Page 36 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Hello?’ a male voice answers.

‘Hi, is that Jamie?’

‘Yes, it’s me. Hi, Steph.’

On hearing this, I feel like the breath has been kicked out of me, and for a moment I can’t speak. My heart is hammering in my chest. I glance across at Connor and Anna who look completely gobsmacked by this turn of events.

‘I got your message on the beer can,’ Jamie prompts me.

‘Right, of course. Wow. I can’t believe how quickly that worked. I… um… so do you want to meet up?’

‘Definitely.’

‘OK, great. When would work for you?’

I’m now practically dancing on the spot, elated. But I am also feeling some level of awkwardness at how this communication has come about. He’s not as chatty as I remember either.

‘Half an hour?’ he suggests.

‘Half an hour’s fine. Whereabouts? Same pub we met in before?’

‘Eh… how about we meet on Commercial Quay?’

‘OK… sure.’ I’m puzzled by this request.

‘There are plenty of places for an alfresco quickie round there.’

As he says this, I hear a surge of raucous laughter in the background.

‘What the hell…’ I cut the call and stare at my phone in disbelief, filling in my friends on what just happened. Seconds later, another email comes through from the same email address. I open it, hoping that this time it really is Jamie.

Aww go on! I’ll rock your world. Guarantee you’ll forget all about Jamie after ten minutes with me.

‘Eww.It’s him again.’

‘Ignore him,’ says Anna. ‘He’s clearly not getting any.’

‘I can’t believe a guy would do that. What a cheek. And completely gross.’

‘At least he didn’t follow up with a dick pic.’

‘Oh, stop it, Anna, please.’ This comment makes me feel a bit nauseated.

I’m fuming, but also desperately disappointed that my hopes were raised and then dashed like that. Tears prick at my eyes and I blink them away so that neither Connor nor Anna can see how much this has upset me.

‘It was always going to be a risk putting yourself out there like that.’ Connor puts his arm around me, giving me a squeeze.

‘I know, but I never imagined that people would be so cruel.’

‘I don’t think it’s personal, hon,’ says Anna. ‘They’re out drinking and they spot this message and to them it’s all a big laugh. It’s how people are. They don’t think of the consequences.’

‘I suppose.’

My phone signals the arrival of another email. I pick it up and read out loud.

Hey, I saw your message on the beer can. Is Connor single? He’s probably more my type ;)

‘What have I done?’ I wail. ‘Connor, Anna, please tell me this isn’t going to continue.’

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