Page 239 of Falling for You

‘Well, that’s because neither of you are living here …’ I say, plucking three mugs from the top cupboard.

‘How dare you!’ Penny huffs.

‘I love it!’ Tanya squeals, throwing herself onto the sofa. ‘Honestly, Annie, it’s so gorgeous. I can’t believe you live in a place like this. Why did you live in our shitty little flat for so long when you could be living here?’

‘Well,’ I shrug, ‘I didn’t know I could be living here. And obviously,’ I add quickly, catching Penny’s outraged expression, ‘I loved living with both of you so I never thought about moving out.’

Penny peers at me for a moment before nodding in acceptance and pulling the milk out of the fridge.

So, when did we last catch up?

Oh yes … Nate.

I thought I was hallucinating when he came barrelling down the train platform, banging on every window and screaming my name. I thought I was so upset at us splitting up that I had started picturing him everywhere like an absolute madwoman. But I wasn’t, he was actually there.

And guess what? He went back to New York with Stevie. We kissed for what felt like hours, I unblocked his number and he promised he’d call me once he landed. We spoke almost the entire week. I met his parents on FaceTime, I had endless conversations with Stevie about costumes and Nate and I just … Well, we just chatted about everything. While he was gone, I told my parents everything, including about how I’d made the outfit for Stevie and he’d since given my number out to several of his drag friends and I was being bombarded with requests to make their outfits too. Dad tried to be very supportive about me taking the corporate job and giving up my business making costumes … Mum, not so much. She was absolutely outraged. She could not understand why I was walking away from it all, just as it was starting to take off. When I said about not making enough money to survive in London, she waved me off and said thatI’d find my way. Which felt absolutely terrifying at the time. But here we are.

Pam was actually quite relieved that I turned down the job. She said that after I’d accepted, she went home to Rodney and they talked about my ‘horrible, grey, anti-Annie outfit’ and they both knew it wasn’t right. Apparently, Rodney already knew someone who was happy to step into Pam’s shoes.

As soon as I accepted the jobs from Stevie’s friends, others came rolling in. Before I knew it, I had enough work to last me for months. And enough money too. I moved back in with Mum and Dad to get on my feet … and now I’m here.

Living on my own, doing the job I love more than anything in the world.

‘Urgh, that’s not tea, is it?’

I beam. And Nate’s here too. He’s still living with Stevie, but he’s here all the time.

Penny thwacks him playfully on the arm. ‘You cannot be a proper Brit and not like tea, Nate.’

He loops a heavy arm around me and I snuggle into his chest.

Well, if I thought the universe couldn’t make up its mind as to whether it wanted us together or apart … it certainly made up its mind by the time Nate came home. Thankfully, it seems to like us together. Which is good for me, as that’s my general opinion too. He stayed in New York with his mum over Christmas, and sent me pictures of his Aunt Tell sitting with them round their family dinner table. But thenhe came back, to give life in London another go. To give us another go.

It’s all worked out, and even if the universe had any other ideas, I know we’d find each other again.

Because now I just know.

Nate: I will never let you go.