Page 94 of Someone Like You

Issy yelps at the word ‘married’ and fresh tears spring to her eyes.

‘Sorry, Issy,’ says Monica, plonking down next to her on the floor. She grabs Issy’s hand and squeezes. ‘But no crying, okay? We’re getting creamed and I need you to focus. I can’t lose Win, Lose or Draw – it’s my wedding week.Andit’s Christmas.’

I hold my breath. This could go either way. My sister has a decent sense of humour, but even though Monica’s joking, is this really the right time for cajoling Issy with humour? She’s just walked out on a ten-year marriage.

Issy hiccups, her fingers flying to her mouth. ‘Sorry. No crying, got it. But I’m going to need more of this,’ she says, reaching for her empty wine glass.

Dad half-stands and tops her up from a bottle of Californian Zin.

Issy drinks a big glug, then gets to her feet. ‘Give it,’ she says, reaching for the fat black marker I’m holding. I hand it over and Mom gets up with the stack of clues to hold out for Issy to draw.

‘Ready?’ asks Dad.

‘Let’s do this!’ shouts Issy as if she’s about to bungee jump.

Sixty seconds later, she and Monica have addedninepoints to their tally.

‘Wowser, brilliant job,’ says Raff, clapping.

‘Hey! No fraternising with the enemy,’ I chide.

‘But we’re still winning by a country mile, Gabs,’ he whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. He adds an open-mouthed exaggerated wink, then grins at me.

And my heartstrings ping as Monica’s words echo through my mind.

What happens when Raff figures out he has feelings for you?

Is that what’s happening? Because it’s starting to feel like it. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

23

GABY

After a pretty decent night’s sleep, thanks to several glasses of wine and lingering jetlag, I wake up sober and confused. I look over at Raff, who’s sleeping with his back to me, and watch the rise and fall of his torso.

Whatam I doing?

There were countless times yesterday – and last night – when we were just Gabs and Raff, riffing off each other, sharing in-jokes, crushing the others at Win, Lose or Draw and celebrating with a high five…

But then he’d sling an arm around my shoulders and tingles would run down my spine, or he’d say something like, ‘Right, Gabs?’ and smile at me so intensely, I felt it to my very core.

And since my conversation with Monica, unwanted thoughts keep surfacing like pop-up ads on a free mobile app.

What if we hadn’t gone to the Forty Under Forty party? Would I ever have realised how I feel about Raff?

Would Raff want me if Julia wasn’t in the picture?

How would he react if I leaned over and kissed him right now?

How wouldIreact ifheleaned over and kissedme?

Lying here in the dim dawn light, I’m at war with myself, posing the ultimate question over and over:should I wake him up and tell him the truth or just suck it up for the rest of the week?

It’swaytoo tempting to poke him awake and spill, so before I do something stupid and derail the most important friendship in my life, I slip out of bed, quickly shower, and get dressed.

I’m right about to head downstairs when I hear Raff’s voice through the bathroom door. Hating myself for what I’m about to do, I press my ear against it, straining to hear what he’s saying.He could be talking to CiCi and Devin, I tell myself.

But then I hear it – clear as a bell. ‘So, how’s St Moritz?’

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