Page 58 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘OK, sure. I have Netflix too, so we’ll have plenty of films to choose from.’

I’m so delighted he doesn’t want our date to end here, it takes me a minute to twig that we’re following the same pattern as our two previous encounters – only this time without the booze. Maybe that’s OK though, given we’ve spent quality time getting to know each other this afternoon. We’ve eaten, we’ve exercised. What else could we do other than hit the pub?

We could go to his place instead of mine, my brain offers.

‘What’s on your mind?’ Jamie asks, as we head in the direction of my apartment. ‘I can almost see it ticking over.’

‘Oh, I… um… was just wondering if perhaps we should go to yours instead. You know, mix things up a bit? I’d love to see your place.’

I glance at him in time to see a look of uncertainty flash across his face, but it’s gone before I can follow up on it.

‘Nah, my place isn’t as cosy and inviting as yours,’ he says. ‘Plus, I don’t have Netflix. We’d be relying on there being something to watch on Freeview.’

‘I don’t mind that. I’m sure we we’d find something half decent.’

‘Not sure about you, but I’d rather not spend the afternoon watching a kid’s film or something my gran used to nod off in front of. Come on, let’s just go to yours and we’ll do mine another time.’

‘All right then.’

I study his face, searching for any trace of the expression that was there before, but he simply grins back at me, causing me to cast aside any concerns. His reasoning makes perfect sense. I’ll see his place eventually and get to know more about his current limbo situation – whatever that’s all about.

We walk all the way to my apartment, which while I enjoy our walks together, leaves me feeling a bit weary. Jamie’s energy levels appear to be limitless.

Unlocking my front door, we step inside and take off our jackets.

‘You can head into my bedroom and start looking for a film if you like,’ I say to him. ‘I’ll get us a cup of tea?’

‘Perfect,’ says Jamie. ‘It’s like you read my mind.’

I’m hanging up our jackets on one of the pegs in the hallway when there’s a loud gasp.

‘Wow.This is a bit different to last time I was here.’

Confused, I turn and follow Jamie’s line of sight, then clamp my hand across my mouth in horror. I forgot that I left my room looking like it had suffered a nuclear explosion.

Chapter 18

‘I wassomortified.’ My face flushes in illustration of my point.

‘I bet you were.’ Connor chews thoughtfully on the piece of toast he’s eating.

It’s the next morning and I’m still reeling from bringing Jamie back to a room that looked like a rubbish tip.

‘Thank you for saving the day.’ I glance over at him gratefully. ‘If you hadn’t realised what was going on and kindly offered us the living room to hang out in, I’m not sure what I would have done. Were you really going out to meet someone or did you just make that up and sneak back into your room?’

‘I went for a walk… but I might have been socialising as I did that.’ He looks shifty all of a sudden.

‘What does that mean?’ I scrutinise Connor’s face. ‘Oh… were you chatting to your online matches?’

‘I was.’ Now it’s Connor’s turn to get all embarrassed. ‘Just the one bloke: Lukas. On Anna’s recommendation, after she vetted him to a level that would impress GCHQ. I walked along to the end of the breakwater, where the grassy bit is, and sat on a bench messaging him for about an hour. He seems cool, and he’s also just come out, so we’re in similar places.’

‘Connor, that’s wonderful. I’m so pleased for you. Are you going to meet up with him then?’

‘I think so. Can we change the subject?’ His face is growing redder by the moment.

‘Of course.’ I reach across and ruffle his hair affectionately. ‘I’m pleased for you. Just you take your time with this, and I’ll be ready to hear more if things progress. Anyway, I’d better go get ready. I’m heading out for Dad’s birthday lunch.’

Having started off well, my morning is hijacked by Anna calling to get the gossip on my date with Jamie yesterday. I chat to her on speakerphone as I’m getting ready and soon regret this when the conversation descends into another analysis of Jamie’s character and motivations towards me – all because I still don’t know his surname or what he does for a living.

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