Page 128 of Someone Like You

‘Gaby!’

‘What? You already have dozens of snowflakes –that are attached. Fuck the one that wouldn’t play ball.’

‘But now I have to smooth out the icing where I’ve made a mess.’

He frowns intently at the cake, then picks up a palette knife. I walk back to him and take it out of his hand.

‘Raff,’ I say softly. ‘The cake isgorgeous. And it’ll be even more so when we add the flowers, including the one that will go right here.’ I point to the spot where the snowflake was supposed to go. ‘You weren’t this flustered when you were baking on national TV. What’s going on?’

He looks into my eyes, his gaze intense.

‘I want it to be perfect. It’s one thing making a cake that only the crew is going to eat – and honestly, they’ll eat practically anything – but this is my first cake for a real occasion. And your family has beensowonderful. This is already the best Christmas I’ve ever had.’

‘But what about your Christmases with CiCi and Devin?’

‘They’re lovely, of course, and they’ve always gone above and beyond to make me feel wanted –included. But they’ve put so much of their life together on hold for me – it’stheirtime now.’

‘I get that,’ I say – not from personal experience, but from what I know of Raff and his relationship with CiCi and Devin.

‘But your family, Gabs… It’s what I’ve always dreamed of.’

‘You’ve always dreamed of complete chaos?’ I ask, giving him my best I-don’t-buy-it look.

‘Are you joking? I love the chaos and the noise and the banter. How you all came together yesterday to solve a crisis. And last nightwas themostfun. I don’t even care that I’m slightly hungover. Yours isexactlythe type of family I wished for when I was a boy. And that’s not to disparage CiCi and Devin – not at all – but especially yesterday, with everyone here, I felt like I was part of something… I don’t know…vibrantand real and messy and…’ He holds up his hands as if he’s trying to materialise whatever it is from thin air. ‘Wonderful. I’m like the little English waif in a Christmas story, taken in by the boisterous American family and ensconced in familial love.’

‘That’s… that’s how you see us?’

‘Absolutely. Even before we came here and you were telling me about them. There’s clearly a lot of love between you all – even with your Aunt Christine.’

‘Yeah, she’s a lot, but she’s ours,’ I joke, and he sniggers softly.

He turns serious again. ‘Andyou, Gabs… seeing you in your element, taking charge like that – how you got everyone on task and handled your aunt and assured Monica and Brian that everything was going to be all right. I seriously doubt this wedding would be going ahead if it weren’t for you.Youwere the glue. You brought everyone together, then led them to victory.’

I chuckle, giving him a half-smile and narrowed eyes. ‘Victory?’

He shrugs, smirking self-deprecatingly at his own effusive outburst. ‘You know what I mean. That’s why I want this cake to be the best one I’ve ever made. For your family. Foryou.’

The way he’s looking at me right now, with so much tenderness, I want to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.

I settle for a hug, which he returns in a brotherly way. ‘It’s already the best cake you’ve ever made, Raff, because you made it with love,’ I say, my cheek pressed against his chest. I release him and peer up through my lashes. ‘Okay, that was so cheesy, Mom could make a sandwich out of it.’

‘Don’t remind me. They were so delicious, I had four.’

‘Four?What are you, a teenage boy home from football practice?’

‘I’m not sure I understand that one.’

‘Yeah, me neither. Never mind. Good thing I have other skills, right?’

‘Yes. I doubt you’ll be offered a comedy special any time soon,’ he quips.

‘Yeah, yeah – now who’s not funny?’

I survey the cake, which really is gorgeous, but is still in two parts. ‘So, I’m guessing you’re waiting on Dad with the pieces of doweling? Then what?’

‘Then I clean them off, insert them in here’ – he points to the bottom tier – ‘lay this disc of card down, and place the second tier on top. Without messing up the icing or losing any decorations.’

‘Right, so just the most stressful part to go?’

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