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“I cannot wait to see it, Anna. I’ve been on the website and looked at all the pictures. It’s just wonderful that you work there, I’m so excited to come and visit.”

Hayley held her whisky glass up to do a toast.

Anna did the same.

She looked directly into Anna’s eyes. “To old friendships and new beginnings.”

Two

December 2012

Sitting cross-legged on Hayley’s bed, Anna tore the golden foil from the neck of the bottle and twisted the cork until it opened with a low pop. The chunky bottle felt luxurious to hold. The world-famous Glenbuinidh 12-years smelled delicious. Anna poured some whisky into the glasses resting on one of Hayley’s textbooks. The glugging of the amber liquid alone had Anna transfixed.

“It suits you,” Hayley said, lying on the bed across from Anna, with her feet crossed at the ankles and her hands clasped across her front, staring at her.

“What does?”

“Pouring that. You look hot doing it. Passionate. The skin between your eyes furrows like you’re some high-end bartender in a classy bar. I can just picture it.”

Anna froze, mid-pour, at Hayley calling her hot. Friends said that to each other all the time, right? So why did it feel different coming from Hayley? She was probably reading too much into it, as usual.

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind,” Anna said, handing her a glass. Their fingers brushed as Hayley took it, making Anna all warm and fuzzy inside. She loved spending time with Hayley so much. Like, couldn’t get enough.

Hayley sat up and held her glass up. “To good health. To the future. Cheers!”

They gently clinked glasses and drank a sizeable amount in their first sip. It burned Anna’s throat, in a good way. She considered Hayley’s comment. “I have no idea what I want to do once I graduate. What the hell am I going to do with a geography degree?”

“You’ll figure it out. It’s an excellent degree. You have tons of skills. You’re good with people. That’s what really matters in life.”

“Do you know what you’re going to do? Is it some sort of business management?”

“I’ll probably take a job in the city and work my way up the corporate ladder. By thirty I’d like to be somewhere near the top calling all the shots and earning the big bucks.”

“Isn’t that a bit too ambitious? Sorry! I’m not meaning to chop you down or anything. You’re amazing and if anyone can do it, you can.”

“I think it’s absolutely possible.”

Anna raised her eyebrows. “Wow. You’re serious. I admire that so much.”

“It’s what I’m working towards, anyway. I don’t know if I’ll actually achieve it.”

Anna nodded, just listening.

“My parents expect it, though. I’m also really interested in travelling. Maybe working in the travel industry somehow. Maybe running an airline.”

“Running it?”

“Yeah.”

Hayley was so confident compared to Anna and most of the people she’d ever known. “I love how self-assured you are. It’s fucking amazing. I’m just… not. I get so anxious over the stupidest little things.”

Hayley furrowed her brow. “What makes you anxious?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” A ton of things ran through her head. “Everything. Myself.”

Hayley reached over and lay her hand on Anna’s knee. Anna fought the urge to flinch. The touch of her hand was electrifying. Like lightning.

Hayley smiled. “You gotta trust yourself, you know? Take a deep breath and trust in your instincts. I’ve seen you. You have good instincts.” Hayley took a sip. “Or, you could always take a drink to settle your nerves? Not the healthiest of options but it could help. Hell, we’ve all done it.” Hayley finished her whisky. “Damn, this stuff is gooood.”