Page 114 of Someone Like You

I start laughing, then reach for her hand. ‘Oh, I’m so happy for you guys.’

‘Thanks.’ She flashes me an excited grin, then leans in. ‘So, when are you and Tris going to start trying?’

I should have seen that coming.

It’s the sort of question close friends ask when they’re expecting, especially when they know you want to have kids someday.

Only it seems that with all our closest friends moving onto this next phase, ‘someday’ is feeling a lot closer than it used to.

Gaby

Around noon, I take a breather to check my inbox, deleting at least a dozen buy-this-thing-you-don’t-need emails, then scrolling through all the other non-wedding notifications.

That’s when I discover I got a text from Poppy early this morning:

Just checking in. How are things in Seattle?

As far as texts go, it’s completely innocuous, but I’ve just caught Raff looking at my phone. Thank god she didn’t say something like, ‘Hey, have you told Raff you’re in love with him yet?’ or he and I would be having a serious talk right now.

‘Sorry,’ he says. ‘Rude of me, reading over your shoulder like that.’

‘It’s okay. It’s only Poppy – you know, Freya’s friend from work.’

‘Oh right, yeah. I haven’t seen her in ages. I didn’t realise you two were friendly.’

‘We hung out a couple of times earlier in the month – with Freya.’ Fudging the truth a little – well, a lot – but what else am I going to say?

Then it dawns on me; Raff might make the connection.

Me → Poppy → Freya → the Ever After Agency → him giving Freya the go-ahead to match him if he didn’t have to go on any dates.

Honestly, I’m surprised hestillbelieves that he and Julia met randomly. I mean,hello?! For a smart guy, Raff can be pretty dim sometimes. Like now.

‘We should organise something,’ he says, and I snap back to Dad’s study.

‘Organise something?’ I ask, perplexed. Have I missed a critical detail while I’ve been in my head? I scan my master list for the umpteenth time.

‘Yes, for when we get back to London,’ he replies.

‘What are you talking about? Organise what?’

‘Dinner or drinks – perhaps a games night,’ he replies calmly. ‘Freya and Freddie, Poppy and Tristan, me and Julia, and you. Doesn’t that sound fun?’

Um, no, Raff, that doesnotsound fun. It sounds like the exact opposite of fun. More like Noah’s frigging ark with all the people arriving two-by-two and poor, lonely Gaby there all on her lonesome as the seventh wheel.

I’d rather take a dip in the Thames. Naked. In the middle of the day in front of all the tourists.

‘Super fun,’ I lie with a tight smile. Icannotdeal with this right now – there’s too much to do.

I set my phone down and go back to the list of vendors, assessing where we’re at. So far, we’ve talked to everyone except the woman who’s making the most enormous wedding cake known to humanity. I’ve left a message on her phone, sent an email, and DMed her on both Facebook and Instagram.Nada.

Raff’s stomach grumbles loudly. Our eyes meet and he flushes with embarrassment.

‘Sorry, I haven’t had anything this morning, except that cup of tea.’

‘Yeah, me neither. Actually, that’s a lie. I had a Christmas cookie. Okay,threeChristmas cookies,’ I admit, and he raises his eyebrows at me, his mouth twitching.

Stop being so frigging cute, Rafferty.

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