Page 56 of Closer than Ever

“I don’t. These are just general things.”

“So tell me the specifics.”

Anna’s cheeks grew hot. She really had to get a grip on that. For some reason it felt wrong to talk to Hayley about this. But as friends, it shouldn’t have.

“What do you want her to look like?”

“Hmm. That doesn’t matter to me. But, you know, attractive, obviously.”

“So she’s got to be hot.”

Anna laughed. “I didn’t say that. Looks aren’t everything.”

Hayley smiled. “I know. I’m just teasing you.”

That Anna had pretty much described Hayley was embarrassing. Hayley wasn’t acting like she took it that way, but how would it have come across? Was Hayley her ideal woman? Her ideal wife? After all this time, could it still be her first love?

No way.

Hayley leant forward, putting her elbows on the table. The plunge line in her dress teased Anna’s peripheral vision, but she did not dare let her eyes drop to those delicious breasts.

“Do you have to have the same political views or not?”

“Oh yeah. That’s a must. She has to be a lefty like me. And she has to be empathetic.”

“And what about in the bedroom, does she have to be a top or a bottom, or does that not matter to you?”

Anna’s mouth fell open. “What?!”

Hayley grinned. “You are so fun to tease.”

“I can’t believe you asked me that.”

“I can’t believe how shocked you are. I don’t remember you being this prudish.”

“We were younger then. Things were different.”

“How so?”

Anna’s heart beat harder. She couldn’t formulate words. This was getting a little too close to home. “Anyway. Can we talk about you now? What are you looking for in a partner?”

“A high sex drive.”

“Hayley! Stop messing around. I told you mine. Spill.” Anna waited with bated breath.

Hayley stopped grinning and her eyes turned more serious. She gazed into Anna’s eyes and something passed between them. Anna’s breath caught. What the fuck was that?

“I do have a list but I’m currently revising it.”

“Cryptic.”

Hayley laughed. “No, seriously. I’m attracted to people who are very loving and loyal. I want someone who is a bit more responsible than me because I can get too excited about things and go right off the deep end if left to my own devices. But they’d also need to be open-minded and love learning new things. Curious about the world. My biggest issue with relationships is this feeling of being trapped and losing myself. Of missing out and not growing.”

“You want love but you don’t want to be tied down.”

“Um. No. More like I want to grow with someone, hopefully in the same direction.”

“Isn’t that the point?”

---