's Planet Fitness, you dope." I sigh and look at the time on my phone. "Well, we have that online agenda meeting with management in an hour. Nate will need to be awake and ready for that. It's with all the big wigs, Richard.. and Leslie will be here shortly."

"You guys have a lot of meetings. I thought tour was just that...touring and concerts... isn't everything already planned in advance?" Casey asks. "These meetings are an unnecessary stressor for Nate."

"I know. What the hell do you want me to do about it? I'm just the personal assistant. My job is supposed to be fetching Nate fucking coffee and making sure he doesn't have spinach in his teeth. I don't know how I got roped into all this over the years." 

I realize Nate takes advantage of me a little more than other celebrities would their personal assistants but I'm not just his PA. I'm his anchor.

Over the years, some celebrity/ PA  relationships shift.... evolved past the standard assistant-celebrity dynamic. But we practically started attached to each other's hips and quickly became best friends in a short amount of time. Sure, I'm the one to schedule his flights, wrangle the press, and make sure he has the right mic for soundcheck, but it's more.  Nate relies on me to keep his damn world running. I'm the one who knows when he's overwhelmed before he even says it. I'm the one who makes sure he eats and forces him to take a breath when the chaos of the industry threatens to pull him under.  I'm the one to keep him sober, and I'm now the buffer between him and Richard Benson.

Other PAs wouldn't take the late-night calls when his voice is hoarse, and he just needs to vent. They wouldn't be the first person he looks for in a crowded room when things go sideways. It's not just about the job anymore. Nate relies on me. Trusts me in ways he wouldn't with anyone else. I know him inside and out, which is why during this upcoming meeting, we're suggesting Nate cut down on things and focus solely on getting up on that stage every night. I know Nate wants to take some weight off my shoulders by confronting Richard himself over this, but both me and Jonah agree it should be someone else explaining this to management. Someone who sees how tired Nate is and knows about his health. That's why Jonah is stepping up to be involved in this specific meeting.

"Trish, you look nervous." Evan snaps me out of my thoughts, and I didn't even notice how I was figiting with my hands.

"I hate this shit. I hate dealing with Richard." I take in a deep breath. Jonah sits next to me at the table, and I close my laptop to steal some of his grapes.

"I will be the one to talk, ok? I already know what I'm going to say." Jonah says calmly. How the hell does he always remain calm... all the time? 

*****

Jonah woke Nate up twenty minutes before the meeting so he could get dressed and pull himself together. He still looks tired, but as always- that doesn't make him any less attractive. Leslie gives him a wink and crosses her long legs, making her black skirt rise up but Nate isn't paying any attention to her while I fuck with his hair.

"Ok, are we ready?" Jonah asks when he glances up at the time.

"Let me be the one to talk first, ok Trish? Then if things go sideways, Jonah can take over but I want to be the one to bring it up."

"Nate.... listen to yourself. Your voice is all hoarse and you need to rest it before tonight's concert." I tuck a lock of his hair away from his forehead and gaze into his eyes.

"Good. Let Richard hear my voice and realize we're serious. I'm so tired... all the time." He admits and looks away.

"To be honest, I don't know how you manage to pull it together and still sound that good every night with your voice in this condition," Leslie remarks, shaking her head.

She's right.

Nate gives everything on stage. 110% without fail. But the second he steps off, it's obvious how much it's costing him. His exhaustion, his voice raw, strained from pushing past its limits. And yet, somehow, he keeps doing it. Night after night. Along with all the extra shit during the day. I'm happy Leslie is on board with this decision of cutting back. Maybe that will help our case with Richard.

Nate sighs. "Alright, let's do this and get it over with."

*****

"Your contract explicitly outlines the expectation that you will attend all scheduled interviews, meet-and-greets, and promotional events. These commitments are considered a fundamental part of your role and are required unless you are physically unable to participate due to health reasons. You look able to me." Richard states in a matter of fact way.

Things are NOT going well. Not at all.

"The concerts are taking a lot out of me, Richard. My voice is shot and I'm finding it harder to bounce back as quickly as I used to." Nate was adament about being the one to approach management first but everyone around the table in L.A. are just taking notes. They aren't saying a word and this has become a battle between Richard and Nate alone.

"Hollan, This is the reality of the industry...commitments were made, expectations set, and responsibilities agreed upon from the start. You knew what to expect going on tour. This isn't your first time. The contracts aren't just paperwork; they're promises to fulfill. Do your job."

A lump forms in my throat as Nate's eyes widen. He nervously scratches the back of his shoulder and I turn to Jonah and raise my brows for him to step in. He nods but Nate continues the conversation.

"I'm trying to do my job! My job is getting up on that stage and performing! You added all this other fluff to-"

"Fluff? Is that what you just called it? Nate, let me remind you how much you get paid for each day of "Fluff" you partake in."

 Oh fuck.

"And let me remind you the percentage of that pay that goes into your wallet!"

Jonah quickly swivels the laptop away from Nate to take over. Nate stands  and begins pacing the room where Richard can't see him. He's not listening to anything Jonah is saying to Richard about his health and limitations. I can tell. He's too pissed off and in his own head now.

Then...I see it.

He closes his eyes, grits his teeth. He's having chest pains again. If Julia doesn't kill him with stress, Richard's gonna.

"I need air." Nate gets Evan's attention and they leave the room  together. Leslie glances at me while Jonah continues the meeting. We both saw it. Whether it's a panic attack or his arrythmia or what- Nate needs to slow down. Something's not right with him.

I tune out Jonah and Richard all together until the meeting is over and the laptop is closed.

"That guy really is a dick." Jonah drags his hands down his face.

"Told ya." I shake my head.

"And don't think I didn't see Nate's chest pains before he left either. I'm gonna talk to him about that and see what's going on." Jonah follows me out while Leslie stays in the room with her own laptop, busying herself with who knows what.

When we walk into the rec room, Nate is sitting on the couch. He straightens up when he hears us and Jonah glances at him.

Jonah steps closer, lowering his voice. "Nate..."

"I'm fine," Nate snaps. He's not fine. He's not fucking fine and Jonah is not convinced.

"What did Richard say?" Nate shifts, steering the conversation away before Jonah can press further. I sink into the couch beside him, and without hesitation, his arm drops from the backrest, settling around my shoulders like second nature. I love how he leans into me without thinking.

Jonah exhales with a steady voice. "Same as before. He's all about sticking to the schedule, making sure you're ready for Madison Square Garden."

Nate scoffs under his breath, shaking his head. "Of course he is."

His fingers flex slightly against my shoulder as he drops his head back on the couch and closes his eyes. He's tired. Worn thin. I'm now regretting the surprise I have for him when he gets to New York.

 Really regretting it.

*****