Page 96 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘OK, ladies, break it up.’ Connor laughs and shakes his head at the two of us. ‘I’m sure Lukas and Mateusz have seen enough.’

‘I am not sure…’ Lukas flashes me one of his dazzling smiles, displaying the cute dimples Connor is so enchanted by. ‘I like to see strong, powerful women standing up for what they are believing in.’

‘Thank you, Lukas.’ Anna high-fives him. ‘And I know it turns Mateusz on – though he’ll never admit that in public – so we’re all good.’

Mateusz’s cheeks sizzle with embarrassment and Anna reaches across, giving him a big smacker on the lips.

‘So, what’s your drink of choice then, Stephy?’ Connor prompts me to check out the almost endless rows of alcohol bottles behind the trendy city centre bar we’re in.

I deliberate for a moment. ‘It has to be fizz.’

‘OK, one bottle of Champagne coming right up. My treat.’

‘What?’ I gawp at him. ‘No.That’s too much, Connor.’

‘Nonsense.’

‘No, it is. You can’t afford that.’ I fix him with a look.

‘I can. It’s your special day and… well, I’m kind of celebrating, too.’

‘Why? What’s going on?’ I glance between him and Lukas. ‘You’re not engaged, are you?’

Lukas bellows with laughter, while Connor pats my head soothingly.

‘No, we’re not engaged. Don’t panic.’

‘I wasn’t panicking.’

‘Yes, you were. Let me go grab a bottle, then I’ll come back and reveal all.’

Connor hops off his stool and makes his way to the bar, returning several minutes later with five Champagne flutes. He’s followed by one of the bar staff carrying our bottle of Champagne and an ice bucket. We fall silent and watch as the bar person expertly opens the bottle, teasing out the cork with a gentle pop and we all cheer.

‘So, what are you celebrating?’ Anna asks Connor, once we each have a glass of fizz sitting in front of us. ‘Come on, spill.’

‘OK, then… I’ve decided to go to college.’

‘What?That’s amazing news. When… how…when…?’ I’m so excited I can’t get the words out.

Everyone laughs at my inarticulate interrogation.

‘Well, you know how I’ve been finding work a bit challenging?’ says Connor. ‘With all the cuts they’re making.’

‘Uh-huh.’ I wave my hand impatiently, prompting him to continue.

‘It got me thinking about why I was there and what I wanted in the future. You see… I made decisions about my life when I didn’t really know who I was. Now that I’ve figured that out, I’ve realised I want something different.’

‘What do you want?’ I’m riveted by this reveal.

‘I’m not sure exactly, but I know I’m a good problem solver and I like technology, so I’ve decided to do a foundation course in computer programming. I’m hoping if I do well in it, I can maybe go on to do a degree and eventually get a job in that area.’

‘Connor that’sfantastic.’ I throw my arms around him and give him a huge, squeezy hug. ‘I have no doubt you’ll nail it.’

‘Thanks.’ He gives a satisfied smile. ‘It’s just a part-time course. I’ll need to keep working to fund it and pay my bills, but my mum has offered to help me out. I can pay her back once I’m earning mega bucks as an IT consultant or whatever.’

‘Ooh, yeah.’ Anna’s eyes light up. ‘Or you could work for one of those cool tech companies in the city centre.’

‘Hopefully something like that.’ Connor grins at her.

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