Page 28 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘I know. But don’t, not yet. Right now, I need to believe that he meant everything he said, and he’s going to be in touch very soon.’

Chapter 9

One week later, I’m back at work and Anna and I are at full throttle organising the spring fundraiser. Mrs Carmichael’s donations have also made their way from my spare room to the storage facility near our office.

There’s been no word from Jamie, nor have I been able to find any trace of him online – despite spending an inordinate amount of time trying to track him down. This even included trying to track down Jamie’s friend, Neil, but my social media and Google searches were fruitless (it turns out just typing ‘Neil accordionist Scottish Highlands’ doesn’t produce the goods in the way I thought it might) and when I contacted the agent of the band from Hogmanay to ask for his contact details, my request was met with what I can only describe as suspicion. I found myself pleading with the woman at the end of the phone, and immediately regretted it as I received a lecture about data protection regulations being there for a reason.

It’s a crushing disappointment, and I know I shouldn’t take it so hard. Yet I can’t shake the feeling that there was something special between Jamie and I – and that there’s something holding him back from getting in touch. Anna, of course, thinks I should get over it and move on.

‘You need to get on a dating app.’ She prods me in the ribs as we walk along Great Junction Street towards Tesco to buy our lunch. ‘I can set you up with a profile and help you figure it all out.’

‘Hmm…’ is all I can manage in response to that.

‘Not interested, eh… What if Jamie’s on one of these dating apps and you’re missing the opportunity to find him?’

My mood immediately lifts. ‘I never thought of that. Do you think he is?’

‘I don’t know, but at least it got you to join the conversation.’

‘It’s a possibility though, right? How many are there? I should get on them.’

‘What?’ Anna scoffs. ‘Allthe dating apps?’

‘Yes.’

‘It would be impossible to manage that many accounts. Why don’t you start with one?’

‘OK, sure.’ My mind goes into overdrive at this new possibility. ‘And if he’s not on that one, I can close it down and set up another one.’

Anna stops me suddenly, resulting in us nearly tripping up the pedestrians behind us. She takes my hands in hers.

‘Steph, I love you, but you’re going to drive me bonkers with this one. Remember the “stalker image” I created of Jamie with his night-vision goggles? The one you didn’t like on our New Year’s Day walk?’

‘Yes…?’

‘Here’s another one: “Crazed woman joins every dating app possible to hunt down one-night stand after he doesn’t call her”. How does that sound?’

‘This is different,’ I whine.

‘How is it different?’

‘He hasn’tnotcalled me. He doesn’t have my number.’

‘No.But he didn’t ask for your number either, did he?’ She gives me a pointed look.

I feel myself brimming with frustration. ‘He was running out the door carrying his shoes. It was hardly going to be the first thing on his mind.’

‘Sure, but he could have asked for it sooner if he was that interested. He also knows where you live, but he hasn’t turned up at your place – as you said yourself.’

We start walking again, and carefully cross the busy road at the bottom of Leith Walk.

‘I’ve thought about that,’ I say, as we reach the other side. ‘I was being totally unrealistic expecting that he might come by my place. I can’t see him doing that when he doesn’t know the situation with Connor. Plus, would he even have remembered which apartment I live in?’

‘OK. That point, I concede,’ says Anna. ‘I still think you need to forget about him and move on though. If he turns up, great, but if not, you’ll have had the chance to see what else is out there. Join a dating app,please?’

I mull this over. ‘I’ll agree – on one condition.’

‘Name it.’

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