Page 48 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Because he called me from a landline on Saturday night before we met up and he hasn’t given me his mobile number yet.’

‘Who uses landlines anymore? And why wouldn’t he give you his mobile number? Tell me exactly how it went down.’

‘It’s fine, Anna. Don’t make a big deal out of it. He asked for my number as he was leaving yesterday, and I wrote it down on a scrap of paper. I expected him to punch it into his phone and then call mine, so I had his number too, but he didn’t.’

‘And why didn’t you ask for it?’

‘I didn’t want to come over too keen.’ I resume fiddling with my stationery. ‘You taught me that. I was following your advice. Plus, when I gave him my number, he said he’d be keeping it very safe. It was sweet actually. Then he kissed mereallypassionately and left.’

Anna purses her lips as if she’s wrestling with herself to hold something back. She returns to her desk and sits down.

‘What’s going on, Anna? What are you thinking?’

‘I’m thinking – sorry Steph – there’s something a bit off about that. He took your mobile number then used diversion tactics to take your focus off the fact he didn’t give you his. It doesn’t smack of someone totally genuine, and it’s making me wonder what he’s got to hide.’

‘Nah, you’re wrong.’ I firmly reject this. ‘You’re over-dramatising things again – looking for a story that’s simply not there. Maybe you should cut your Netflix binge-watching down a bit. These shows are messing with your sense of reality.’

She throws back her head and laughs loudly. ‘That’s rich coming from you, little Miss I’m-living-and-breathing-my-very-own-Hollywood-romcom.’

‘Shut it.’ I chuck a screwed-up piece of paper over the computer monitor at her, and she ducks out of the way still chuckling to herself. ‘He’ll be in touch. But if I don’t hear from him in the next day or so, I’ll call the landline number he called me from.’

‘Sure, whatever. I guess all I’m saying is be careful, Steph. I don’t want you to get hurt. Maybe the next lesson I need to teach you is not to fall too hard too fast.’

Here we go again.

‘You and Connor are as bad as each other,’ I say.

‘Or we’re good friends wanting to look out for you. At least consider that a possibility before you write us off.’

I’m about to respond that there’s a difference between looking out for me and being way too overprotective when our boss, Lizzie, unexpectedly breezes into the office looking distracted.

‘Morning,’ I call across to her.

She looks across at me without really seeing me, then snaps her fingers in a moment of clarity. ‘Ah, Steph, yes. Can I have a word?’

‘Of course.’ I follow her into her office and close the door behind me. ‘How are things going with the venue for the spring fundraiser? Do you need me to do anything?’

‘Everything is great.’ She leafs through some papers on her desk, clearly looking for something. ‘I wanted to ask you something. The extra frontline work you’re doing with our young people. Is it working for you? Giving you the sense of fulfilment you’re seeking, I mean.’

‘I think so. Why do you ask?’

‘Well, I was wondering if you’d like to join me at my appointments this morning? I’m meeting with the MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith to discuss the youth crisis support available in the area, and then I’ve got my monthly update with our accountants.’

‘Sounds interesting.’ I purse my lips thoughtfully. ‘Any particular reason for wanting me to come along?’

Lizzie stops what she’s doing and meets my eye.

‘I want to help you understand that you can feel connected to the cause in other ways: for example, through convincing a politician to fight for more emergency resources, or finding accounting opportunities to cut costs so we can divert more money to the frontline.’

‘OK, sure.’ I shrug. ‘If you think that will help.’

Lizzie emits a peep of satisfaction as she snatches up the document she was looking for and finally looks at me. ‘It will help. How do I know? Because I was exactly in your shoes once, before I set up Edinburgh Youth Kickstart. Now grab your stuff and let’s go.’

I hurry back to my desk for my coat and handbag, noticing that Lizzie’s already on her way back out the door.

‘What was that about?’ Anna asks as I pack up my things.

‘Seems I’m on an impromptu development day today. Shadowing the boss.’

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