Andrea laughs. ‘I haven’t seen him on Zoom, but he is on TikTok.’
‘Seriously?’
She nods. ‘Oh yes, he’s quite active on there. He does these great foodie vids, where he visits different restaurants in Edinburgh. They’re quite entertaining.’
I can’t see why it would be. ‘So does he just film his plate with a caption or what?’
‘No, it’s more interactive than that. There are a few where he’s talking to the camera and giving his opinion, like a live food critic. The latest one was really funny. It had lots of comments.’
OK, that’s got me curious. ‘What’s his profile name?’
‘Eating Local with Lewis? Something like that.’ She pulls her phone from her handbag, and I notice we’re both down to the dregs of our rum and Cokes.
‘Do you want another drink?’
‘Definitely. I’ll find the vid and send it through to you.’
While she fiddles with her phone, looking for the TikTok, I head over to the oval-shaped bar, where the partygoers are corralling the barman and getting top-ups.This could take a while.
I’m staring intently at my phone, waiting for Andrea to send through the video so I can get a heads-up on Lewis, when a male voice drawls lazily, ‘Are you hoping someone will call you?’
‘Huh? No,’ I reply distractedly, keeping my eyes on my phone.Go away now please.
‘So you’re going to call them?’
He seems insistent on talking to me, so I sigh and give him some attention. He’s around mid-thirties with medium-length dark hair slicked back from a broad forehead, an aquiline nose, and a chin dimple. He’s wearing a dark suit with a white shirt. Good-looking in a sharkish kind of way.
‘No,’ I say brusquely. ‘I’m waiting to get a drink.’
A man brushes past with a pint in one hand and claps the guy on the shoulder with the other. ‘Great party, Lewis!’
I stare at him, taken aback.
‘You’reLewis?’
He nods and says, ‘Aye, Lewis Kirkcaldy.’ Then he holds out his hand for me to shake, which I do, limply. Thank God I wasn’t actively looking at his TikTok. His voice sounds different in real life, and he doesn’t match the picture I’d formed in my head, so I’m having to make some mental readjustments.
‘Nice to finally meet you in the flesh, Holly.’
‘Er, likewise.’ My phone beeps, and I quickly turn off the ringer. That’ll be the TikTok.
‘I think we can move this queue along, don’t you?’ he says, gazing at the crowd. ‘We’ll be here all night otherwise.’
With the practised air of someone who’s used to commanding people to do what he says, Lewis efficiently clears a path for us through to the front of the bar.
‘What are you having?’
My mind goes blank. ‘I can’t remember.’
Lewis chuckles. ‘I have that effect on people.’
‘Hah. Two rum and Cokes please.’
He raises an eyebrow.
‘They’re not both for me,’ I assert. ‘One’s for Andrea.’
‘Ah, the lovely steel-wooled Andrea.’ He slaps his cheek smartly. ‘Sorry, did I say“wooled”? I meant steel-willed.I’ve had a few.’
