While she'd seen the question coming -- or, at least, she told herself she ought to have -- it still wasn't easy to hear, and Lucy cringed, closing her eyes for a moment as she took a deep breath. "No, Max," she answered quietly, though she didn't sound quite certain. She'd planned things to say, of course, in case he ever asked her that, but she couldn't remember any of them now, with him standing in front of her.

"It's-" That attempt didn't work either, and letting out a sigh, she ran a hand through her hair. There was no use trying to make it sound good; none of the situation was, as far as she was concerned. "You have Jude. You don't need me there."