Page 125 of The One That I Want

‘And how do you feel about that?’ I ask.

She begins to breathe noisily through her nose as she stares at the coffee table between the sofas. ‘I feel… stupid and guilty and…’

‘Hey.’ I reach across to place my hand on her arm. ‘You’re not stupid.’

Anjali echoes the sentiment with a reassuring pat on Greta’s hand.

‘Then why didn’t I see it sooner?’ she asks, lifting her gaze. ‘I wouldn’t have gone out with Harrison and?—’

‘Greta, hang on,’ I interject before she spirals. ‘You’ve only known Ewan for just over a month now and from what you’ve told me, friendship was foremost on your mind. He didn’t tell you otherwise, so you can’t be blamed for not guessing what was in his head.’

‘Or his heart,’ chimes in George.

‘Exactly,’ I concur.

‘I suppose,’ she mumbles gloomily.

‘And you know, many solid romantic relationships are founded on friendship,’ I say, thinking of Tristan again. We may have started out as client/agent, but that quickly evolved into friendship, then something more.

‘Mine is,’ offers Anjali. ‘I don’t know that I would have fancied Gordon if we hadn’t been friends first. We met through mutual friends and the more time we spent together, the more I appreciated his wit and good humour, his intelligence… And one day, I realised I found him wildly attractive. That’s when I knew I had to be with him.’

‘Apparently, my husband fancied me for over ayearbefore he confessed his feelings,’ adds Paloma. ‘Before that, I just thought of him as my work husband. Sometimes people find it difficult to reveal how they feel. It’s definitely not on you that you were unaware of Ewan’s feelings – even if there were signs.’

‘Were there signs, do you think?’ asks George. ‘In retrospect?’

‘In retrospect, yes,’ Greta replies. ‘But I’m such a novice at all this, I didn’tseethem.’ She stops, obviously checking herself.

‘No, that’s entirely true. I did notice him flirting with me a few times, but I told myself it was my imagination, or that it was just part of our budding friendship. I’m realising, only as I say this, that it was more likely because Ewan having feelings for me didn’t fit in with the narrative I’d created in my head – thatHarrisonwas my perfect match.’

This is highly astute of Greta to realise – very self-aware – but she’s winding herself up again.

‘That’s also understandable,’ I tell her. ‘Emotions are complex, and every person brings their own experiences and hopes and fears to a relationship.’

‘So, not knowing right away that I fancied him?’ she asks me.

‘Not guilty,’ I reply.

She expels a sigh. ‘But I did lie to him – about the articles and going on dates. I need to be honest with him about that – if he ever talks to me again.’

‘He will,’ says George assuredly.

‘Mostlikely,’ I add, shooting him a look. Thereisa chance Ewan could walk away from Greta entirely, slim though it may be, and we shouldn’t peddle false hope.

‘Almost definitely,’ he clarifies.

‘Wait,’ says Anjali and we all look to her. ‘What if I explained to Ewan that I gave you the assignment – that you were just following orders?’

Uh, yeah, no, I think. I can tell Anjali wants to take responsibility for her part in this, but I don’t think her suggestion is the way to go. ‘That might be a little…’ I look to Paloma for help.

‘It’s inappropriate, Anji,’ she tells her.

‘Of course. Too “here’s a note from my mummy”,’ Anjali replies.

‘Precisely,’ Paloma replies, and I’m glad we’ve curtailed that potential detour before it gained traction.

‘But whatdoI do?’ Greta asks Paloma. ‘Do I just… message him again in a few days and hope he’ll talk to me? What if he won’t?’

Greta raising the what-if-Ewan-wants-to-call-it-quits? question again is valid.

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