He couldn't stand watching her cry. It wasn't just that he hated it, but he couldn't take it. Seeing her cry, knowing that it was his fault, he'd caused it... His stomach sank down to his feet, leaden with guilt. Simon touched his friend's shoulders, gently this time, and pulled her close.
"You can't cry," he whispered to her, tears of his own forming. "You can't, because I can't handle it. Please don't, Ophie." He felt just awful. "You didn't do anything, I promise. I know we haven't seen much of one another, but it's my fault, not yours. I'm so sorry. I've been a lousy best friend." Now he pulled the girl into a hug, her head against his chest, his chin resting on top of her think, curly hair. "Me getting married won't change anything," he naively promised her. "You're still the most important person to me. Well, you and Grace, of course." He kissed the top of her head. "Please don't be upset anymore."