CHAPTER NINETEEN
Raina was sitting between Solana and Pepper on the very same living-room sofa (now cleaned), sipping a hot cup of jasmine tea and pretending that she was flicking through the television channels absent-mindedly.
Solana had just dropped in after spending the night with a girlfriend in Hoxton, and Pepper was quizzing the younger Lewis sister about her love life.
Raina knew exactly which news broadcaster she was looking for, and precisely what she wanted to watch.
She was wearing a pair of short shorts and a camisole, perfectly relaxed while her best friend and sister moved on to arguing about who they were voting for on a reality television show.
Their passion and enthusiasm made Raina mildly curious about the show, but not enough to do a television detour.
‘You know Seb and Ottie for real,’ Solana said to Pepper, talking over her older sister’s head and chewing popcorn at the same time. ‘Are they as terrible as they seem on screen?’
‘Worse.’ Pepper and Raina both answered in chorus.
‘Really?’
‘I think she’s okay, deep down,’ Raina said musingly, her eyes glued to the television. ‘Just very insecure. I think he must be very difficult to be with, but she’s not sure if she deserves more.’
‘I don’t think she deserves more.’
‘Pep,’ Raina reprimanded softly, still not looking away.
‘Raina, she insulted you!’
‘Only because she’s in some weird one-sided competition with other women, which no one wins. Be nice.’
‘How do you put up with her always being so perfect?’ Pepper asked Solana, gently prodding Raina in the side.
Raina just shushed her and unmuted the television.
‘Why are we watching late-night news?’ Pepper grumbled, while Solana hogged the entire plastic bowl of salted popcorn for herself and watched with interest. A middle-aged anchorman in a light grey suit grimaced at the camera and began his broadcast.
‘Talking tomorrow morning’s headlines here tonight. Joining me is former political adviser, Craig Hennessey.’
A sober-looking man nodded nervously at the camera which was now closing in on him.
The presenter went on. ‘Columnist and radio host, Janice McIntyre.’
An austere woman gave the camera lens a swift acknowledgement, then offered the host a tight smile.
‘And finally, social media commentator and acclaimed features writer, Tom Branimir.’
Pepper swore and Solana hooted as the camera cut to a disgustingly handsome shot of Tom, his high cheekbones highlighted by the studio lights.
‘Thanks for having me, Philip,’ he told the host, his deep baritone smooth and distracting.
‘You hussy!’ yelled Pepper. ‘We’re watching this boring crap for him!’
‘Shut up,’ said Raina, hiding the remote control down her top so Pepper couldn’t grab it and change the channel. ‘I just want to see what he has to say.’
‘Every time I say “with respect”, I’m actually saying, “Raina, I can’t wait to get you back in bed and . . .”’
Most of the headlines were calling for a government minister to resign after photos of him embracing an intern from his own department were leaked, while his wife was at home with the children.
‘It’s all just tacky and cliched,’ Janice said resolutely, starting the conversation off with derision. ‘I feel for the wife. She’s the one who’ll have photographers hiding in her bins tomorrow.’
The rest of the panellists all discussed the matter, while Tom sat in silence. Raina watched his image on the screen and fought back a smile, remembering his words from earlier in the day.
‘He looks really hot,’ Solana said wistfully.
‘Don’t you start,’ Pepper hissed.
Raina pulled her knees up and snatched some popcorn from her sister, eyes still fixed on the screen.
Tom looked annoyingly good on camera. Raina loathed having to edit her videos sometimes, because she would end up overanalyzing every shot and every unflattering angle.
There he was, looking poised and perfect in a hideously effortless way.
‘I just don’t see why the personal lives of government ministers are the public’s business,’ the host of the show said, in a tone that made Raina wonder just how many government ministers this man considered his drinking buddies.
‘With respect, Philip,’ Tom said, and his voice was oozing condescension, ‘this minister ran for election by claiming to be the man for moral, family values. He shamed his female opposition for being unmarried and without children. He’s stoked up misogyny and bigotry at every opportunity, so he doesn’t get to hide behind liberal customs now. With respect.’
Raina let out a soft squeak and fell back against the sofa cushions. Solana was clapping enthusiastically, a commentary on how she felt about Tom’s words. Raina, however, was feeling a little hysterical. She wanted to giggle and rewind the moment so she could hear him do it again.
‘What’s going on?’ Pepper asked the question, while the panellists on the television argued against Tom’s point. ‘What is that face, Raina?’
‘Nothing,’ Raina replied innocently, smiling and clutching her dinosaur cushion to her chest. ‘I’m just in a goofy mood.’
‘Raina. Lewis. Tell the truth.’
Raina stayed silent, watching the screen. Tom was clearly waiting for a moment to speak again. Just before he did, he glanced right into the camera lens with an accuracy and decidedness that made Raina stiffen.
‘This government has taken more away from this country’s people than any other in its history, and then they want to get away with any and all hypocrisy? No. They would demand resignation from the shadow cabinet. And have. There should be consequences, Philip, with respect.’
Raina shrieked with laughter, causing the two women on either side of her to start with shock. She clapped a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
‘Now you’re scaring me,’ Pepper said sternly.
‘I just,’ Raina gasped, ‘really love seeing someone stand up to the political establishment.’
It wasn’t untrue. It was just even better when it was a good-looking man doing it, while he also used hidden code to flirt with her.
‘Political establishment, my arse,’ Pepper sputtered. ‘What’s going on with you?’
‘I told you, the night of the party.’
‘I know something more,’ Solana sang cheerfully.
Raina and Pepper both threw her a look. Pepper’s eyes narrowed. ‘But nothing’s happened though. Right?’
‘Wrong!’ Solana cackled, spilling a ton of popcorn. ‘She slept with him!’
