Page 34 of Closer than Ever

“You were vetting me?”

“No, silly. Just being sensible.”

Anna raised an eyebrow.

“You know what I mean. But we’re still the same people deep down, you and I, which I think is pretty awesome.”

Anna wasn’t sure how she felt about being vetted by Hayley. But on some level, she understood. “I guess you’re right. I’d probably do the same. Ten years is a long time after all. Do you want to get the map out and make the plan for the trip?”

“You make it sound oddly appealing, so yes.”

Anna skipped over to her bookcase and got out some ordnance survey maps and a road map. She loved a road trip. She hadn’t been to most of the places on the list, so she was genuinely excited to be going with Hayley. Having an outdated crush on her wasn’t even an issue. It would dissipate the more time she spent with her, surely. Anna laid the maps on the table, moving some candle holders out of the way. “Here.”

“Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?”

Anna sat down. “This is where it all begins.”

“I think I’m going to need some whisky or wine for this.”

“Good idea.”

Hayley drifted over to the kitchen as Anna realised they had a ton of shopping to do to actually get prepared. Hayley really hadn’t thought much about the practical stuff at all and only had the bare minimum of supplies.

Hayley put a bottle of wine on the table and placed two glasses down. “I can see your mind working. I’m going to need you to dial down your inner girl scout and just go with the flow a bit more.”

Anna frowned.

“Seriously. We can make an itinerary but this is my one and only condition, apart from paying for stuff and questioning your definition of dangerous.”

“I thought you said you were only not on board with dividing the cost?”

Hayley used a corkscrew to open the wine. It popped open and she poured out two glasses. “I was still processing it. Look, I want you to relax and have a good time, not be super stressed about every tiny detail or annoyed at me by day two. We’ll need to meet somewhere in the middle on this.”

Hayley seemed serious, which stopped Anna in her tracks. Hayley was right. It was her trip first and foremost and Anna had to respect that. But going with the flow and not thinking through every potential situation and scenario and over-preparing for them all brought Anna out in a cold sweat.

“I’d like to be more chilled out, but I don’t know how not to be this way. I don’t seem able to not think about all the different ways things could go wrong.”

“That sounds exhausting.” Hayley reached out and put her hand over Anna’s, causing a warm buzz to spread through Anna’s body. “Let me help you with that.”

Hayley used to help calm her down when they were at university. There were times when Anna was stressing out over small things, or that one time she had a full-blown panic attack at a protest. Anna had never felt so taken care of since, except by her parents. Did Hayley know the effect she had had on Anna? Her hand was still on Anna’s, causing Anna’s brain to malfunction. Hayley took it away, just as Anna was about to start overheating.

Anna got it together. “Okay. We both have the best of intentions so let’s just see if we can make it through the planning part.”

“Deal.”

“Let’s see our list again.”

Hayley got the list out of her purse and placed it between them, eagerly. “Here it is.”

Anna already appreciated that Hayley was making an effort. Anna picked up her wine glass and raised it in a toast. Hayley did the same. Anna cleared her throat. “To our Highland adventure.”

Hayley spoke softly. “To dreams coming true.”

Six

January 2013

Anna’s breathing was fast and shallow. There were so many people crammed into the square holding placards and signs and talking loudly. Love is Love was everywhere. Her heart was racing. She didn’t know why. The energy at the protest was intense, heated. Some of the protestors were fellow students but there were also people from all walks of life around them. There was a line of anti-gay-marriage protestors behind a fence on the other side of the road. The disgusted looks on their faces were a bit upsetting. There was anger and there was passion from both sides. The police were there, acting as barriers. Anything could happen at any second. Anna wasn’t sure she wanted to be there any longer.

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