Page 52 of One Night in Edinburgh

With so much foot traffic and the pavement obstructed by people waiting at the bus stop, I climb the regal stone steps of Custom House to avoid causing any additional blockages to the flow of pedestrians. It also happens to be a helpful vantage point from which to spot Jamie approaching. I’m right on time, so he should be here any second. Just as I’m checking my phone to make sure he hasn’t sent a message saying he’s late, a familiar and unwelcome voice crashes through my consciousness.

‘Steph. Hey, Steph.OMG. I can’t believe I’ve bumped into you.’

I look up in mild horror to see my sister climbing the steps towards me.

‘Kayleigh? What are you doing here?’ I glance around me self-consciously, now willing Jamie to be late. ‘You normally turn your nose up at any mention of Leith.’

‘I’m here for the market.’ She announces this with a flick of her long dark hair, then gives me one of her superficial hugs. ‘It’s vegan week – first Saturday of every month apparently. I justhadto get in on that.’

‘But you’re not vegan.’

‘No, but it’ll look great on my Insta. All these quaint little stalls with their artisanal produce. It’s perfect.’

‘You’re such a fake.’ I shake my head at her disdainfully.

‘Hey, I’m not. I don’t have to be vegan to support the vegan movement. It’s going to save the planet, you know.’

I suck air between my teeth as this comment jars with me. Funny how Connor being vegetarian was such an issue and an inconvenience, but when it’s for the right audience Kayleigh suddenly sees veganism as a tool for self-promotion. I’m about to respond to that effect, but then stop myself and try to rise above it.

‘A better way to support it would be to actually become vegan,’ I say instead.

‘Well, yeah. But if I do that, I’ll have to stop wearing silk… and wool… and leather shoes.’ She looks at me through terrified eyes, as if she’s found out there’s a price on her head and she’s fleeing the country.

‘Tragic.’ I roll my eyes. ‘You know, you could just do the dietary thing, and it would still help the planet. You don’t need to become an ethical vegan.’

‘Hmm…’ She considers this new information as if it’s a priceless gem. ‘That is a good idea. I could Insta my journey to veganism: the wins and the struggles. My followers would love that…’

I tune out as she witters on about this prospective project, my mind on other things. As I perform another anxious scan of the vicinity, there’s still no sign of Jamie, but now I can’t decide whether that’s a good thing or not. Him being late means I can hopefully still get rid of Kayleigh before he arrives, but it also means he’s… well, late – which at worst, could mean he’s not going to show. I check my phone. It’s 2:08 p.m. He’s not overly late, but the absence of any message to explain is causing an uncomfortable churning in my gut.

‘So, anyway…’ I interrupt Kayleigh’s diatribe, having not heard any of the last sixty seconds. ‘You should get on and get your selfies done.’

‘They’re not selfies, Steph.’ Kayleigh pouts. ‘They’re a cultural culinary exploration. I just happen to be in a lot of them, because my followers need to see me. Sort of like a branding thing.’

‘Sure, whatever.’ I continue to look around apprehensively.

‘Hey, what’s up with you?’ Kayleigh picks up on my behaviour. ‘You seem uneasy.’

Damn it. Her and her bloody juice radar.

‘Me? Oh, I’m fine. Waiting for, um, a friend, but they’re late.’

Kayleigh narrows her eyes and looks me up and down. I swear I even see her take a sniff at me, but perhaps that’s my overactive brain playing tricks. I do my best to look natural.

‘Who are you meeting?’ she asks.

‘Eh… Anna.’ I look away guiltily as I say this.

‘Right… why don’t I believe you?’

‘Hey, Steph.’ A grinning Jamie appears on the steps out of nowhere. ‘Sorry I’m late.’

Bollocks. This was the last thing I wanted.

Seeing Kayleigh standing there, he leans in and plants a kiss on my cheek instead of the more intimate embrace I had hoped would kick off this date. Then he stands back politely, waiting to be introduced. Kayleigh looks delighted that she’s managed to inadvertently gatecrash what is very obviously a date. She cocks her head expectantly, and with the two of them silently and patiently watching me, I have no choice but to do introductions.

‘Jamie, this is Kayleigh. Kayleigh, Jamie.’

They smile at each other politely and say hello. I hope that leaving it at that will make things awkward, and that Kayleigh will do the right thing and head off on her merry way. Unfortunately, that’s not even close to Kayleigh’s style.

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