Page 45 of Closer than Ever

“What about there, next to those guys?” Hayley had pointed to a group of bikers. A line of motorbikes, theirs presumably, were parked outside the café, neatly arranged together like a bike showroom. The bikes glistened in the sun. The men were talking and laughing, loudly.

“Um. There’s no space.”

“There is.” Hayley pointed to the end of the long table. “We can perch on the end.”

“If you want.”

“Hi!” Hayley said, approaching the table. “Do you mind if we sit at your table?”

“Not at all.” A large man in full motorbike attire turned to his buddies. “Budge up for the ladies.”

They sat down at the table as every single man in the group turned towards them. Hayley faced the rest of the table with an easy and open vibe. She was revving up for a conversation, loving this. Anna had no intention of speaking. This was all Hayley.

“I take it you’re the owners of those motorcycles out front?”

“Aye. That’s us.”

“Sweet. What’s it like to zoom around Scotland on them? It looks very exciting,” Hayley said, eyes bright and daring.

“It’s bloody brilliant,” one of the men said. He had a thick beard and a broad frame. The cup he was holding looked tiny in his large hands. “Best feeling in the world.”

“Well, one of them,” his pal sniggered.

“Do you all live up here?”

“No. Most of us live in Glasgow, or the central belt. We tour around. That is, if we don’t stop for too many coffees and pints.”

“He’s joking about the pints,” the man with the large hands said.

“What a place to have on your doorstep! You’re so lucky.”

“Aye. It’s not bad. And these lads aren’t too bad to hang out with, either.”

“Are you in a club or do you all just know each other?”

Anna watched on, in awe of how confident Hayley was, as usual. It reminded her of their university days and how often Hayley would go up and talk to random strangers and make friends with loads of different types of people. While it could be annoying at first, because they’d be hanging out together and Hayley would want to go and talk to other people, she quite liked this trait of Hayley’s. Anna considered herself a sociable person, she did work in a distillery bar, after all, but Hayley was next level.

“We’re the hairy-dudes,” the man sitting closest to Anna spoke, pointing at the logo on their identical leather jackets. Anna hadn’t noticed before.

“That’s so cool.”

Anna took a sip of coffee. The men mostly went back to talking amongst themselves. There must have been about twelve of them.

“Where are you from?” the hairiest dude said. He seemed friendly.

“I’m from the US. Pennsylvania originally, but I’ve been living in New York for years.” Hayley looked at Anna, smiling.

“And I’m from Glasgow but have been living in the Highlands for years.” Anna smiled. It was comforting to meet people from where she was from in such a remote place.

“I thought you were both American. How do you know each other?”

They looked at each other, smiling. It was hard not to smile constantly when around Hayley.

“From university,” Hayley said. “I studied here for a year a while ago. I’m over for a trip and to catch up with my long-lost friend here.”

“And are you enjoying your trip?” he asked.

Hayley held Anna’s eyes. “Yes. Very much.”

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