Baby Be Mine

will be able to sort you out with another ticket,’ Johnny says.
    ‘Lena’s left for the weekend,’ I point out, then, like the martyr I am, add: ‘I’ll do it.’
    ‘This is going to be awesome!’ Dana enthuses, ruffling Barney’s hair. ‘What are you going dressed as, buddy?’
    My skin prickles with annoyance. Buddy? That’s what Johnny calls him, not her.
    She looks at me, expecting me to reply. ‘A pumpkin,’ I answer shortly.
    She snorts. ‘A pumpkin? Does that mean you’re going as Cinderella?’ She embarks on a giggling fit. Bess raises one eyebrow at me.
    ‘What’s Joseph going dressed as?’ Bess asks me. Johnny’s eyes dart towards mine.
    ‘Who’s Joseph?’ Dana chips in, conveniently forgetting the other day on the terrace when he called me.
    ‘Meg’s hot new martial-arts-trained boyfriend,’ Bess explains.
    He’s hardly my boyfriend, but I don’t think I’ll bother correcting her.
    ‘Is he coming?’ Johnny asks me quietly.
    ‘Yep,’ I reply bluntly. ‘Right, I’ll go and RSVP for the lot of us.’
    I feel his eyes on my back as I walk out of the room.
    Because there are children involved, the party starts at four o’clock on Saturday, but that’s too early for Dana and Johnny, so Bess, Eddie, Barney and I travel there together. The party is being held at Sylvester’s enormous mansion on Mulholland Drive. We offered to go on a detour to pick up Joseph, but he’s hitching a ride with a couple of actor friends who are going. He’s already waiting out at the front when Davey pulls up, paparazzi flashbulbs going off all around us as celebrities and industry insiders exit their limos.
    ‘There he is,’ I say with a smile.
    ‘Which one?’ Bess asks, leaning forward.
    ‘The guy in the Karate Kid costume.’
    She bursts out laughing. ‘That’s funny.’ Then her laughs die. ‘Oh my God, Meg, he’s gorgeous!’
    ‘Hey!’ Eddie smacks her on her thigh. ‘Give a guy a complex, why don’t you?’
    I just smile wider.
    ‘Hello!’ I exclaim, climbing from the car and almost forgetting to bring my tail with me.
    He sucks the air in through his teeth. ‘Look at you,’ he says.
    ‘Meow,’ I reply, but can’t say it sexily so I start laughing instead.
    It’s probably the stress, but somehow or other I’ve managed to keep the figure I obtained from walking up the hills in Cucugnan, so my skin-tight costume doesn’t look too bad – it helps that I’m wearing high-heeled boots. I’ve tied my blonde hair up into a high, tight ponytail, which goes strangely well with my velvet black cat ears, and my eye make-up is dark grey and glittery. I’m wearing a slick of pink lipgloss and a touch of peachy blusher.
    I turn around to take Barney from Bess, hooking my long cat tail over my arm. I briefly admire my fingernails, painted dark cherry red – Bess and I went for a manicure earlier and I’m wearing black finger-less gloves to show them off.
    ‘Cute,’ Joseph says with a smile at Barney the Pumpkin, before his eyes fall on Bess.
    ‘This is my friend, Bess,’ I introduce them.
    ‘Hi!’ she says with a cheeky grin. Behind us, Batman climbs out of the car.
    ‘This is Eddie,’ I explain to my perplexed date.
    ‘Are you . . .’ Joseph glances at Eddie.
    ‘No, he’s not Barney’s dad,’ I reply quickly. ‘Although . . .’ I hesitate before answering truthfully. ‘He is supposed to be coming later.’
    Bess gives me a wary look. Can I trust Joseph? I don’t think I have a choice. But for now, my news can wait.
    I turn to the others. ‘Shall we go in?’
    It’s not dark yet, but everywhere we look there are candles burning – inside dozens of carved pumpkins lining the winding footpaths, hanging from the olive trees, floating in the enormous swimming pool. I think about the army of staff members it will take to keep them burning as the night wears on; but when darkness hits, it will be breathtaking. The inside of the house has been decorated with fake spider webs and giant sparkly spiders and there are glass bowls full of Halloween-themed sweets on practically every surface. I’m in my element as I grab two jelly snakes and hand one to Barney. Everyone here is dressed in the most extravagant costumes – I dread to think how much they cost. Someone actually has come as Cinderella, with her blonde hair up in a bun and a diamond tiara to finish off the most spectacular, glittering, silver and white meringue I’ve ever seen. I’m actually quite