Page 83 of Someone Like You

This is the first time I’ve expressed it to another person in such certain terms, and it feels fucking great.

Raff’s face splits into a grin. ‘Ithoughtas much,’ he says, nudging me softly with his elbow. ‘You’ve played things very close to your chest, you have.’

I have but not for the reasons he thinks. And now I’ve told him how much the role means to me, the floodgates open.

‘It’s been a combo of you leaving and helping with your handover and picturing myself in the role that’s helped me realise how much I want it.Andthat I’ve been coasting for far too long.’

‘You haven’t been coasting,’ he insists.

‘That’s generous, but I don’t mean I’ve slacked off or anything – just that it’s been way too long since I stretched my abilities. Everything for the past year or so has feltsafe. Now I’m craving excitement. You know, those projects that make you wonder if you can pull it off – you get the brief, and it comes with a side of adrenalin.’

‘Well,’ he says with a laugh, ‘you’ll certainly get that. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been bricking it.’

I regard him with renewed curiosity. ‘I would never have guessed that.’

‘I suppose we don’t knoweverythingabout each other,’ he says, and I give him a lipless smile.

He’s right though. Even best friends keep secrets from each other. Like the one I’m keeping from him.

‘Anyway, it sounds like you’re ready for the challenge,’ he says.

‘Yeah, it’ll be good to switch things up.’

That’s true of my personal life too but a relationship with Raff is unlikely. At least being offered the role at Global Reach is within the realm of possibility.

‘Mmm,’ he mutters thoughtfully. ‘That’s certainly whatI’llbe doing.’

‘You have no idea how much I admire you, Raff. Here you are, having had this meteoric rise in marketing and now?—’

He scoffs, interrupting me. ‘I’d hardly call it meteoric, Gabs.’

‘Because you’re you. And that’s how it’s always been for you. Whether you know it or not, you’re the golden child. You’ve always excelled at whatever you’ve put your mind to.’

‘So have you.’

I shake my head. ‘No. I got good grades – in high school and in college – and I’ve had a solid career, but none of this comes naturally to me. I have to work twice as hard to achieve half as much.’

‘Wait, is this a gender equity thi?—’

‘No. This is a Gaby equity thing. I’m not naturally brilliant like you are. I’m not saying you don’t work hard – of course you do – but when you apply yourself, you get further along than I do when I apply myself.’

He frowns at me. ‘I don’t follow.’

‘You’re smarter than I am, Raff.’

‘I am not!’ he insists, as if it’s an empirical truth.

‘But—’

‘You’rewrong.’

I sit back against my seat. I don’t want us to fight, especially not mid-air, and it seems there’s no convincing him. The food cart is only three rows ahead of us now. Good timing – we can eat our bento boxes in the sky and cool down.

‘Gabs,’ he says, leaning close. ‘I only meant that there are different ways a person can be clever. There are so many things that you’re better at than I am.’

‘Like what?’ I ask, tossing out the challenge.

‘Handling social situations, for one. You always know how to set people at ease – you can talk to practicallyanyone.’

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