Page 92 of Falling for You

And then the next morning, I couldn’t stop myself from holding his hand, putting my arm around his waist or laughing as he kissed me. I didn’t even care that Mum and Dadwere practically somersaulting off the walls when we walked downstairs, hand in hand. It just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Like my hand was meant to be in his. It’s where it belonged.

Thankfully, the snow seemed to have evaporated overnight, leaving behind only a scattering of silver icicles, which meant that the trains were back on. The four of us had breakfast, Mum pulled out a fresh loaf of bread and we all sang happy birthday to Dad over flickering candles that proudly stood atop a glistening, gooey chocolate cake. We had coffee and cake, toast and jam, and in that moment it felt as though I didn’t have any problems at all. Tanya and Penny hadn’t just told me that they were moving out; I wasn’t going to have to find somewhere else to live; a flat share with strangers wasn’t looming at me from around the corner. Or if it was, it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

‘Will your brother be in?’ I ask Nate, as the train pulls up to Paddington. He picks up my bag before I can protest, swinging it round his broad shoulders like it’s filled with feathers.

He shakes his head as we make our way through the station. ‘Unlikely, he’s out a lot.’

‘Oh yeah?’ I grin. ‘Out with the ladies?’

Nate smiles to himself. ‘He’s gay, so more likely to be out with the guys. He works a lot, too.’

I nod as we weave between the crowds and jump onto the tube. ‘What about you?’ I say, trying my best to sound nonchalant, even though it’s a question that’s been buzzing in my mind since he kissed me.

‘What about me?’

‘Are you out with the ladies much?’

I feel myself burn with embarrassment, but it’s something I’ve been trying to ask him all day. Was last night something he does with lots of girls? He doesn’t seem that way … but I’ve been wrong about that before. And fuck, I feel like I’ve given my heart to him now. I don’t know what I’d do if I was one of many.

Nate laughs, giving my hand a squeeze. ‘Only you, Annie.’ My heart glows.

Only you, Annie.

An image pops into my head of Nate with another girl and I feel my insides squeeze. I quickly shake it out of my mind.

He just told you he isn’t seeing anyone else. You have to trust him.

‘You look pretty happy about that,’ he smiles.

I tuck my hair behind my ear. ‘I just … well, like I said, I’m not a big dater. So last night …’ I trail off and Nate swings our combined hands around my shoulders so he’s fully wrapped around me.

‘It meant a lot to me too,’ he says, and before I can say anything he spins me back out so we’re side by side again and I laugh.

‘Are you rushing back home?’ he asks.

I smile, my hand warm inside his. ‘I don’t have to be.’

‘I only live round the corner,’ he says. ‘Why don’t you come in?’

‘For a cup of tea?’ I tease.

Nate grimaces. ‘Not unless you really, really want one.’

I laugh as we walk through the barrier and onto the streets of London. It’s like the snow from yesterday never existed; the streets are back to being grey, glistening slightly under the rain. People are hurrying along with their shoulders hunched, their elbows tucked in and their eyes firmly fixed ahead.

‘This way,’ Nate says, steering me round a corner. ‘I thought we could – ah!’

I flinch as a car skirts past us, drenching Nate from head to toe in wet grey sludge. He yelps, jumping back as his trousers cling to his legs. ‘Oh my God!’ I gasp. ‘Are you all right?’

He looks down at himself. ‘I’m fine. I … are you laughing?’

I can’t help it, the giggles bubble up inside me and before I can stop myself, I’m doubled over, trying to hide my face. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stop laughing when I’m with him. It’s like he just fills me with this happy, excited energy.

‘You are laughing!’ he cries. ‘After I justsavedyou.’

‘I’m sorry …’ I manage between laughs. ‘I just …’

He rolls his eyes, putting a heavy arm over my shoulders and steering me along the pavement.