Seeing Shadows (17 page)

What are you guys doing? Having fun? ;),
the first text read, having been sent about an hour ago.

The next text read,
Has he kidnapped you? Where are you?

I looked up from my phone and saw Simon watching me. "I should go. I think Sarah's going stir crazy."

Simon looked disappointed. "But our show isn't in ages," he pouted. "What am I going to eat for dinner?"

I laughed and rolled my eyes. He sounded like a little boy. "Why don't you come over for dinner later. I'll ask Grant and Marcus over too." I checked my watch. It was around five o'clock. "Say seven?" The Henchmen weren't going on until ten so that left plenty of time.

Simon's face brightened at my invitation and I melted a little inside. He had so many sides to him, and this boyishness was proving to be irresistible. "Sounds good!"

I slipped on my coat and grabbed my purse, heading to the front door. I saw Simon grabbing his coat and paused. "What are you doing?"

"Walking you home," he said, putting on his coat.

"Simon," I laughed. "It's early and I'm right down the street."

He raised an eyebrow. "My mom, remember?"

"Who am I to deny your inbred chivalry?" I said with a shrug, hiding my pleasure.

We walked slower than the weather dictated since it was freezing, but we found ourselves not wanting to hurry. Our hands brushed against each other as we made our way to my apartment. I told myself we were walking close to each other because of the cold, but it didn't explain why our pace was so slow.

After we climbed the stairs to my apartment, which Simon insisted on walking up with me, he turned and gave me a slow smile. I lingered outside my door although I had already fished my key out of my purse.

"Thanks for your help today," he said. I could see his breath in the cold air as he spoke.

"No problem," I said smiling. "Well...I'll see you in a few hours."

"A few hours," Simon repeated. His hand came up but he stilled it, noticing my nervous glance at it. His eyes darkened and I saw a quick flash in his eyes, an expression crossing them that chilled me. I felt like I didn't recognize Simon in that moment where he just stared at me, his eyes boring into mine. I looked up at him, my mouth dry.

Then Simon blinked and the humor came back into his eyes. "You can't escape me," he said with a smile that softened his words.

I was unsure what he meant by those cryptic words. I decided to take it as a joke. "You've already roped me in as your cooking teacher. I'm obligated now," I said lightly. I unlocked the door and opened it, ready to step inside.

Simon smiled. "I'll take any obligation I can get." He turned and walked down the steps as I stared at his retreating back, unsure whether I felt fear or anticipation.

Sarah dragged me to the couch and demanded I recount every moment of my day with Simon. I told her everything, but withheld the feelings that Simon was stirring in me. I didn't need her trying to push us together. I normally told Sarah everything, but even I wasn't sure what I was feeling. Ever since I had withheld the visions coming back from Sarah, it seemed easier and easier to keep things from her. I felt guilty about it, but I wasn't ready to face reality myself and keeping it from Sarah let me pretend a little longer that everything was normal. That I was normal.

Sarah texted Grant and Marcus, as well as Jenny, inviting them over for dinner and they immediately texted back, accepting. Sarah and I made chicken paillard with linguine because she had been bugging me about it since I had mentioned it last week. More specifically, I made the chicken paillard and Sarah made the salad.

The apartment was filled with the smells of lemon and butter by the time the boys arrived. Simon looked irresistible in dark jeans and a black t-shirt that showed off his leanly muscled frame. He was going to break a lot of hearts tonight.

"It smells awesome in here," Simon exclaimed as they shrugged off their coats. "I'm going to consider this a preview of what's to come at my place."

"You're going to be doing the cooking, not me," I said sternly, but I wasn't able to suppress my laugh. "I'm teaching you. I'm not doing the actual cooking, remember?"

Simon smirked. "I'm always open to negotiation."

I raised an eyebrow. "You've never negotiated with me before."

Simon leaned down towards me. "I look forward to the opportunity," he replied with a wolfish grin.

I saw Sarah behind Simon, gaping at me. I knew she was shocked by our exchange because it sounded like I was flirting. And I
never
flirted. Her expression brought me back to my senses and I turned to address Marcus and Grant. "We'll eat as soon as Jenny gets here. Go ahead and help yourself to drinks."

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and Sarah let Jenny in.

"Thank God!" exclaimed Grant. "I'm starving!"

"Well, hello to you too," Jenny said sarcastically but with a smile. She turned to Marcus. "Hi Marcus."

Marcus smiled shyly. "Hi Jenny. You look great."

Jenny did look great. She was wearing tight black leggings with tall heeled boots, paired with a green sequined top that complemented her red hair. Sarah had dressed for the occasion too, since we were heading down to the East End after dinner. She was wearing a black miniskirt with tights and a pink scooped-neck sweater that did wonders for her cleavage.

I had tried to make some concessions with my own outfit because of Sarah's nagging. I was wearing dark skinny jeans with a black sleeveless turtleneck sweater and I had traded in my flip flops for black heels. Even though it was a relatively low heel, I was unused to them and hoped I didn't fall and make a fool of myself.

