Page 34 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

By the time I’m on the bus, whizzing across North Bridge, looking out across Waverley Station to the Scott Monument and West Princes Street Gardens, I’ve cheered up a bit. At least I have some potential options on the horizon again. If I can limit my personal hell to a month or six weeks, then hopefully I can move on at the end of it with my sanity still intact.

On arriving in the bar, I’m greeted by an ever-cheery Reyes, who obviously doesn’t suffer the brunt of the beast in the way that I have so far – or just doesn’t care.

‘Hola, Chica. How are you today?’ She trots over and gives me a European-style greeting, kissing me on both cheeks.

‘Hi, Reyes. I’m fine thanks. You?’

‘I am good, like every single day. Even though the sun does not shine here, I am happy. But, I am worried for you, Liv.’

‘Err… why’s that?’ I’m immediately alert and nervous of an unanticipated third and final strike missile coming my way from Clara.

‘Because, Chica, you were not happy last night, yes?’ She fixes her emerald green eyes on mine.

‘Me? No, I’m just fine.’ I try, but fail, to hold her gaze. ‘Totally fine.’

‘I know that is not the truth, Liv. But I am not expecting that you tell me yet. We are only meeting a few days ago. I will not break your arm for this information, not yet anyway, but I hope you will learn that you can trust me.’

I blink at Reyes for a moment, mildly perplexed, then it clicks. ‘Oh, you mean you won’ttwistmy arm.’

‘That is what I say.’ Reyes gives a single assertive nod.

‘Right, sure.’ I offer her a kind smile. ‘Of course. But I’m fine, honestly. It’s just a bit of an adjustment working here.’

‘I understand,’ says Reyes. ‘I come from a different place too.’

I nod, thinking back to what Josh told me, unable to get my head around why Reyes would give up a cushy lifestyle for this.

‘How’s it going, sexy ladies?’ A voice suddenly cuts through the silence, causing us to jump.

‘Amir! You scare us,’ Reyes scolds him. ‘I did not know you are here.’

‘Been doing the stocktake for the last three hours.’ He jabs his thumb behind him, towards the steps that lead to the cellar from the bar storeroom.

‘You all good, Liv?’ He gives me a cheeky wink. ‘You’re looking particularly ravishing today.’

‘Yes, fine.’ I shrug and smile at him, already aware that he’s a bit of a smoothie.

‘Amir. Please!’ Reyes gives him another telling-off. ‘You are not Josh. You must stop with this… thing!’ She waves her hands in the air theatrically.

‘What thing?’ He grins innocently at her.

‘This… how do you say… flirting… yes, flirting. I see that you are picking this up from Josh and it does not work for you.’

Amir, rather than being offended, looks highly amused by Reyes’s comment. I watch as he plays on her fiery personality. At around five-foot six, he’s not much taller than me and Reyes, but he’s got more charisma than the two of us put together. And he loves nothing more than winding Reyes up, his broad Glasgow accent making him all the more entertaining.

‘Amir. No. I will not hear this.’ Reyes sticks her fingers in her ears. ‘You go too far. Too far!’

‘I think she fancies me,’ Amir whispers under his breath, causing me to have to hold back a snigger. ‘Right, I’m off for a break. See you in a bit.’

Amir wanders out of the bar, ignoring the stream of Spanish abuse following him.

‘Now, cocktail making.’ Reyes turns to me and suddenly claps her hands together with excitement. ‘This will be fun. Today I will teach you only the most popular drinks. It will take a while for you to learn everything. We will also try the beer again, yes?’ She gives me a sideways glance.

‘Sounds good.’ I pretend not to notice.

‘OK,empecemos!’

‘Empe-what?’ I give her a confused look.

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