There was still no response. I shook him again. Still nothing. I shook him harder and he finally moaned.

"Jesus, Reed. What are you doing out here?"

He didn't respond but moaned louder. At least I knew he was alive. I tried to pull him up, but it was clear he was too heavy for me to move on my own. I ran back out into the hallway and called for Robbins. There must have been terror in my voice because he came flying around the corner.

"I need help," I told him, running back to Reed with Robbins following closely after me.

He didn't say a word or panic when he saw Reed passed out on the couch outside. It made me wonder if he’d seen him this bad before.

"We need to get him warm. Can you help me bring him in the bathroom?"

He nodded and then, in one effortless movement, pulled Reed up into a sitting position before bringing him up to standing. I situated myself the best I could on the other side of him, brought his right arm around my shoulder, and placed both of my hands on his chest, trying to hold him steady, yet Robbins was doing most of the work.

As we carried him toward the bathroom, soft moans came out of him and his head bobbed from side to side. Eventually, it fell down toward his chest. Every few seconds, I would glance up and see his eyes flutter open, but then he would close them again.

We placed him in the bathtub. Robbins held him up while I turned on the warm water and began to fill up the tub. Turning back around, I helped Robbins take off his shirt and pants, leaving only his boxers, and lower him into the tub. Much to my surprise, he didn't wake when the warm water began to pool up around him.

"Should we call an ambulance?"

Robbins had been staring at Reed. When I spoke, he then looked at me. "No. He wouldn't want to draw any more attention to himself right now. It would only make matters worse. It may be hard to believe, but I've seen him worse. He'll be fine."

My heart squeezed. Worse? I've never seen anyone this drunk before in my life. Even living in Vegas, I’d seen many drunk people, but never completely incoherent.

"Can you take it from here?" Robbins asked. When I glanced up at him, he was looking away from me and away from Reed.

"Um, yeah, I think I've got it," I said around the large lump in my throat. I wasn’t sure why Robbins was in such a hurry to get out of here, but I couldn’t help but think it had something to do with seeing him like this in the past. The lump felt like it was growing larger each second. I had so many emotions going on inside me right now. I was confused, scared, nervous, sad, and angry. I didn't know quite what to feel. I just wanted him to wake up. I wanted him to be okay.

Robbins exited the bathroom, leaving me alone with Reed. I let the water fill up until it covered most of his chest. Then I sat there, trying to think of what I was going to say to Lexi. I had to call, and soon. I knew how worried she was earlier, but now, I knew she would be even more so.


A FEW hours passed before Reed even moved. Then it was another few minutes before he opened his eyes and leaned forward a little. I had drained the water from the tub a while ago and packed blankets in around him.

When he finally began to look around, it took him a few seconds to spot me.

“Emily?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

“How are you feeling?” I swallowed hard. I was nervous at how he would react to seeing me there. He had clearly given Robbins orders to stay away and to not tell Lexi what was going on. He couldn’t be happy to see me there right now.

He leaned his head back against the tub and groaned. “Not so good.”

“Yeah, I bet not.”

“What are you doing here?” His voice was curious, but not angry.

“Lexi called me earlier. She was worried about you and asked me to stop by.”

“Oh, man.” He shook his head and winced. “Have you called her yet? Does she know anything?”

“No.” I didn’t want to call Lexi and tell her I found her brother passed out drunk on his balcony.

“Good. I’ll call her in a little while. I don’t want her knowing about this, okay?” His right eye cracked open, and he glanced over at me.

“She’s coming home from her trip early, probably tomorrow,” I told him. “She’s going to find out one way or the other.”

He sighed and shook his head again. “I’ll talk to her. She needs to stay away for a few more days. The reporters left my place last night, but Peters and Warren said they’re still lingering over at hers.” He opened both eyes slightly and looked at me. “How about you? How are you?”

Is he really asking me that right now?

“I’m fine. I’m more concerned for you right now.”

“Why? I’m fine. Great. Perfect.” He smiled but still looked tired.

