Page 121 of The One That I Want

Gah! Harrison, you’re not helping.

‘A matchmaking ag— What are you talking about?’ Ewan asks Harrison, incredulous. He turns to me. ‘What is he talking about?’

‘Technically, we did meet through an agency, but it was for an assignment – a writing assignment,’ I say, fudging the truth a little.

‘What?’ they ask in unison.

Bollocks, why did I say that?

‘You went out with me for a writing assignment?’ asks Harrison.

Ewan shakes his head in disbelief. ‘Greta… I don’t…What? I thought you were writing about obsessions?’

‘I wish you’d told me,’ says Harrison, interrupting Ewan, but I’m not listening to him. I’m focussed on Ewan, who looks like he’s on the verge of tears – furious ones.

‘Ewan, I’m sorry. Please let me?—’

He holds up his hand, his gaze fixed on the floor. ‘This is a lot to take in right now and I… I need to go.’

And before I know what’s happening or how to stop it, he’s made his way through the crowded coffee shop – stopping briefly at the counter to talk to an employee – then stepped out onto the Strand.

‘Oh god. What just happened?’ I whisper to myself.

Harrison glowers at me. ‘I had no idea you were the woman from the coffee shop.’ I meet his eye. ‘Or that you were dating my friend when you went out with me –orthat you only did that towriteabout me,’ he says, an angry edge to his voice.

‘I wasn’t— I didn’t?—’

Only I was, and I did… Well, to borrow a phrase from Anjali,ish.

‘Please let me explain,’ I say, sliding into the chair opposite him.

He sighs and signals for me to go ahead.

‘I promise, I had no idea Ewan felt the way he did until very recently – this week, in fact. I thought we were spending time together as friends. But then, when I realised… I discoveredIhad feelings forhim. And you were lovely and all, but us not fancying each other – that was mutual, right? I mean, we messaged each other…’

‘No, you’re right – I’ll give you that. But what’s this writing assignment?’

Every second I spend here explaining my actions to Harrison is a second I’m not going after Ewan. But he’s also an old friendof Ewan’s and if there’s any chance I can fix this, then I need to make nice with Harrison.

I also need to avoid spinning any further lies because those will just keep following me. I’ve become a duplicitous little liar and it’s time to stop!

‘All right, look, Iwasassigned to go on dates by my editor,’ I say. ‘But most of them were?—’

‘Most? How many dates was this?’

‘Including you – five.’

‘Five!’

‘You’re making it sound like I was traipsing about with half of London. Four of the dates were with unsuitable matches – on purpose!’

‘You’ve lost me.’

‘It was part of the assignment,’ I explain, but I’m losing patience.

‘And me?’

‘There was every chance you could have been a match, but if you were… Just keep in mind I had no idea how Ewan felt about me at the time.’

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