His friend didn't flinch. "No problem," he replied steadily. "I'm telling you, Jerry, this is extremely important. Just listen."
Reluctantly, Jerry stepped forward, his jaw tight as he walked to the table. He pulled out the chair with a sharp movement, sat down, and clasped his hands together on the table. His eyes locked onto his ex-girlfriend's, holding her gaze with an unblinking stare that made the air between them feel heavier.
His friend took the seat beside them, looking from Jerry to the woman. "Alright," he said to her, "tell him exactly what you told me. Don't leave anything out. He needs to hear it all." Then he turned back to Jerry. "I'm going to give you both a bit of privacy so she can talk to you properly."
Jerry's eyes flickered sharply to his friend as he stood. "What the hell are you doing? Why are you leaving?"
