They were at Denny's.
He wore a hoodie and sunglasses.
She was nervous around him

"So, thanks for meeting with me," Erin said.

"You said it was important. What's up?"

"I just wanted to let you know that he proposed to me."

Gerry looked up from the menu. "You said no, right?"

"I said yes."

He leaned in. "You're kidding me, right?"

She leaned in too. "I'm engaged, Gerry."

He reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "To Chupacabra?"

"What?" She snatched her hand back, but he held on for a moment longer. She noticed the scabs on his arm.

He finally let go.

"He's gross."

"I don't give a flying fuck what you think about him. I'm getting married. Not now, and not soon, but it will happen."

Gerry grabbed the menu again. She could tell he was angry. There was something else off about him.

"I want the house. And I want Joy," he said quietly.

His hands trembled. His head jerked slightly. She had never seen him like this. Maybe he had not fully recovered from his hospital stay. The nurse wouldn't give her information because they weren't married anymore.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"I want the house. Did I stutter? He takes you to fancy restaurants and drives a Mercedes. You'll never be there anyway."

"You stalk us?"

"Could be I was a little curious," he said.

"You're fucking high."

At first, she meant it metaphorically. Then she reconsidered.

"I want Joy because you're going to be gallivanting all over the place. She deserves a stable home."

She studied him. He drank, but not much. He never did drugs.

Still, something was clearly wrong.

"Are you actually high?" she asked.

"No. Why do you ask?"

He looked drawn, unhealthy.

He kept licking his lips.

"You tell me you're getting married less than six months after our divorce. Yeah, I feel a little weird. But I am perfectly normal. Why do I seem weird?"

"You're not getting the house, and you're certainly not getting Joy. Everything was settled in the divorce."

"You're not going to sleep with him there. Ever."

"Are you threatening me?"

He raised his hands. "Just having a conversation with my wife."