Page 50 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"I'm very appreciative. By the way, we should talk about Chloe some time."

"If you want to know what's going on with her, you should ask her, not me," Adam said, his tone sharpening. "I need a drink. Can I get anyone anything?"

"No thanks," he said.

Lizzie shook her head and then frowned as Adam hurried away. "He can be so annoying," she said. "If he doesn't want to talk, he just shuts me down."

"Not everyone likes to talk as much as you do."

"I know that. But I'm worried about Chloe and I know Adam is, too."

"Yeah, he got rather heated about Kevin's behavior last night. He said a few things when you were on stage."

"Really?" She gave him a troubled look. "It's not like Adam to get in the middle of anyone's relationship, which is why I want to talk to him."

"Do you think he's in love with Chloe?"

"No," she said quickly. "I mean, I hope not. She's married."

"Maybe not happily."

"Adam and Chloe are friends. I know he would never hit on another man's wife. It's not who he is. He has a lot of integrity. He's probably the most ethical person I know."

Despite her words, he sensed she wasn't as convinced as she was saying.

"He just cares a lot about Chloe," she added.

"Maybe a little too much," he suggested.

"You can't care too much about your friends."

"Sure you can. You can care too much about a lot of things. Caring makes you weak, vulnerable, and sometimes it can bring you pain or distracts you from what else you want in life."

She gave him a thoughtful look. "You speak like someone who's been burned by love, but you said last night you don't have relationships. Is that why? Did you love someone too much?"

He stared back at her. "I did. Which is why I don't do love anymore."

"That seems like a sad and lonely way to live."

"I have a great life and a lot of fun. It's not sad at all."

"But at the end of the day, you're alone."

"You can be in a relationship and still be alone. That's why you have to be happy with yourself. There's no guarantee anyone else will stick around forever."

"What was her name?" she asked.

Before he could answer, Noah and Patty interrupted them.

"Lizzie," Patty said, giving her a tentative smile. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have a request."

"What's that?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, Noah and I are getting to know each other, and I realize that I was supposed to check out today, and Noah has been kind enough to wait for me to leave the room he needs to be in, but we've become friends, and…well, we're wondering if you have another room, or if I could switch into Noah's room, and he could take mine. Would that work?"

"Oh, no, I'm sorry. Noah's room is already spoken for. I have a couple arriving later tonight, who will be in that room."

Patty's face fell. "Of course, it's spoken for." She gave Noah a sad look. "We tried. I guess I should just get going then if I want to get on the road before dark."

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