Jenny grabbed my hand and twirled me around, letting out a whistle. "Caitlin, how is it that you look more sexy covered up than Samantha in her hooker clothes?" She winked at me.

"Jenny," I laughed, horrified. "I'm wearing a turtleneck, for goodness sake. I don't think anyone can be sexy in a turtleneck."

"I'm not so sure about that," Simon drawled, looking me up and down. "I'd say you were living proof it's possible."

I flushed furiously at his words and lazy perusal of my body. "Okay, enough about my outfit," I said with a grimace. "Otherwise I'm changing into my Oscar the Grouch t-shirt."

"Dinner's served!" Sarah called out, carrying out the chicken paillard with pasta and setting it on the table, unknowingly saving me.

"Alright!" Grant said with glee. "The lemon chicken stuff!"

We filled our plates and sat down, eating as Grant talked a mile a minute about the show tonight. Somehow, he was still able to shovel in the chicken and pasta without missing a beat.

I sat on the recliner, eating more sedately and smiling at Grant's enthusiasm. Simon sat perched on the armrest of the recliner again. He seemed to have staked it as his spot, and I didn't complain. Even with his comments about my outfit, our earlier camaraderie put me at ease. I banished the moment of unease I had felt earlier outside my door as nerves. Simon had the ability to make me very nervous.

"This is amazing," Simon said, indicating his plate. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"I just picked it up," I said, feeling happier than I should be by his compliment. "My dad never used the kitchen except for the microwave, so it was either learn to cook or eat frozen dinners every day." It surprised me how easily I shared personal details with Simon.

"Well, I'm grateful that I've roped you into my kitchen," Simon said with a devious grin.

I saw Sarah watching us intently out of the corner of my eye. The others were involved in a conversation, but she just sat there watching us with a curious look on her face. She must have thought an alien had taken over my body. Even though I was good friends with Marcus and Grant, I knew I interacted with Simon on a totally different level. But I didn't know how to be any other way with him.

I gave Simon a small smile and said with a measured tone, "I'm always happy to help out my friends."

Simon frowned at my statement, but he was then drawn into a conversation with Grant, who was debating the merits of different amps.

**********

The guys left before us to prep their equipment and do sound checks. As soon as the door closed behind them, Jenny jumped at the opportunity for an interrogation.

"What the heck is going on between you and Simon?!" she squealed. "I could feel the electricity crackling between you two from across the room!"

"Nothing," I protested. "I just hung out with him today and we got to be good friends."

"Ha," Sarah scoffed. "If you two were any better friends, we'd have little Simons and Caitlins running around here."

"Sarah!!" I screeched as Jenny burst out laughing. "Don't even start!"

"Seriously," Sarah said. "I know you say you're just friends but there's some major chemistry between you two."

Jenny fell back on the couch, placing the back of her hand against her forehead and sighing dramatically. "I would kill for a guy to look at me the way Simon looks at you." She sat back up and looked at me. "Honestly. He looks at you like he hasn't eaten in a month and wants to devour you."

I had a childish urge to stick my fingers in my ears and hum so I couldn't hear them. Their comments weren't helping my already precarious balance around Simon.

"Guys," I warned. "There's really nothing between us. I think Simon just finds it funny to make me feel awkward sometimes. And this conversation is making me feel even more awkward. Let's stop talking about it, or I'm going to feel uncomfortable watching them play tonight."

"Okay," Sarah acquiesced grumpily. She turned to Jenny. "We better stop or the next thing you know, she'll refuse to come."

I smiled in triumph. Sarah didn't realize that nothing apart from a natural catastrophe would prevent me from going to watch Simon tonight, but she didn't need to know that.

**********

There was already a line forming when we arrived at the East End. It looked like an even bigger turnout than the Henchmen normally drew. It was rare that a line formed outside, which Joel only enforced when he was worried about exceeding capacity. Either Grant had done an amazing job promoting the show tonight, or word had gotten around campus about Simon. I suspected it was the latter.

Charlie waved us in from waiting in line and we each gave him a hug as we slipped inside. I ignored the glares from the people waiting in line. I didn't blame them. It was freezing outside.

We checked our coats and I surveyed the crowd. The bar was already packed. I saw the Henchmen's equipment sitting on stage but they were nowhere to be seen. Probably waiting to make a grand entrance.

We pushed our way to the bar. "Beer?" Sarah asked over the noise of the crowd. Jenny and I both nodded and Sarah leaned over the bar through an opening in the crowd and held up three fingers. Paul, the bartender, smiled and nodded a greeting to us as he opened three beers and passed them down, momentarily ignoring the other people flocked to the bar trying to get a drink. There were some perks with being friends with the band, as well as a regular at the East End.

"This place is a madhouse already," Sarah said, taking a sip of her beer. "I can't wait to hear them!"

"Let's try to get near the front," Jenny said. "I'm not going to be able to see over all these people."