Page 19 of Someone Like You

We share a laugh, then Greta checks her notepad. ‘Right,’ she says. ‘How about I ask my last couple of questions, then we can wrap up?’

Raff and I exchange a look and his relief is palpable. ‘We’re nearly done – hooray!’ he says with his eyes.

‘Sounds good,’ he replies, flashing her a smile. Only, unlike me, Raff doesn’t know that Greta’s about to get to the crux of the interview and that smile is about to vanish.

‘So,’ she says, ‘you’ve been touted as something of a sex symbol sinceBritain’s Best Bakersaired…’

Not surprisingly, Raff groans, his cheeks flushing from embarrassment. ‘Do we really have to talk about that? Can’t we go back to something simpler, like my strained relationship with my parents?’ he asks, his tone ripe with sarcasm.

Greta regards him thoughtfully. ‘We can skip it, but I’m sure many of your fans will be curious about that aspect of your life.’

He huffs out a long sigh. ‘I suppose so,’ he says, his gaze dropping to the floor. ‘Go on, then.’

‘Are you dating anyone at the moment?’

She already knows the answer – Poppy will have told her – but it’s a decent segue.

‘No,’ he replies, his voice strained. ‘I’m single.’

‘So, are you looking for love?’ she asks gently.

But despite her gentle tone, everything about Raff tenses up and he sucks in a shallow breath through his teeth. Then it’s like the moment a key slots into place and turns, and the lock springs open.

Raff’s taut expression softens and a knowing smile of acquiescence tugs at the corners of his mouth. ‘I think those who know me well would say I’malwayslooking for love,’ he tells her.

I’m in awe at how deftly Greta has navigated this part of the interview. Moments ago, I was positive Raff would clam up entirely. Now he’s spilling about his love life.

‘Isn’t that right, Gaby?’ he asks, fixing me with a knowing look.

‘I… Umm…’

He laughs. ‘Oh, come on, you and Freya are always teasing me about it. Freya’s our best friend,’ he explains to Greta.

‘I wouldn’t say we’realwaysteasing you,’ I retort.

He stares at me, feigning incredulousness. ‘Only after every breakupandwhenever I start dating someone new.’

‘Oh,’ I say, trying to recall anything specific I’ve said along those lines.

‘Admittedly, Freya’s the main culprit, but youhaveteased me before, Gaby – many times. “You’re such a hopeless romantic, Raff.” Does that ring a bell?’

‘Yeah, okay. I have said that,’ I admit, now regretting the implied judgement of my words.

‘And there’s the chat thread.’

‘The chat thre— What do you mean?’ I ask, baffled.

He looks at Greta. ‘We have a group chat, you see – the three of us. Only Freya and Gabyalsohave a chat thread that’s just the two of them – one they don’t think I know about. Last week, they got the two threads mixed up.’

My eyes widen, a sickening feeling settling into my stomach.

‘Wait, what…’ I reach for my satchel and take out my phone while Raff and Greta look on. I open the chat thread – the one with all three of us – and scroll up. There it is, an exchange between me and Freya about Raff, concluding with this from Freya:

You know I’m right. Raff’s only truly happy when he’s in love. And not with someone like Winnie *vomiting face emoji*

‘Oh, fuck.’

Raff chuckles. ‘See?’

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