“You don’t know anything about me, and I want to be like that. I can’t do that with you ruining everything.” They had reached the first landing, between the first and second floors, when she stopped short, her eyes big and glassy.

“Are you going to be sick?”

She took a couple of deep breaths and shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Which room is yours?”

“I’m not telling you that. Go home, Adam. I don’t need you to save me from myself.”

“You need someone to save you before you make a huge mistake that you’ll instantly regret.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t know where you get off thinking you know me better than I know myself,” she said, loud enough for everyone in the lobby to hear her. “If I want to drink and swear and have meaningless sex, it’s my business!”

“I’ll have meaningless sex with you, baby,” a male voice called up the stairs.

“Get your eyes off my wife,” Adam growled. He thought he heard the other man mutter, “Sorry” under his breath, but he wasn’t sure.

“I’m not his wife!”

“Move it,” Adam said to her. “I’m not leaving until you’re locked in your room.”

“How do you know I’ll stay there when you leave?”

“Who said I was leaving?”

“No one invited you to stay.”

“We’re making a scene. Let’s have this argument in your room.”

Scowling at him, she wrenched her arm free of his hold and marched unsteadily up the stairs. Adam followed a step or two behind, ready to catch her if she stumbled. On the third floor, she stopped outside Room 323.

“I’m here. You can go now.”

Not wanting to leave her upset and alone, Adam scrambled to think of some way to continue their “conversation.” But before he could come up with a plan, his phone dinged with a text that he only checked because he was concerned about his brother.

From Stephanie: Grant came into the restaurant. Went for a walk, forgot his phone. Crisis averted. Thx for the help.

No problem. Glad he’s okay.

“Well, that’s a relief,” Adam said to himself as much as to Abby. He fired off a quick text to his parents to let them know Grant was okay.

“What is?”

“Grant showed up at Stephanie’s restaurant. We couldn’t find him for a couple of hours.”

“Where was he?”

“Went for a walk and forgot his phone.”

Abby’s snort was most unladylike. “Grant? Walk for hours without his phone? That’ll be the day. He might miss a call from Hollywood, and the world will end.”

Adam laughed at her spot-on assessment of his brother. “Very true.” It was also yet another reminder of how out of character Grant’s recent behavior had been.

Abby leaned on the door jamb. “You’re worried about him.”