Max: Have her come here

Before Jeff can make a decision, Max says loud enough for Lucy to hear "have her come here. It's dead tonight and you can have the privacy of the pool room."

Jeff gives Max a **** stare. Was that a joke? Letting Lucy know where they were was the last thing he wanted.

"Who was that?" Lucy asks. "That wasn't Will. Was that...are you at Gestalt?"

"Hey Lucy," Max says not even giving Jeff a chance to bluff. This used to be Jeff and Will's safe space, but at some point, Lucy started insisting she come along. When Jeff and Will needed to get away from her to talk they had to find an excuse, so they took up playing pool. While they played Lucy would sit at the bar chatting with the bartender. It was usually Max, so they were on friendly terms. He never would have admitted it but he always had a crush on how devoted Lucy seemed to be.

"Max?" Lucy says with a questioned shock. "Jeff, how could you let Max listen! Is there anyone else?"

Jeff sighs. This was entirely her fault. She insisted he put her on speakerphone. "No, Lucy, it's just Max. The bar is quiet. Listen, maybe this isn't such a good idea tonight. Why don't we schedule a time to talk? Later this week? I just need a bit of time to think this through."

Lucy doesn't reply. Instead, the sound coming from the phone is rustling and a little bit of mumbled cursing.

"Lucy?"

Still no answer and more sounds of moving around. Finally, she comes back. "Stay there. I'm coming to see you." And she hangs up.

"FUUUUCCCCKKKK!!!!" Jeff yells at the phone. "This is your fault," he points at Will. "Now she's going to come here, start crying and begging me to take her back, and I'll need to or else she won't stop. It happens every single time."

"I didn't tell her where we are," Will puts his hands up and looks at Max. "I think you owe us a free drink."

Max laughs. "I don't see the big deal. She's clearly crazy about you man. And who wouldn't want a chick that will do anything you ask."

Jeff shakes his head. "You don't understand, Max. And it's too hard to explain, but she is absolutely crazy and suffocating. Like, this was our bar. It's where Will and I would come to just talk. Lucy couldn't bear me leaving her home, so she started insisting on joining us. When I would say 'no' she'd wait an hour after I left and show up whining about being 'bored' and 'lonely' at home."

"Well, Gestalt is open to everyone. Besides, she was a big tipper, so I really don't mind," he smiles.

Will laughs, "you don't want to go there, Max."

Too late. Jeff is fuming. "That was my money she was tipping. I'm pretty sure she had such a hard time finding and keeping a job because she knew...or thought...I would ditch her if she was poor. I gave her a fucking allowance so she'd be comfortable looking for work."

Max blows out air. "Sounds like you were whipped, dude, anyway," he pushes to drinks to the two men. "This one's on me. Consider it a payment for the forthcoming show."

The fight or flight instinct was humming inside Jeff. Part of him wanted to run away and hide. Leave these two traitors to deal with his psycho ex. He sighs and looks at the cocktail.