Page 89 of Closer than Ever

Fifteen

It was unsettling seeing the big roads and towns again. The outside world hadn’t changed. But everything between her and Hayley had. They were on their way to stay with Anna’s parents before going on to meet up with Rose and Lauren tomorrow night. Introducing Hayley to her parents in her current state was less than ideal but it made sense since they were driving past, and a grilling from their old flatmates on what had happened on the trip was the last thing Anna needed right now. The meal had been arranged for a while. It was the right thing to do.

Hayley was quiet, making only passing comments about the sights they drove past or the traffic. Perhaps she was feeling it too, this sadness about leaving their little piece of heaven behind. Anna didn’t want to bring it up because she wasn’t prepared for where that conversation might lead. Not yet. Not until they’d had the visit to her parents and the dinner with their old flatmates out of the way.

The more logical part of Anna couldn’t believe she was taking Hayley to meet her parents. Especially after everything that they had just been up to. But she wanted Hayley to meet them. It felt important that she did, somehow. She gave Hayley directions to their house and tried not to freak out. She’d thought her hometown would provide some calm, but so far it wasn’t working.

Hayley perked up the closer they got to Anna’s parents’ house. The radio had been put back on. A pop song played in the background. It was surreal to have Hayley drive her about the outskirts of Glasgow like this.

“This is so exciting seeing where you grew up.” Hayley looked out the window to her right as they waited at the traffic lights. A local high school was coming out. It wasn’t the one Anna had gone to but it was similar. “It’s so green and leafy. It’s like the epitome of perfect suburbia, but it has some life about it.”

Anna snorted.

“I mean that in a good way. It’s so beautiful. The houses look different but it’s similar to back home. I like it.”

Anna let out a breath and tried to relax her shoulders. “Sorry. I’m just a bit tense. My parents can be a bit much.”

Hayley reached over and held her hand. “Please don’t worry. It’s all going to be fine. It’s me who has to be worried, if anything.”

The lights changed to green and Hayley set off.

“Turn left at the end of this road.”

“Roger that.”

“They will love you. There’s no doubt about that.”

“And I’m sure I’m going to love them. They raised you.”

Anna swallowed.

She and Hayley had already agreed not to say anything to her parents about them. Hayley had seemed relieved, and Anna was happy about the plan. There was no need for her parents to know, and Anna didn’t want them to. But being so up in her feelings, she was worried they were going to notice anyway.

“It’s at the end of this street.”

The campervan made its way through her childhood neighbourhood towards her childhood home. It wasn’t just her parents catching on that she was madly in love with her friend that she was nervous about. Showing Hayley this part of herself was terrifying. What if it changed the way Hayley saw her? A magical and sex-filled holiday romance was one thing, and her Scottish parents who had lived by the same routine for thirty years was another. Her parents were going to bring them right back down to earth. Was this where their romantic bubble burst? Maybe it had to at some point.

“This is it.”

“Aw.” Hayley scanned the front of the house and the garden. “It’s delightful.”

Her mum was at the living room window peeking through the blinds. Her dad opened the front door and waved. He was already walking down the garden path before Anna had got her seatbelt off.

Anna opened her door and greeted her dad. He gave her a big hug. “Hello, darling.”

Hayley appeared from around the campervan and her mum arrived behind her dad, smiling.

She gave her mum a quick hug. “Hi, Mum.” Anna looked between her parents and Hayley, who looked so sweet and innocent. “Hayley, these are my parents. Mum, Dad, Hayley.”

Her dad stuck out his hand and shook Hayley’s. “Good to meet you. I’m Martin,” he said to Hayley, before nodding to the camper. “That’s some van you’ve got there.”

“Thanks! It’s all down to Anna. She picked this little beauty out.”

Her dad glanced her way. “Well done. It looks solid.”

While Anna knew he would be happy to see her and Hayley, she also knew he was massively interested in finding out more about the campervan. He did well not to give it a full service within the first minute.

“Lovely to meet you,” Anna’s mum said, going in for a hug. “And I’m Aileen. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

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