‘Yes, I fucking did. Now go and get Henry; you’ve made a mess everywhere.’
‘And how much of a mess did he make, Raina?’ Pepper demanded, her voice full of disbelief but her eyes amused. ‘You’ve got stubble-burn on your thighs.’
Raina scowled and crossed her legs. Solana dragged the vacuum cleaner into the living room and obediently started hoovering up fallen popcorn. Raina threw her best friend a conspiratorial glance but said nothing, merely choosing to turn the volume up on the television.
‘I think the entire House is due for an overhaul,’ Tom Branimir told the rest of his cohorts as the segment reached its conclusion. ‘With the greatest of respect.’
Raina switched off the television with a triumphant laugh. One that made her two companions exchange glances.
‘Are we missing something?’ Pepper asked.
‘Oh, totally,’ Raina snorted, pulling the cushion closer.
‘Can you go a bit faster?’
Tom leaned forward to address the taxi driver.
Getting from the studio to Barnes wasn’t an overly horrific journey, and this was the quickest route, but it wasn’t fast enough for Tom.
He’d practically ripped his microphone pack in two while trying to leave the studio floor.
He’d dodged producers and other presenters on his way out of the labyrinthian building.
And now he was bouncing his leg and staring out of the window, as though the taxi were a cage. He cursed every red light and every time the driver let another motorist pass.
‘She must be quite something,’ the cabbie muttered after Tom pointed out Raina’s house.
Tom didn’t even reply; the cab door was already open and he’d slid some money through the window. He took the stoop stairs two at a time and was about to clatter on the door when it was suddenly wrenched open.
Pepper Cousins stood before him, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
‘How did you—’
‘Saw you from the living-room window,’ she said. ‘Can we help you?’
‘Pep, let him in!’
Raina’s voice materialized from the hallway and then she appeared, looking extremely relaxed. Tom stepped into the house, bending to press an unapologetic kiss of greeting onto Raina’s mouth. Solana, who was standing on the first step of the stairs, squealed at the sight, which made him start.
‘Wow, whole gang’s here,’ he said.
‘Yes, and we’re leaving, don’t worry,’ Raina’s little sister gushed.
Raina walked Solana to her car. Tom and Pepper watched them go, the former exhaling as he braced himself for the inevitable onslaught.
‘You’ve got a nerve.’
‘Can I call you a cab, Pepper?’
‘You’re still writing your little story, right?’
Tom stared her down. ‘No.’
He was considering a whole book on Raina, at this stage. One that waxed on and on about how perfect she was to him.
‘Does Raina know?’
‘Raina knows I’ve been writing something about her since the moment we met.’
Not a lie. He’d no intention of continuing his story on Raina, but Pepper Cousins wasn’t going to bully him about his clumsy entrance into Raina’s life.
Raina reappeared, jogging up the stone steps to her front door. She eyed the two of them warily. ‘Everyone uninjured?’
Pepper clicked her tongue but smiled feebly. ‘All good. Call me tomorrow?’
‘Of course.’
When she was gone, they looked at one another.
‘I watched,’ Raina finally said softly.
‘Oh, really?’ Tom asked, a slow smile spreading across his face. ‘How was it?’
Raina pressed herself back against the wall and her eyes danced with trouble. ‘It was . . . enlightening.’
Tom placed his hands on either side of the wall and leaned closer, breathing her in while she stroked his tie. ‘It was actually enjoyable to do that load of crap, knowing you were watching.’
‘You a bit of an exhibitionist?’
‘Stick around to find out.’
‘My little sister says you’re hot.’
‘She’s a baby. I want to know what you think.’
‘I think you should stop talking.’
And he did. At least for a few hours.
‘Why did you start the podcast?’
Tom asked the question from his seated position on the cosy bathroom rug. Raina was in the bath, her figure unfortunately concealed from his view by a collection of suds and bubbles. She was massaging some conditioner into her hair and watching him, her face a little cautious.
‘You and that question.’
‘It’s what I really want to know.’
‘Why did you write all those pieces?’
‘Money, mostly.’
She glowered at him, calling him on the pithy comeback. ‘No, come on.’
Tom thought back to his tiny flat in Fulham.
His ever-growing social media following.
The hollow, empty feeling of grief that had become the horse pulling his chariot of anger along a dark, heady road.
He’d taken twists and turns without caring where he was going, and people had egged him on.
Every cutting takedown, every thread of receipts, they were a purge for him.
He would spit out some of the poisonous grief that laced his insides, and he would do it with wit to make it look pithy and clicky.
People had loved it. They’d wanted more.
Then editors had started showing interest.
‘I suppose I just liked having a sense of purpose,’ he told her, unable to voice the truth.
He didn’t want her to think less of him. To know that loneliness and pain had turned him into some kind of warden who minded the actions of others and held court with a gavel made of nails.
She examined him for a moment and then said, ‘I know who you’re on this crusade for, honey.’
His mother’s face flashed in his mind and he glanced away.
A silence hung between them for a moment before Raina suddenly splashed him. He fell back, swearing in disbelief.
Then he noticed she was laughing. The open, stunning laugh he’d seen her give Pepper that night at the Hathaway Dinner. Not the Mona Lisa smile she wore when masking. He stared at her, hungrily, until it faded.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ he murmured, wishing he knew what to do to have her laugh like that again. ‘You’re just . . . different.’
‘I know,’ she said loftily, placing a tiny soap bubble on her nose. ‘Got it in writing. Are you going to expose me too?’
Her words and tone were teasing but there was something vulnerable in her eyes.
Something that did make him feel guilty.
He suddenly clambered into the bathtub, which caused her to shriek with laughter.
Fully dressed and soaked, he lay on top of her and kissed her neck while she continued to shake with amusement.
‘I’d much rather you expose yourself, miss. Come on. Round four.’