Page 117 of Closer than Ever

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Hayley said, over her shoulder. It was so good to hear her voice, even with the hint of distance in it.

“You know, neither can I, a bit.”

Hayley laughed, gently, pulling out of the hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Would you believe it if I said I drove five hundred miles? It wasn’t quite walking but… I’m gonna be…”

Hayley laughed, more fully this time. “Did you just quote The Proclaimers to me?”

“I did, just about. I have no idea where that came from.” Anna centred herself. “I set off the second I read your email last night. I stopped for a nap near the border, but I got stuck in traffic all day.”

“Oh my god. You must be so tired. You do look a bit tired.”

“I’m better for seeing you.”

Hayley blushed. It was slight, but it was there.

Anna wanted to kiss her but held back. “How did you know I would take this route to the theatre?”

“I know you, Anna McIntosh, remember? You always seem so surprised by that.”

They held each other’s eyes for a few seconds. So much passed between them in those moments. “I’m so happy to see you, Hayley. You look really well.”

Hayley smiled, shyly. “I’m happy to see you. I still can’t believe you’re here.” She searched Anna’s eyes. “Why are you?”

Anna found Hayley’s hand and interlaced her fingers with hers. “Is there somewhere we can go and talk?”

Hayley’s curiosity shone through her eyes. “Let’s go back to my hotel room. It’s nice and quiet there.”

They fell into step walking back the way Anna had come. Seeing Hayley again after all this time and feeling like her heart was going to burst confirmed she was doing the right thing. It only deepened Anna’s resolve to give up her old dream of settling down in Balbuinidh and to follow Hayley to the ends of the earth.

How could she have been so stupid to risk losing Hayley over her fears of the unknown? At least Anna had rediscovered herself over the past few months. There was that.

Anna shook her thoughts away. She needed to focus. She glanced over at Hayley with the river in the background. “So, you sold the campervan?”

“Yep.”

“Who to?”

“A car dealership in Kent.”

“Oh, wow. Did you get a good deal?”

“I made a profit.”

Anna’s mouth fell open. “That’s amazing.”

Hayley shrugged. “I was just sad to see it go. But it was time.”

“Yeah.”

They passed an artisan coffee shop, a designer clothes shop, and a jewellery shop as they approached Hayley’s hotel. The chunky and gleaming door was held open for them by the doorman. Hayley’s heels clicked on the marble floor of the foyer as they walked across it.

“Treating yourself after months living in a van?” Anna said, as they approached the elevator.

Hayley smiled as she pushed the button. “Yeah. Something like that.”

They were quiet in the elevator. Hayley was biting down on her lower lip, staring ahead at nothing in particular. Anna wanted to wrap her arms around her and never let go, but she held back, still unsure of where Hayley was at. She had to stay calm. This was so important to get right.

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