Page 26 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Oh, you’re good.’

‘I know. Shall we sit by the water’s edge?’

‘Perfect.’

We walk along the path until we find a nice spot on the breakwater, then Anna spreads the fleecy blanket out on the stones. Sitting down on it, we pour our coffees while each cradling a hot water bottle in our laps.

‘Ahh… this is what it’s all about.’ I breathe in the salty air and stare across to the blue horizon of the Fife coast. ‘The day after a crappy hangover is like being born again.’

‘Sure is. How did you get on at Fort Arrogance?’

This is Anna’s not-so-affectionate nickname for my parents’ house. While she’s never been there herself, she’s heard enough stories to have conjured this up in her head.

‘Oh, you know, the usual character assassinations and belittling of my life choices. All the good and nurturing stuff that helps to grow my self-esteem.’

Anna lets out a theatrical grumble. ‘They need a lesson in real world problems. And how are you really doing after the whirlwind of Hogmanay? You said in your message that everything’s OK?’ She gives me an uncertain look.

‘It is, honestly. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s like it all happened so that I could finally see things for what they were. Connor and I… we’re just great pals. It certainly explains why there’s been such a lack of physical intimacy between us for so long. I can’t remember the last time we had a proper snog, never mind any mind-blowing bedroom gymnastics. Thought that was normal for couples who had been together so long.’

‘Oh yeah. And Jamie was the super-sexy eternal being brought down to Earth to help you reach this alternate conclusion?’

‘Hilarious…’ My expression is deadpan, then my eyes widen. ‘Do you think he was?’

We both let out a snorty laugh at my ridiculous comment.

‘I think he was something sacred all right, but more along the lines of sex-god than angel of enlightenment.’ Anna sips at her coffee. ‘Plus, you may do good stuff to help people, but I’ve seen your naughty side, and the jury’s out on whether you’d get into heaven.’

‘Thanks for that.’

‘Don’t want to give you any false hope. Anyway, you were saying…’ She prompts me.

I tell her the whole story, filling her in on the bits and pieces she missed during our night out together, then giving her the full rundown of our late-night walk back to my apartment, and all the events that followed. Right up until Connor left the next day and went to his mum’s. The only thing I hold back on are the juicy details, which are, of course, what she wants to hear most.

‘Oh, come on, give me something here, Steph. Was he… you know…?’

‘You realise that having only really been with one man before him, I’m unable to answer that question. But I can say for certain that he had a cracking six pack, and nice muscular arms. He definitely works out.’

‘Fine. I’ll settle for that, I suppose. I’m glad you’re coping OK after what’s happened, and also that you and Connor will stay close friends.’

‘Me too.’ I sink the last of my drink thoughtfully. ‘Though I do wonder if I’d be quite as OK if Jamie hadn’t popped up in my life. And I’d definitely be a huge mess if Connor had wanted a clean break. At the moment, the romantic part of our relationship ending feels a bit like coming to the end of your mobile contract: you know – you’ve had a good run with your old phone, but when you’re offered a shiny new upgrade, you’re like “yes, please”.’

Anna chuckles at this straightlaced comparison. ‘Makes sense. Shall we get walking to keep ourselves warm?’

We get up and pack the stuff away, then make our way along the pier to the main road and continue tracing the water’s edge until we join Trinity Path just off Lower Granton Road, which was previously an old railway line. Anna tells me about the rest of her night, which turned out to be fun, but without any further romantic liaisons.

‘I thought the guy you were talking to was single,’ I say. ‘What was his name again?’

‘Nish. He was, and he was really cute, but he wasn’t giving off the signals unfortunately. Didn’t even waver when I switched to turbo-flirt mode.’

‘Gosh, there aren’t many men who are immune to that.’

‘I think there was someone else on the scene. He had this look in his eye every time someone mentioned a woman called Denise. Apparently, she was meant to be joining them, but she never showed.’

‘Aww… poor Nish.’

‘That’s what I thought. Though I could have offered him a decent distraction for a few hours…’ Anna shrugs.

‘Not everyone sees a pull in quite the transactional way you do,’ I nudge her affectionately. ‘Plus, he probably wouldn’t have wanted Denise to hear of anything through one of the others. Probably scupper his chances altogether.’

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