Page 202 of Falling for You
Well,Iknow how brilliant she is. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.
She catches my eye and laughs. ‘Will you stop it?’
I can’t help it, I laugh too. ‘Stop what?’
‘Looking at me like that.’ She pushes her hands into her pockets. ‘I can see you.’
‘Sorry. I’ll play it cool.’ I force myself to look forward. She steals a glance at me and I can’t help it, I look at her again. We both laugh and she pushes me with her elbow.
‘I bet this is your dream,’ she says, and for a moment I’m about to spill out that yes, this is exactly like my dream, until I realise that she’s talking about our picturesque surroundings. ‘You don’t get more quintessentially British than the Cotswolds.’
‘You’re right,’ I say. ‘That’s why I came here for the day. I can’t believe you grew up here, you’re so lucky.’
Another wave of snow sprays us both in the face and wewince. The snowflakes stick to my eyelashes and I notice the tip of Annie’s nose has turned pink.
‘Go on, then,’ she says.
‘What?’
‘Tell me what the fantasy is.’ She grins at me. ‘I want to know what your perfect British life would be and how realistic it actually is. You do know that we don’t all have magic umbrellas or eat marmalade sandwiches?’
‘I hope not,’ I say, giving her a look. ‘Marmalade is disgusting.’ She laughs and I scan along the street. At the end, there’s a house set further back than the others. It has a small garden path with stones leading the way like lily pads up to the cottage made of warm, golden stone, and strings of ivy weaving around towards the uneven tiled roof. It looks just like theHolidayhouse.
‘This,’ I say, nodding towards the house. ‘I’d live somewhere like this. I’d be happy—’
‘And in love?’
I feel a warm glow in my chest. ‘Of course. Isn’t life a bit better when you’re in love?’
Annie snorts and I look round at her. ‘Sorry,’ she says, trying to hide her smile. ‘I just don’t know if I can deal with how cheesy you are. You’re like a cartoon character.’
‘Maybe I’m just saying what everyone else is too cool to say.’ I raise my eyebrows at her and she cocks her head.
‘Go on, then,’ she says. ‘What’s in this house? A wife?’
‘Yup,’ I nod, pushing my face further into my scarf. ‘Some kids. A big study filled with books.’
‘Sounds nice. A sewing machine?’
I smile. ‘Yeah, of course. A whole room full of clothes and fabrics and … needles. I don’t know, whatever you need to sew.’
She laughs. ‘A fire?’
‘Definitely, and a big dining table.’
‘And a cat?’
‘No.’ I scrunch up my face. ‘A dog.’
‘Ah.’ She kicks a patch of snow and pulls a face of mock disappointment. ‘You’ve lost me there, I’m afraid.’
‘Who said you were invited?’ I tease.
‘Wasn’t I?’ She gives me a knowing look.
I smile and shake my head. ‘I think you belong there with me. Who else will keep the room with the sewing machine alive?’
She nods and points over a small bridge. ‘My parents’ house is just over here.’
