Page 24 of One Night in Edinburgh

I roll my eyes at her overly dramatic response. ‘Those “strays and deadbeats” you talk of are decent people in genuine need of a helping hand. You have a bloody island in your kitchen—’

‘That’s enough, Steph.’ My dad enters the kitchen and cuts me off. ‘Your mother has worked all day to put a lovely meal on the table for you. You could show a little gratitude.’

‘Thanks, Mum,’ I mutter, and quickly leave the room before any more New Year fireworks go off.

After what turns out to be a very tasty meal with some not totally unpleasant conversation – other than Kayleigh prattling on about some VIP opening event she’s managed to stalk her way into – we load the dishwasher, and I plant myself at the kitchen sink to do the remaining washing up. This has been my plan all along – to help with the clearing up; I welcome the bit of headspace it gives me from my high-maintenance family.

Elbows deep in bubbly hot water, listening to Sia, my mind runs through the experiences of the last couple of days: in particular, the issue of Jamie’s sudden departure and the fact that I have no way of contacting him. All my online searches came back with nothing, which is hardly surprising, given I don’t know his surname. It’s especially annoying because he doesn’t know what happened with Connor after he left, so he’d be unlikely to try and contact me. Or am I wrong in assuming that? I don’t know enough about him to tell whether he’s the type to stand back and gallantly allow a bruised relationship to mend, or go after what he wants, regardless of the circumstances. His friend did suggest that Jamie was the go-getter type. The question is, whether that’s just in business, or if it extends to his love life?

As I’m pondering all this, the upbeat music pumping through my earphones unexpectedly fades, and a message alert signals in my ears. A bolt of unmerited excitement whizzes through me as my irrational mind asks: ‘Is it him?’. I pull off my rubber gloves and snatch my phone from my hoodie pocket, only to be disappointed to see Anna’s name illuminated on the screen. Not that I don’t love hearing from my best friend. It’s just that all the romantic movies I’ve ever watched seem to have accumulated in my mind, resulting in some ridiculous illusion that, after all these years of not knowing what true love really is, it came and found me on Hogmanay.

Hey hon. How’s the head today? Hope you’re doing OK, and that sexy Jamie was able to distract you from your woes. Give me the goss! Xx

I chuckle at the end of her message. She’ll be dying to know what happened. I decide not to keep her waiting, and send a reply. This is as much in the hope that she’ll be able to help me track down Jamie, as it is to give her the juice she wants, and also to find out how her own early-morning liaison went.

Hiya. A bit delicate today – hangover not heartbreak. Everything fine between me and Connor. He even knows about Jamie, and he was cool with it. I’ve realised that what we had wasn’t the real thing, and I want the real thing, so he’s done me a favour. Jamie was unbelievable, but no contact details for him. Any thoughts? How was your hook up? ;) xx

I’ve just put my rubber gloves back on and resumed listening to my music when my phone signals a response from Anna. Despite the effort it will take to get my phone back out again, I can’t control the overriding impulse to read her reply straight away.

What the actual fudge?? Need to know more. Meet for a walk on the cycle path tomorrow? 2 p.m.? Usual place? Xx

I let her know I’ll see her there, stuff my phone back in my pocket, and then resume my task as my dad enters the kitchen.

‘I’m going to make the coffee, Steph. Are you nearly done?’

‘I will be shortly.’

I finish up clearing in the kitchen, then join the rest of my family in the lounge. Dad brings through a tray of cups and saucers, a cafetiere and a plate of homemade shortbread, and we all dig in. I’ve decided that now’s the time to break the news. It means that I won’t have to endure too many of their self-satisfied looks and insensitive comments before I head off to bed.

‘Who fancies a game of Pictionary?’ asks my mum.

Kayleigh and Mikey groan simultaneously.

‘Actually, can it wait a minute?’ I ask, as all eyes land on me. ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’

Chapter 8

‘What is it, Steph?’ My mum’s enquiring eyes fix on me like a drone to a target.

Feeling the full force of my family’s searching looks, I recoil slightly. On the brink of losing my nerve, my mind frantically seeks some other update I can share with them that could be passed off as ‘news’; when Mikey reaches over and gives my hand a little squeeze.

‘You’ve got this.’ He offers me a reassuring smile, and it’s what I need to find the courage to continue.

‘Connor and I have… um… we’ve broken up.’

There’s a stunned silence, followed by an exchange of looks as if to check with each other how serious I am.

‘I see,’ says my mum. ‘And if I may ask, how did this happen?’

‘He ended things.’

‘Heended things withyou?’ My dad looks incredulous.

‘Yes.’

‘What a silly little blighter.’

‘He’s not, Dad.’ I sigh at his predictability and his tone softens.

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