"I'm good," I tell him, although, I can't be certain when the last time I ate was. Maybe that's why my head is swarming with the warmth of the vodka.
"How about a pretzel or a hotdog? You want some nachos? Maybe I can find a pizza place and bribe them to put pineapple on it for you." Alec rattles off options, and I get the strong idea that he isn't going to let this go.
"A pretzel does kind of sound good."
His eyes light up like I just gave a dog a bone. "I’ll get you a pretzel. You want anything else?"
I hold my cup up. "Another one of these?"
Simon breaks from June. "Good idea, bud." He rubs his hands together for no real reason other than to annoy me. "Love, do you and Alec want to go grab some snacks? I'll stay here with Cora?"
June narrows her gaze. "You're up to no good, I just know it."
"Me?" Simon bats his eyelashes and retrieves his money clip from his pocket. "Here." He slides a few hundreds out of the stack and shoves them into June's reluctant hand.
"What do you want?" June grunts at him like they're an old married couple.
They're gross but adorable.
"Surprise me," he tells her and focuses on Alec. "Keep my girl safe?"
Alec shoots me a look before saying, "Ditto," to Simon.
My heart flutters, and my cheeks redden at his simple, yet bold statement.
Simon glares at him, and once June and Alec have left, I turn my attention to the game and pretend Simon doesn't exist.
"Do we want to talk about what's going on?" Simon approaches me, his shoulder only a few inches from mine as we stare out onto the field.
"I think..." I point forward. "That blue team has bases loaded." I squint. "Is that blue?"
Simon crosses his arms. "You know that’s not what I meant."
I sigh dramatically. "What do youmeanthen, Simon?" I turn toward him. "Come on. Get it out. I know it's killing you." Waiting for him feels like an eternity, but damn if I don't want time to really slow down and make the next few weeks last for the rest of my life.
"This thing with you and Alec, it'sjusttonight, right?" Simon continues to watch the game.
"I don't know. Why?"
"Because that's all it can be."
"Why?Youthink Alec is too good for me or something?" It's hard not to hurt my ownfeelingsat the very thought that's crossed my mind numerous times.
"What?" He shoots me a bewildered glance. "Have you lost your mind? It's the opposite, really."
I tuck my hair behind my ear and slurp the rest of my drink. "I'm going to need you to explain."
"You're June's best friend." Simon exhales. "And what hurts you hurts her."
"So this isn't about me at all; it's about her." I hate how defensive this spits out of my mouth.
"No." Simon rubs his chin and faces me. "Listen, I know you know more than June thinks you know."
I blink at him and don't respond because he's done nothing but finally spoken the truth.
"Am I right?" he asks me.
"Maybe." I shrug. "How am I supposed to know what I do and don't know if I don't know it."
