Page 55 of Unapologetic Love Story

Raina smiled to herself and nudged her sister’s foot underneath the table. She knew exactly why Solana wanted to leave Oxfordshire. She was the kind of person who rinsed life out of every single rag she could find, and this county was all dried out. She needed new diversions and amusements, and London looked like one giant smorgasbord.

‘Well, we hardly need to talk about that now,’ Meggie said, though there wasn’t much of a reprimand in her voice.

‘Pour us some wine, please, Mum,’ said Solana, pushing her empty glass towards the middle of the table.

Meggie did so without comment and Raina stuffed a little more salad into her mouth.

‘I’ve been hearing gossip online,’ Solana said, crunching on a bit of rocket and smiling innocently at Raina.

‘Have you?’ Raina asked, amused. ‘Not about me, surely.’

‘Definitely about you.’

Raina arched an eyebrow and waited expectantly for this alleged gossip.

‘Raina’s been seen around town with Tom Branimir. As in, @OfficialTomBranimir.’

Raina’s mouth dropped open. ‘Who’s your source?’

‘Not telling.’

‘Tell!’

‘Girls,’ Meggie said swiftly. ‘You know your father and I hate all the internet talk at the table.’

By ‘your father and I’, she meant her and her alone.

‘I’ll tell you after lunch,’ Solana murmured, sipping her wine with a smug expression.

‘I’m heading back to catch the train home right after we eat,’ said Raina, matter-of-factly. She knew there wouldn’t be any dedicated time for opening presents after lunch. Presents were, in her family’s sensible view, only for children. ‘So, you might as well tell me now.’

‘Who runs the podcast’s socials?’ Solana demanded.

‘Pepper,’ Raina answered. ‘She’s really good at that stuff and she enjoys it. I don’t like going on there. What have I missed online?’ she asked Solana, dreading the answer.

Solana swished the wine in her glass. ‘Were you at a posh pub with Tom Branimir and that gross blonde couple from True Love Summer?’

‘And Pepper. Yes.’

Solana whipped out her phone with a triumphant flourish. Their parents grumbled, but as it was Solana, nothing was said. Raina pretended to be nonchalant, but she watched her little sister scroll through the timeline with curiosity.

‘Here!’

Solana held her smartphone out and Raina peered at the selected comment on the screen.

It was a slightly blurry and faraway picture of her, Pepper, Seb, Ottie and Tom, all huddled around their table at the White Horse pub, the night she’d heard about her Monday nominations. The caption said, The girl with the pink and blonde hair literally just saved me from the biggest weapon. Absolute creep and she got rid of him. Waiting for @lizzieandblessed like a loner now.

Raina made a small noise of concession. ‘Pretty innocuous.’

‘Oh, that’s just the start,’ Solana said. ‘Once we scroll through the comments calling you a queen, there’s this.’

Raina obediently looked once again. That’s @OfficialTomBranimir and what I wouldn’t give to have him look at me like that. I send him a DM after every appearance he does on Question Time and he never even reads them.

Raina had to smile at that, picturing Tom’s face in her head. Scrolling through his message requests, while the disdain got deeper and deeper. She read some more comments and then her eyes stopped on one in particular. I saw them outside the pub. He put the pink-haired girl in a cab. They’re definitely together.

‘Was everyone at the pub with us then?’ Raina gasped, unable to believe she was the subject of some strange online gossip thread.

‘So?’