Can't Have Eight In a Group?

My Sim finished a nearly sold-out performance at the biggest stadium he has ever performed before. His immediate family was in attendance and his girlfriend. I have been able, in the recent past, to have Erik take his six family members, plus his girlfriend to another location. In fact, they all just traveled together to the amphitheater. So, then, why won't the Pizza Parlor allow his girlfriend to join them? It all started when I tried to send them together as they came to the restaurant, of choice. They were still in Newcrest. What is up with that? Not only that, but since I was unable to place a larger table in the restaurant to accommodate this group, it was split. Six at the one table and the youngest, a Child Sim, alone in a booth. Oddly enough, when Adrian went to the restroom, I had Erik Order for Table. Suddenly, Johnny Zest was sitting at that booth and included with my group. I noticed this when I started ordering drinks for the group. I'm looking at an older Sim and thinking who in Simville is this? Normally speaking, if a table is taken nobody else can sit there. While Kayleigh the girlfriend got sent home. Is there an exception for NPCs type Sims? Grr.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Troubled in Salt Lake