Page 18 of Closer than Ever

Anna just sat there, blinking, trying to process. Hayley was also into women. She could hardly believe it.

“You seem shocked, Anna.”

“I’m not shocked.” A few beats of silence went by. “Okay, I am a little shocked.” A nervous energy pulsed through her body. Hayley being bi and having had relationships with women was quite possibly the revelation of Anna’s century. “But it’s brilliant. I mean, we have even more in common now.”

Hayley relaxed her shoulders and took a deep breath. Since when did Anna’s approval on a matter she didn’t know about mean so much to Hayley?

“Thank you for that,” Hayley said.

“So you’re a bi femme? I can imagine you’ve done very well with the lesbians.”

Hayley laughed, gently. “I don’t know about that.” She ran her hands through her hair and all Anna could do was watch every single movement, trying to understand this new dimension to Hayley and how she could have convinced herself that Hayley was straight. Anna had had to concede on that front, years ago, even though it had never fully made sense to her. It turns out her instincts were right.

“I’m happy being single right now.” Hayley shrugged. “It gives me the freedom to figure things out with my career and to travel. It makes sense.”

“That’s cool. I get that. I’ve never been out of a relationship for as long as this.” Anna paused. “I’ve got to the point where I’m happy being on my own and in my own company. I think that’s important. What’s that saying, if you can’t love yourself how can you love someone else?”

Hayley laughed, loudly. “I love that saying! It’s so true.”

“And if that means you need to go on a quest halfway around the world to find yourself, you’ve got to do it.”

Hayley smiled. “Exactly.”

“Full disclosure, though, I just want to meet my future wife and have her babies. I am so ready.”

Hayley laughed.

“Although it would technically mean me putting myself out there again, which is kind of terrifying. I think it gets scarier the older I get.”

“You’ll be fine.” Hayley’s eyes were kind.

“I hope so.”

“Well, before you find that lucky wife of yours, do you want to have a little fun with me?”

Anna raised an eyebrow. Where was Hayley going with that? “That sounds vaguely dangerous.”

“I’ve been thinking. Now, just hear me out.” Hayley held up her hands. “Come with me. Come on a road trip around Scotland with me. It makes perfect sense.”

Anna replayed Hayley’s words over in her head, unsure if she heard her correctly. “Go with you on your trip?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to go with you on your wild and crazy adventure? Have you met me?” She could feel her brow furrowing.

Hayley laughed, leaning forward. “Yes, Anna, I have met you. And that’s why I know that it’ll be good for you. Mix things up a little. Maybe even get a little crazy and do something spontaneous. Seriously, think of all the good times we could have. It would be just like the old days.”

“I have a job. I can’t just up and leave at the drop of a hat even if I wanted to.”

“I know.” Hayley pressed her lips together, looking guilty. “I should have asked you sooner.”

Anna couldn’t believe that Hayley would even want her to go with her. “The full trip around Scotland? Or just parts of it?”

“The full trip. All of it. We only live once. Life is short. Now that I’m here, it’s clear that you need to come with me.”

“In the campervan together?”

“We’ve shared an apartment before.”

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