Page 121 of Falling for You

I push out my chest with pride. ‘Let me buy you a drink,’ I say, reaching forward and putting my hand on his arm, ‘it’s the least I can do.’

He glances around and for a horrible moment I think he’s about to say he’s here with someone else, but then he turns back to me and smiles.

‘Sure,’ he steps back and holds out his arm, ‘after you, Bat Girl.’

I laugh. ‘Right this way, American Boy.’

I lean back on the sofa and swirl my drink, taking a second to look into this man’s eyes. A smile creeps onto my face, pretty much in the position it’s been since we sat down together. There is something about him I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s like this weird electricity, an addictive energy. Something inside me has just clicked, and I feel like I’ve known him forever. Which is mad, considering I’ve only known him for about ten minutes.

It must be the alcohol.

He looks into my eyes and leans towards me. We’ve been gradually getting closer as our conversation has taken off, popping and fizzing between us, bouncing back and forthlike a game of tennis. My heart rate quickens as I feel his breath on my face, smell his woody aftershave.

I think he’s about to kiss me.

I really want him to kiss me.

I tilt my head towards him, feeling like I may burst, when suddenly he jumps, pulling his phone out of his blazer pocket. When he looks at the caller ID, all the joy and spark that was alive in his face seconds before vanishes.

‘I’m so sorry,’ he says, getting to his feet, ‘I’ve got to go.’

I open my mouth to say something, but he slips back through the crowd before I can even react.

Just like that, he’s gone.

I didn’t even get his name.

CHAPTER ONE

SEVEN DAYS EARLIER

Annie

My name is Annie Glover and I have a confession.

I am addicted to autumn.

I can’t help it. I love absolutely everything about it. If there was an autumn addicts group, I’d be first in line preparing to swear on a pumpkin-spiced latte not to buy any more oversized scarves or chunky-knit sweaters. I’m the person who stuffs my sweaty body into a crocheted jumper on 1 September, even when summer is still roaring in the sky. I give a little cheer when I see the new Starbucks menu come out, and I once felt my eyes well up when I crunched on the first autumn leaves that had fallen on the pavement.

(I need to point out here that I was very hormonal at the time, and later that day also cried at my flatmate Penny making me a cup of tea without asking when I got out of the bath. But still, no ordinary person cries over a leaf. Except, perhaps, Alan Titchmarsh.)

I love the way the leaves change to golden yellow andrich, plum red. I love the moment you step outside and it feels as if you’re breathing in toothpaste and your cheeks are being lightly pinched. I love the feeling of going ‘back to school’, seeing children in fresh uniforms and stocking up on shiny new stationery at WHSmith. It brings a little glow right below my heart, every year, without fail.

I know a lot of people claim to love autumn, but really the reason that they love it is because it’s leading up to Christmas. That is not true love. For me, Christmas is like the after party. I’m still wearing my cosy jumper and ridiculous scarf, but I’ve reluctantly swapped my witch’s hat for a Santa one.

Which brings me to what I love about autumn the most: Halloween.

I love the costumes. I love the Halloween films. I love all the themed foods and the way everyone dresses up on TV. It’s the only time of year where everybody celebrates being a bit weird and wonderful on the same day by letting out their inner spook.

I look at myself in the mirror and feel a swell of pride.

If Halloween costumes were an Olympic sport, I’m not saying I’d win gold but I’d certainly be a medallist.

Actually, screw it. I’d win gold. I look great.

I had the idea for my costume the day after the annual Halloween party that Penny, Tanya and I threw in our flat just outside Clapham last year. I was face down on the sofa, trying to nurse my double hangover (one induced by the vodka, and the other induced by the fact that my favourite night of the year was over). To cheer me up, Tanya started telling me how great everyone said my costume was. I had dressedup as Wednesday Addams and my costume had included a secret compartment, meaning I could scare the life out of everyone by using one of my hands as Thing and simultaneously trick them into thinking I had three hands. I mean, yes, Liam almost fell off the balcony mid-cigarette when I used the third hand to offer him a lighter. But still, it was fantastic.

Anyway! It was then that I started brainstorming my next ‘unassuming’ costume and the idea came to me: I was going to be … a bat.