“Really? Because you look like shit,” I commented dryly.

He laughed and then moaned again, grabbing his head. “Some aspirin would work wonders right now.”

“Let me go see what I can find.” I got up and left him alone in the bathroom, hoping he didn’t stumble if he attempted to move out of the tub.

As I made my way into the kitchen, I saw Robbins standing at the living room windows, gazing out at the city with a solemn expression. I had barely spoken a few words to the man, but my heart hurt looking at him. He looked upset, alone, and lost. I wondered what was going through his head right now but knew it wasn’t appropriate of me to ask him. “Reed’s awake,” I said, making my presence known.

“That’s good.” Robbins nodded his head, continuing to stare out the window. He didn’t move from the time it took me to go into the kitchen, find the aspirin, and come back. He looked like a man that didn’t want to be disturbed.

When I went back into Reed’s bathroom, I found the tub empty. Reed then came out from his closet in a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt in his hands, chest exposed. My eyes ran up the length of it, finally meeting his eyes. He was already looking at me.

“Here.” I held the bottle of aspirin out for him before looking down, embarrassed that he caught me staring.

He pulled the shirt over his head and then took the bottle.

“What happened out there?” I jerked my head toward the balcony.

“It doesn’t happen all the time. Actually, I think I’ve only been that drunk a couple times in my life. Last night and—and then a couple years ago.” He threw a couple aspirins in his mouth and swallowed. “I don’t even remember most of last night, but I remember being out on the balcony.”

“You could have been hurt, or worse. You could have frozen out there overnight.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic.” His voice was condescending as he rolled his eyes.

“You were freezing and drunk and you could’ve—” My voice was stern.

“I’m fine.” He cut me off, his voice flat. He narrowed his eyes on me before turning around to splash some water on his face.

Why is he giving me attitude? I’m just trying to help him.

“I’m glad you’re okay, but I think I’ll be going now. Just call Lexi. She’s been a nervous wreck.” I didn’t regret coming over and I was glad he was okay, but it was clearly time for me to go.

He sighed as he ran a towel down his face. “Wait, Emily. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you. I’m just mad at myself, okay?”

“It’s fine. Just call Lexi.” I turned around and grabbed my purse, but before I could step out of the bathroom, he grabbed my arm.

“Wait, don’t go. I was just being an ass. Please, just stay for a while.”

My eyes focused on his hand on my arm. My whole body tensed. I could feel my body wanting to react, wanting to use the moves I’d learned in my self-defense classes. It took me a minute to remember I wasn’t being attacked and Reed wasn’t trying to hurt me.

He let go, sensing something in me. “Emily, I’m so sorry.” He swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t have done that. I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Just don’t go, please. Let me make you some breakfast,” he said.

“Reed, I can’t. I have to get going.”

“Please. Just breakfast.”

“It’s noon.” I looked up at him.

“Then I’ll make you some lunch.” He grinned coyly.

I felt that familiar ache in my chest, the one I got whenever I was around him, creep its way up, making it hard to say no.

“Only if you call your sister first.” I pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him.


"I GUESS Robbins left." I looked around the apartment, taking my eyes away from Reed making me a sandwich.

"Yeah, I guess so." He sounded defeated and maybe even a little ashamed.

"He was pretty worried about you earlier."

Reed swallowed hard. "I'm sure he was. I'll have to apologize to him later."

"Has he worked for you long?"

"As long as I can remember. He was a part of my dad's security team, so I've known him since I was just a kid. Actually, there aren't too many memories I have without him." He got a distant look on his face before continuing. "He really cares about me and Lexi. He took what happened a couple years ago really hard. He was supposed to be with us that night at dinner, but he had been sick with the flu and my dad gave him the night off. He puts a lot of blame on himself for the attack. He feels somewhat responsible."

My heart ached for Robbins. "That's awful, but he has to know that wasn't his fault."

"Yeah, I think he knows that now. It took him a year before he would even speak to me, though. I hired Peters and Warren for Lexi, but I only wanted Robbins. He was the only person I trusted."