Page 130 of Unapologetic Love Story

‘Of course it is. If you’ll let me help you find somewhere.’

‘That I can do.’

‘A toast!’ Marc said, raising his glass and gesturing for others to follow. ‘The queen. The trailblazer. The ever uninspiring, unapologetic Raina.’

Raina snorted while everyone hip-hipped and clinked glasses. She smiled at each of them before sipping her pink lemonade.

‘I also need to issue an apology,’ Pepper said grudgingly. ‘To you, Matt. Sorry. For . . . you know.’

Matt Fletcher looked as surprised as Raina felt by that admission. He graciously accepted.

‘To be fair,’ Raina said blithely, ‘it doesn’t quite compare with what happened at Pepper’s birthday bash.’

‘Oh, my God, tell,’ Deedee burst out.

‘Let’s not. It was traumatic,’ Solana groaned. ‘Ottie Langham made Pepper’s tirade against Matt look like an after-school special.’

‘Yeah, she was on fine form,’ Pepper said harshly.

‘What happened?’ asked Marc.

Raina contemplated moving the conversation along, but then stopped. She needed to say his name. All evening, she’d felt his absence. ‘Tom’s friend, Ottie, told me he’s been writing a piece about me. Then it all kicked off.’

‘No way!’ Deedee exclaimed. ‘Not the guy from marathon day?’

‘The very same.’

‘But he seemed so . . .’

‘Besotted? He is.’

Raina snapped around to look at Solana, who’d spoken. ‘Sol!’

‘Well, he is!’ her sister said. ‘Raina . . . my beautiful big sister. Look at your feet.’

Raina did, a little numbly. ‘What?’

Pepper and Solana exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them.

‘I didn’t buy those shoes,’ Pepper finally admitted. ‘He did.’

‘And all of those people, including Mum and Dad . . . Everyone in the balcony. Who do you think got their tickets?’

Raina frowned, looking to Deedee, who nodded a little shamefacedly. ‘He got them weeks ago, Rai.’

‘What’s this guy’s name again?’ asked Marc, getting his phone out of his jacket pocket.

‘Tom,’ Raina breathed, still staring down at her feet. ‘Tom Branimir.’

‘He brought everyone out to support you,’ Matt said quietly. ‘That’s pretty decent.’

‘He . . . is,’ Raina heard herself acknowledge. ‘He is pretty decent.’

‘Holy fuck,’ Marc said quietly, staring at his phone screen.

‘What?’ Raina asked, as Deedee and Matt leaned over to see what the bartender was reading on his device.

Marc held up the phone. ‘I searched his name and this article came up. Just published. Literally. Like, seven minutes ago.’