Page 11 of One Night in Edinburgh

I chuckle by way of a reply, and we resume singing and swinging our arms rhythmically. At the point when we cross them over for the second verse, Anna glances across and clocks Jamie. She raises her eyebrows, and I confirm non-verbally that it’s fine and just a coincidence. Then we lose ourselves in the moment again, laughing and singing as the song becomes significantly more upbeat and comes to its climax. There’s no room for the customary running forwards and backwards at the song’s conclusion. So we settle for jumping up and down on the spot, singing as loudly as we can, the fireworks adding their own off-time percussion in the background. And while all going down, I keep catching Jamie stealing glances in my direction, and find myself doing the same.

As the song comes to end, I can’t help feeling a little disappointed that I’ll have to release Jamie’s hand. Then, on realising what I’m thinking, I find myself battling a flurry of emotions in response: a deep sadness that I’m not having this experience with Connor; guilt and a touch of shame that I’m drawn to another guy so soon after our breakup; followed by indignance – I shouldn’t feel bad about that, becauseConnorwas the one that left me.

‘Eh… OK if I have my hand back?’ Jamie asks.

I look down and realise that while I’ve been wrestling with my feelings, the song has ended, and I’m still clinging on to him.

‘Oh, sorry.’ I feel my cheeks immediately flame.

‘Not at all. I only want it back so I can open my next drink.’ He locks eyes with me, causing my flush to deepen; then he pulls a can of lager from his rucksack.

It suddenly dawns on me that jumping around like idiots doesn’t mix particularly well with fizzy liquid, but before I can warn Jamie, he opens the can and it explodes, spraying him, myself, and a couple of other unfortunate bystanders with a hoppy shower. A small cheer goes up as others notice what’s happened, making us laugh.

‘Sorry about that.’ He looks a bit sheepish. ‘Wits aren’t the same after a few.’

‘It is New Year,’ I console him, wiping the droplets from my coat. ‘If there’s any time of the year you can get away with that, it’s tonight.’

He reaches forward with his lightly gloved hand to mop some foam from my hair, and as it unintentionally brushes my ear, a strange sensation runs through my body. It’s a bit like a mild electric shock, but more pleasant than that, causing me to jerk in surprise. As I do, Anna’s immediately on it.

‘Want me to get rid?’ she asks urgently in my ear.

‘Actually… no.’ I look at Jamie, keeping my voice low as well. ‘It might be the alcohol and the party spirit talking, but why shouldn’t I have some fun tonight? If Connor’s already off restarting his life, then surely I’m allowed to chat to another bloke.’

‘Of course, you are. You can do a bloody lot more than that too if you want!’ She highlights this statement with a sly wink.

‘Not sure I’m quite in that space, but the point is, I can do what I want.’

‘Exactly that. Good for you, hon.’ Anna gives me a waist-level high five and starts chatting away to the bloke next to her, while I return my attention to Jamie.

‘Can I buy you a drink?’ I ask him. ‘As an apology? And because your drink’s a write off?’

He grins at me. ‘You’ve already apologised, but sure, that would be great.’

I signal to Anna where we’re going and offer her a drink, but she simply waves me off, already in full-flirt mode with a couple of cute Spanish guys. Jamie and I make our way to the bar and join the queue, which is about ten-deep, and all of a sudden, I don’t know what to say to him; as if the effects of the alcohol have worn off in an instant. He smiles at me, and I smile back shyly, willing him to start up a conversation.

‘So, Steph, where are you from?’ he eventually asks, to my relief.

‘I live in the north of the city. Newhaven, right on the water, but I grew up in an area called Colinton. You?’

‘I’m from South Lanarkshire originally.’

‘That explains the accent then. I knew it was west coast but couldn’t quite place it. And now?’

Something unreadable passes across his face. ‘And now… I’m currently Edinburgh-based… at The Shore area in Leith, not far from you.’

His hesitation makes me frown. ‘That doesn’t sound very permanent.’

‘It’s complicated.’

There’s an awkward silence between us, and I begin to wonder if this drink was such a good idea. He’s obviously not an open book, and with my unanticipated stage fright we’re not exactly hitting it off. I also realise I haven’t noticed him with anyone else on either of the occasions I’ve bumped into him.

‘Are you here alone?’ I ask.

‘Sort of. My mate’s the accordionist in the band.’ He points to the stage.

‘That’s fab.’ I’m deeply impressed and slightly relieved by this revelation. ‘The band are fantastic.’

‘Sure are.’ Jamie nods. ‘It was a last-minute arrangement. The guy who should’ve been playing the accordion came down with the flu. Bet he’s regretting not paying for a flu jab.’

---