Page 38 of One Night in Edinburgh

Getting up to join Connor in the kitchen, I open up Sean’s profile on my dating app and pass him the phone. He assumes an appraising expression as he scrutinises the picture.

‘He’s quite hot. Man, it’s so good to finally be able to say things like that out loud.’ Connor glances up and grins at me, and I return his smile with an approving nod. ‘Provided he doesn’t have a penchant for playing naked butler on the first date, I’d go out with him.’

‘He doesn’t. I can’t imagine himeverplaying naked butler. He’s quite… tame.’

‘Give him a chance.’ He hands the phone back to me and resumes making the tea. ‘You women can be really intimidating. I may not have dated many of you, but I’ve hung out with enough of your friends over the years to know that. Anna especially is terrifying. She’d eat most men for breakfast, lunch and dinner.’

‘Probably explains why she’s terminally single.’ I chuckle. ‘OK, I’ll give him a chance, but if he doesn’t give me a proper belly laugh soon, I’m going to have to call it a day. There’s only so much painful small talk I can endure.’

Connor slops some milk in our mugs and turns to face me. ‘Fine – but offer something up. Don’t expect him to put in all the work. That’s not fair.’

‘I’m not. I’m just disappointed that the chat with him doesn’t flow the way it did with Jamie.’

‘That’s your problem right there. If you make Jamie the benchmark for every guy you go out with, they’re all going to be a miss. Sean isn’t Jamie… so find out who Seanis.’

‘All right, all right. I’ll try to keep Jamie out of my mind when I’m on the date.’

‘Not just for the date.’ Connor holds my gaze to show he’s serious. ‘For good. He’s in the past, Steph. That’s where he needs to stay.’

‘Sure.’ I frown, aware that what Connor’s asking is an impossible task.

My phone buzzes again in my hand and Connor and I share a helpless look. Reluctantly tilting the screen upwards to meet my eyeline, I see that it’s not another wannabe fake-suitor-slash-comedian but a notification from my family WhatsApp group.

Kayleigh:

Steph, I’ve got a blind date lined up for you! This guy’s a right looker, super successful and well connected. Are you free tomorrow night?

Irritation swells in me. What the hell does Kayleigh think she’s doing? She’s the last person I’d trust with my love life. And why does she have to broadcast this on the family group? She could have messaged me privately.

A buzz of my phone and another message pops up before I can respond – then another.

Mum:

He sounds wonderful, Kayleigh. How kind of you to do this for your sister.

Dad:

Yes, that’s thoughtful of you, sweetheart.

That’s why she didn’t message me privately. She wanted to garner support from the ranks, the sneaky cow.

‘Oh, bugger off, the lot of you,’ I grumble at my phone.

‘Everything OK?’ Connor peers over my shoulder and reads what’s on the screen.

‘Can you believe her? She’s such a piece of work.’

‘She’s never been my flavour of soft drink, but I guess she means well.’

‘She does not.’ My voice rises half an octave through my indignation. ‘This is her trying to control the situation: she wants me to end up with someone they’ll all approve of. This is her attempt at a coup.’

‘Would it be so awful to go and see what the guy is like?’

‘I can imagine exactly what he’s like: rich, impeccably dressed and with teeth that are so white they glow in the dark.’

‘Well, that sounds… awful.’ Connor’s tone drips with sarcasm.

‘It’s not my type at all.’ I return to the sofa with my tea and toss my phone on to the cushion in frustration.

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