Page 51 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Fine, we’ll just leave it then…’ I roll my eyes as I pick up my cutlery and finally start eating my dinner, my mind continuing to pore over things.

Connor is my closest friend in the world, and I love him with all my heart, but sometimes he can be a right buzzkill. It’s clear that Jamie and I are going places. Connor needs to catch the hell up.

Chapter 16

After an excruciatingly long week, Saturday finally arrives along with the beginning of March and poses the dilemma of how to kit myself out for this date.

After a ridiculous amount of deliberation and chopping and changing, something I’m not in the habit of and can only put down to pre-date nerves, my room resembles a migraine-inducing, giant patchwork quilt. I eventually decide on ankle high black jeggings, my favourite sporty jumper (not really that sporty – just fast fashion’s version of it) and the barely worn Nikes I bought in the autumn sales after eyeing up Anna’s ones for four months prior to that.

‘What do you think?’ I burst into the living room where Connor’s putting away the shopping he’s just brought home.

He reaches up and shoves the box of cereal he’s holding into one of the top kitchen cupboards then turns and gives an appreciative whistle. ‘Very sexy.’

‘It’s not too casual?’

‘I think casual is the way to go with this date.’

‘OK, cool. That’s where my head was at. I’ve got a little extra make-up on though, and I’ve done my hair differently.’ I spin on the spot to let Connor see the flirty curls I’ve tonged into the ends of my hair. ‘It doesn’t make me look twelve, does it?’

‘No, you’re fine.’ Connor abandons his bags and wanders across to me, chuckling. ‘Not nervous at all are you?’

‘Is it that obvious?’ I fiddle with my hair anxiously.

‘A little. But only because I’ve witnessed you tearing through this place like a tornado this morning. That’s why I went shopping. I could tell you needed the space to go through… whatever this process is.’

I glance across at the living room, essentially an extension of the chaos I’ve created in my bedroom, and laugh awkwardly as I see it properly for the first time.

‘Sorry, Connor. I’ll get this tidied up before I go.’

‘Don’t worry about it. I can probably find a corner of a sofa to sit on.’

‘No way. It would be really rude of me to walk out and leave you in this mess. I don’t need to leave for another ten minutes, so I’ll dump it in my room.’

‘Honestly, it’s not a problem.’ Connor shrugs easily. ‘But if you insist, let me help you.’

He follows me to the main living area and we gather up my stuff: hanging bags over our shoulders, draping clothing across forearms and grabbing smaller items such as make-up and jewellery. Much as I’ve had the common sense not to overdress for the occasion, it apparently didn’t stop me considering everything from an ankle-long floaty skirt to a leopard print bodysuit, which I’m surprised I even own. What the hell was I thinking? After years of being calm and balanced, I’m borderline here. Is this what happens when you meet the man of your dreams?

We carry my stuff back to my bedroom and Connor gasps in surprise at the sight of it.

‘It’s like a clothes bomb went off in here, Stephy.’

‘Yeah.’ I wince and look around for somewhere to put the stuff we’re holding, but I can’t spot a single free space of furniture or floor. ‘Just chuck it on top of the other stuff on the bed and I’ll sort it out later.’

‘There’s a bed in here?’ He gives me a cheeky side-glance.

‘Oh, you’re hilarious. Here, give it to me.’

I ditch the stuff that I’m carrying on to the bed and then take the rest from Connor and do the same with it. Surveying the mess that used to be my bedroom, I let out a little peep of ‘I’m dreading having to deal with this later’. It now looks less like a giant patchwork quilt and more like a ball pit – if ball pits were filled with textiles instead of colourful plastic balls.

‘Right then…’ We leave my room and I deliberately close the door behind me in the hope that will make the chaos disappear. ‘I’d better go. Wish me luck.’

I offer Connor a faltering smile that betrays a combination of unquenchable excitement and jangling nerves.

‘You don’t need luck.’ Connor pulls me into a bolstering hug and plants a kiss on the top of my head. ‘He’s not blind or stupid. I might not fancy you like that, but if I were straight, you’d never have the chance to be with anyone else, because I’d never let you go.’

‘Aww, thanks, Connor.’ I hug him back. ‘Then maybe all I need to do is not scare the life out of any more bearded strangers like I did last time. And hopefully Jamie is well on the path to falling in love with me.’

Twenty minutes later, I hop off the bus at Custom House at The Shore, right next to where the Water of Leith joins the Albert Dock Basin. The whole area is busy with weekend visitors – the fact that it’s a peaceful, sunny day and the first to reach a temperature of double figures this year makes it more of a draw than usual. The Leith Market is set up in the cobbled car park of Dock Place and I’m pleased to see the market traders doing a roaring trade. Many times, I’ve passed on the bus in the pouring rain and whistling winds and felt so sorry for them. A beautiful day must make all the difference to their spirits – and sales.

---