…
Two hour later, and Zoe had searched all Max's favourite spots but still hadn't found him. His phone still going to voicemail, Zoe hoped that he'd just got tired of waiting and had left to go home, but when she got home, there was no sign he'd been back.
Beginning to pace now, she dialled Robyn's phone number, and it was answered with a mumble.
"Robyn, have you seen Max?"
"He's here. I just picked him up from some club."
"A club? Is he alright?"
"...I need to go, Zoe. You'll have to message him if you want to talk."
Zoe stared at the phone, bewildered, as Robyn hung up. "What the hell is going on?" She asked the empty room.
…
After much pacing and the realisation she couldn't sleep unless Max was beside her, Zoe drove to Robyn's. She stood out the front with hand paused to knock, but hearing music playing loudly inside and a mass of voices, instead she pushed open the door.
She was greeted with a large sign wishing Lofty a happy birthday, and she vaguely remembered Max mentioning it to her, but it did nothing to ease her concern. The concern that grew when she heard a woman give a high pitched, drunken laugh and ask, "Sing another one, Max!"
These days he only played for her, and she felt a pang of jealousy when she saw him sat in the corner, swaying slightly and surrounded by people. One of whom was touching his leg.
…
Max wasn't sure how much he'd had to drink, but his head was beginning to throb. His body ached for Zoe and the comfort she could offer, but his mind kept reminding him that he shouldn't go to her, though he couldn't remember why. He absently picked up the guitar and began strumming, and the strumming slowly turned into a song. Closing his eyes, he remembered the last time he'd played it. Zoe had been angry, he could remember her yelling at him, although he'd known it wasn't him she was angry with. They were in the store room, his office, and she was pacing. He'd been holding the guitar when she came in, and so slowly he began playing. By the time he was finished, she was silent and just looking at him. That was the first time she'd said she loved him.
As the song now came to an end, Max vaguely heard someone ask him for another and he managed a slow smile. "What do you want me to play?"
His senses were suddenly over come with Zoe. Her perfume, the tickle of her breath by his ear, the sound of her voice as she said, "Play my favourite."
Max played the first few bars before his brain clicked into gear and he remembered he didn't want to see Zoe, though he still couldn't remember why. His eyes flickering open, he found himself alone in the corner but for Zoe who looked at him with a mixture of confusion and worry.
"What are you doing here?" His mouth felt too dry, and he reached for his beer but found it empty.
"I came to find you. Here."
She placed a bottle of cool water into his hand and he gulped it down before saying, "I didn't want to see you, but I can't remember why."
"How about I take you home and you can not see me there?"
Max thought for a moment, trying to focus his eyes, before he finally gave a slight nod, but as he stood his head began swimming. "Bathroom first."
…
"Stop!" Zoe blocked the doorway to corner Robyn in the kitchen. "Tell me what's going on."
"…I don't know."
"I don't believe you."
Robyn was silent for a long time, finally relenting when she heard Max groan and be sick once more in the bathroom next door. "It's our father. He's…Max…they're very alike in some ways, and Max got it into his head months ago that if you met dad, you'd realise what Max himself would be like eventually. Dad has a dead end job, he's an alcoholic, he always has one or more women on the go at once. I told him he was being stupid, but when he saw you leaving dad's cubicle, he went mad. I only found out he was at the club because he forgot tot take his wallet and couldn't buy himself any more drinks. You know what he's like once he gets an idea in his head. He jokes his way around it but inside he worries until the only thing he can think of to do is run off or just do what he thinks everyone is expecting him to do."
As Zoe released a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding, Max entered the room on wobbling legs. 'I don't feel so good, Zo. I think maybe someone spiked my drink so they could have their wicked way with me." He attempted a smile.
"Upstairs, last on the left." Robyn suddenly replied. When Zoe frowned, Robyn added. "It's my room. It's got it's own bathroom. I don't think he'll make it home."
After a pause and a glance at Max, Zoe nodded and approached him. "Come on you, upstairs."
"Are you going to have your wicked way with me?" Max's arm wrapped around Zoe's shoulder as he whispered in her ear.
"Something like that."