"No problem," Sarah said. "I'd be more than happy to help."
"Me too," Jenny chimed in.
Simon looked at me expectantly and I was relieved to have a valid excuse. "Sorry, I have to work on Friday until closing."
Simon looked disappointed and I didn't allow myself to examine the small little thrill I felt from that. "Oh well. But you'll be at our show on Saturday, right?"
"Of course," I smiled. I was going to get through this awkwardness if it killed me and force Simon to be my friend. Everything would be easier when we were just friends. And I really didn't want to miss their first show. I couldn't deny how curious I was about Simon and his performance with the band.
"Well, that's something," Simon said with a smile.
"Are you nervous?" Jenny asked. "It must be hard to replace members in a band that were already so popular."
Simon gave a half-smile. "I'll just have to win everyone over, I guess," he said, not seeming concerned. I envied his ease and confidence. He just expected things to go his way and they did. I suppose his looks and money didn't hurt. If I were in his position, I would be a nervous wreck. Not that I would ever put myself out there by performing on stage. The mere thought of it had me shaking in my boots.
Marcus and Grant came back in, Grant balancing a large platter of hot dogs and hamburgers. "Dinner's served," he announced, placing the platter on the table next to the chili dip.
We busied ourselves fixing up our plates, Jenny exclaiming appreciation over Simon's dip. As I squirted ketchup onto my burger, I heard Simon chuckle beside me and I looked over at him, with a raised eyebrow. "What?" I inquired.
"I don't think you have enough ketchup on that," Simon commented dryly, indicating my plate. I looked down at the ketchup I had already squirted on my burger. The mound of ketchup was already bigger than the actual burger.
"I know, gross, right?" I said, scrunching up my nose. "I have an addiction to ketchup. I think half of my daily intake of calories is from ketchup."
Simon laughed, his eyes looking at me warmly. "Well, if that's the only thing you're addicted to, I guess life isn't too bad."
His comment made me go still. It made me think of all the ways life was bad. It made me think about what I would do if I had another vision of this beautiful man experiencing a horrific death. I didn't think I could handle it.
"Yes," I replied, trying to muster an answering smile and not really succeeding. "I guess life isn't too bad."
Simon's eyebrows came together at my reaction. "Is life really not too bad?" he asked quietly. His probing discomfited me. Simon seemed to be able to read my reactions too well, which was dangerous. I had spent years practicing to control my reactions until it seemed the world accepted me at face value. But Simon seemed to be too perceptive.
I forced a laugh. "Of course. I'm hanging out with my friends and imbibing on way too much ketchup, which is giving me a sugar high. How could life be better?"
Simon laughed in return, seeming to accept my answer. "I guess there isn't much I can say to that."
I finished with the bottle of ketchup and handed it to Simon. "Here you go."
"Nah," he replied, shaking his head. "I don't like ketchup."
I looked at him aghast. "You don't like ketchup?" I asked in mock horror. "How can you not like ketchup? Everybody likes ketchup!"
Simon grinned. "I got sick from ketchup when I was a little kid and ever since then I haven't been too fond of it," he explained.
"Oh well," I said with an exaggerated sigh. "I guess we can still be friends somehow, although that's a pretty big obstacle."
Simon smiled slyly. "I'll think of a way for us to settle our differences."
I had been feeling an easy camaraderie with Simon, proud that I was navigating the friend territory so well. But his last comment made my stomach flutter. This was what I meant about him sneaking in a comment every now and then that made me think of something besides friendship. But I banished the thought.
"Don't worry," I said quickly, trying to return to an easy banter. "I'll accept you, faults and all."
Simon laughed loudly again. I seemed to amuse him way too much, but I just gave him an answering smirk. I passed the ketchup bottle that Simon had refused to Sarah, who was busy talking to Jenny and the boys.
"Here," I said, handing her the bottle.
Sarah took the bottle and looked at it. "I'm glad to see you saved me some," she joked. She leaned forward so that she could see Simon. "Caitlin has a ketchup fetish."
"Yeah, she's already told me all about it," Simon said with a grin. "And I hate ketchup. We've decided to be friends in spite of it."