Page 103 of One Night in Edinburgh

I reach up and kiss his nose. ‘You can ask me anything. You know that.’

‘OK… I guess I’m wondering, how are your family going to feel about this? About you being with a guy who was homeless?’

Irritation immediately stirs within me. Jamie should never have to worry about something like that, and it angers me that my family are the ones planting this insecurity in his head.

‘You know what, Jamie? I’m past caring. After the scene Kayleigh made that day on Easter Road, and then seeing the impact of it on you when we spoke outside the hostel, I decided she wasn’t worth a minute of my time.’

‘You haven’t spoken to her since?’ Jamie looks surprised.

‘No, I have. But only when it’s absolutely necessary.’

‘How did the rest of your family react when she announced my predicament on your WhatsApp group?’ He tries to keep this question casual, but I know the answer means everything to him.

‘She didn’t announce it there.’

‘She didn’t?’

I shake my head. ‘Nope. I was surprised. No one in my family has said a word to me about it, so I’m guessing she didn’t tell them.’

‘Because…?’

‘I can only assume that she didn’t want anyone to know about it – including my parents. She would have been thinking about herself, perhaps her reputation as a future influencer.’

‘Right.’ Jamie’s expression turns thoughtful, and I can tell he’s considering what this means for us. ‘So… you’re not going to say anything to your parents about it then?’

‘I wasn’t planning to. It’s none of their business. Why, do you think I should tell them?’

‘I think…’ Jamie lets out a loaded sigh. ‘I want a future with you, and I don’t want to have to hide who I am any more. Look how complicated it got between us because of the secrecy. I’d rather face the pain now, than have it come out later down the line and your parents lose trust in me. I’ve already told them a pack of lies about my job.’

‘For good reason.’ I reach up and take his face in my hands. ‘You were backed into a corner and what you told them wasn’t a total fabrication. It just wasn’t exactly current.’

‘That’s one way of putting it.’

‘Jamie, I don’t want what’s happened to become a monster for you. So, let’s deal with it now – right this second. They’ll understand. How could they not? It’s not like you’re a criminal or anything. You were shafted by your supposed mate.’

I stride through to the bedroom and retrieve my phone, then tidy up my bedhead hair in the mirror and return to the kitchen.

‘You’re going to message them?’ Jamie stirs our coffee and signals for me to take my mug.

‘No,we’regoing to video call them.’

‘What? All of them?’

‘Yup, group call. We’ve done that once or twice before on birthdays and stuff.’

‘Erm… OK. No, wait, I at least need to look presentable.’ He dashes through to the bathroom and wets his hair, then returns and takes a slug from his coffee. ‘OK, go.’

I set up the group call and hit the button to dial, keeping the camera only on me for now. Moments later, members of my family appear on the screen – Mikey first, then Kayleigh, then Mum and Dad, who are bickering over how to hold the screen.

‘Hey, wee sis.’ Mikey gives me a toothy grin. ‘How was your birthday night out? You had your head down the pan all morning?’

‘No, I haven’t Mikey.’ I chuckle. ‘I know how to handle my booze – unlike you.’

‘Ach… you haven’t had a proper birthday night out until you’re tasting your cake in reverse.’

‘Ugh… Mikey, that’s so disgusting.’ Kayleigh complains, while using the call as an opportunity to check her appearance.

‘Steph, good morning,’ says my dad. ‘To what do we owe this pleasure?’

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