Page 48 of Someone Like You

‘Perfect!’ Freya chirps.

‘A day spa? Raff?’ I give her my you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look.

‘He has been really stressed lately,’ she replies earnestly.

When I glance at Poppy, it’s clear she’s amused. She gives a half-shrug. ‘Couldn’t hurt to ask. But could you get Ava in as well? The agency will cover the cost.’

‘It’s kinda last-minute but I’ve got a good relationship with them. I can ask.’

‘It really is perfect, Gaby,’ Freya reiterates.

I look between them. How have I gone from ‘no frigging way’ to ‘I can ask’ in a matter of minutes? Then it dawns on me.

‘Oh, you guys aregood,’ I tell them.

Freya blinks at me innocently but Poppy owns it, quipping, ‘Too bloody right we are,’ before downing the last of her drink.

‘Er, no thanks. I’ll be very busy sorting my sock drawer on Saturday.’

As I predicted, Raff doesn’t want to go to the day spa – shocker. And this isaftermy contact at Elysium Elite agreed to squeeze Ava into an already booked-out day – forfree.

With one half of the plan now in place, I’ve got to get Raff tochange his mind. As I’m in a time-crunch, I skip sweet talking, cajoling, bribery, and blackmail – though what I’d use against him is a mystery; he’s too good a person to ever be blackmailed.

Instead, I go straight to begging.

‘Please. Freya can’t come and Ineeda day of pampering. I’m running around at work like a headless chicken…’ This is a lie, as I’m organised as hell at work. ‘And I haven’t even packed for Seattle yet. I’m a huge ball of stress.’

‘First off, you are smashing it at work.’ I should have known he’d refute that. ‘And second, your trip is more than a fortnight away and youneverpack in advance, Miss “I’ll pack the morning of and forget my knickers”.’

‘That was one time.’ It was three times. ‘Besides, you’re leaving me at Global Reach all alone and you owe me.’

‘Ah, so now we get to the crux of it.’ His green eyes crease at the corners, betraying his stern expression. ‘And I owe you because…?’

‘You’re my work husband and you’re abandoning me.’

I donotlike the way my voice hitches on ‘abandoning’. What the hell is that about? I’m a big girl and Raff is one of my closest friends. Ofcoursewe’ll still see each other.

And then it hits me –hard. When Freya left, our friendship transitioned to a new phase. We’re still close but notcloseclose.

I must be afraid that the same thing will happen with Raff. I suddenly feel queasy, which is unfair because Raff deserves this. He deserves to follow his passion.

He cocks his head, giving me a pitying look. I don’t like that either, especially if it’s a talisman of the inevitable change of our dynamic.

‘You still have Lorrie and Quinn,’ he says gently. ‘Surely the two of them together add up to one work spouse.’

‘It’s not the same thing,’ I say tersely. ‘And we’re getting off topic. Just come to the day spa. It’ll be fun.’

He stares at me through narrowed eyes. ‘I wouldn’t have to walk about nude, would I?’

I cough out a laugh. ‘What? No. It’s not like that. It’s “all genders” in the common areas, meaning everyone will be wearing robes. It’s only in the treatment rooms that they make you strip naked.’

‘Fuck. Really?’

‘No!But you should see your face right now,’ I say with a laugh, glad to be done with the heavy part of the conversation.

Raff’s lips stretch into a mirthless smile. ‘This is not the way to get me to agree, you know.’

‘What is the way, then? Because I am not taking no for an answer.’

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