Page 33 of Someone Like You

‘The screening?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Nah,’ she says as the elevator doors open on the ground floor. ‘But Freya said you’d get a kick out of it.’

‘Frey—’ I shake my head.

‘She’s cheekier than most people think,’ says Poppy.

‘That’s one way of describing her,’ I reply with a chuckle.

We head out into the already dark evening, then say our goodbyes. But as I walk towards the bus stop, I can’t help but wondering,If I’ve been so helpful, why do I feel like shit?

9

POPPY

‘Good morning, everyone,’ Freya chirrups as she arrives.

‘Hey, can I talk to you when you have a sec?’ I ask, keeping my tone light. I want to give Freya time to drop her stuff at her desk and make her morning coffee before I spring my suspicions on her.

‘Ooh, yes, I can’t wait to hear all about yesterday,’ she replies. ‘Five minutes?’

‘Sure.’

I spend the time rehearsing what to say in my head. How do you tell your colleague, one you’re close with and whose case you’re handling, that you suspect her best friend has feelings for her other best friend?

I’m still undecided when Freya rolls her desk chair over, carrying her favourite mug with ‘Sip, Love, Repeat’ printed on it in scrawling letters. If the agency gave out an award for ‘Biggest Romantic’, Freya would win without question.

‘I want to hear absolutely everything,’ she says, visibly bursting with anticipation.

I launch into an account of the screening with Gaby, fielding every clarifying question Freya has.

‘Wait – she rejectedMaria? But she would have beenperfectfor Raff,’ says Freya.

‘I thought so too,’ I reply, seeing the ideal opportunity to transition to the topic I really want to discuss. ‘But apparently, she reminded Gaby too much of one of Raff’s exes – Sheree.’

‘Hmm, Sheree…’ Freya stares into space as if she’s trying to conjure a mental picture of this mystery ex. ‘Oh right, yes, I remember her,’ she says eventually. ‘Irish girl Raff dated for a couple of months a few years back. I suppose she and Marialooksimilar – they’re both tall, willowy brunettes – but…’ She shakes her head in disbelief. ‘Did Gabyreallyreject her because of that? It seems… I don’t know…’

‘Not pertinent?’ I offer, wondering if Freya will connect the dots herself.

‘Exactly.’

‘She wasn’t keen on Julia either.’

‘But she and Raff share several compatibility markers – they’re both highly creative, for one.’

‘I know. Ursula pulled rank and made her our alternate.’

‘Well at least there’s that but, Poppy, I really thought Maria would be our frontrunner.’

‘Me too. So, any thoughts?’

‘About the shortlist? I mean, it’s not exactly what I had in mind, but it’s a solid list.’

She’s not getting it. I’m going to have to be more explicit.

‘Any thoughts on Gaby’s reaction to the longlisted potentials, specifically the ones she rejected?’

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