Page 5 of Graves

Unable to think.

I spot my phone on the armchair, stumble over, and dial Fox’s number with trembling fingers.

“Graves,” my bodyguard grumbles. “This better be important. I’m trying to sleep here.”

“He… he won’t wake up,” I stammer, gasping for air.

“Who?”

“Ben! I… I… It was an accident!”

“Accident? What are you talking about?”

“Fox! Please! I— Fuck!”

“It’s okay. I’m on my way.”

His room is only two doors down, but in the two minutes it takes for him to knock, I down another glass of whiskey and rush to the bathroom to wash the blood off my hands.

Fox shows up in black sweatpants, a beige hoodie, and sneakers—a stark contrast to his usual suited look. “What happened?” he asks, yawning as he steps inside.

“He’s bleeding!”

“What?”

Fox snaps awake instantly. He spots Ben on the floor and rushes over. “Ben!”

I continue pacing, punching my wrist and babbling nonsense while Fox checks him.

“How long has he been like this?”

“I don’t know! We were fighting and then I… I didn’t mean to!”

“He needs a doctor.”

“What? But…” Tears burn my eyes. My thoughts won’t stop screaming.

Fox picks up the room phone and tells the concierge there’s an emergency.

“But he’s gonna be okay, right?” I ask once he hangs up.

“Aran, sit down. You’re driving me crazy pacing like that.”

“But…”

“I don’t know, okay? I’m not a doctor. Ben doesn’t look good.”

He’s right. I’m spinning in circles. I’m dizzy and overwhelmed.

It doesn’t take long before Leslie, my manager, and Pete, Ben’s manager, are in the room, paying off the concierge to keep everything quiet while paramedics work on Ben. When they wheel him out, I try to follow, but Fox holds me back.

“Where are you going?” he demands.

“To the hospital.”

“No. There’s nothing you can do there. We’ll go in the morning. You need to calm down first.”

“But… I should be with him.”