I feel like I need to give myself a good slap across the cheek to stop myself from seeing things that aren’t there.
“I think it’s around this corner.” Luke consults his phone as we walk down the streets of Reykjavik. The sun’s just beginning to set, turning the clouds bright shades of orange and pink. When we round the corner, enough of the buildings are out of our line of sight that I can see down the street and off tothe mountains in the distance. The sky is absolutely magical tonight, so even if I don’t get to see the northern lights, this will have to be enough.
I pause, staring out at the view, even though a few buildings are still obstructing it.
“Harper?”
I turn to see Luke standing in the entrance of a building.
“You okay?”
“Just sad to be going home, I guess.” When I say it, I realize that I mean more than just being sad to leave Iceland. I’m sad to break this spell. When we get home, things will go back to normal. I wished for a reset button when the trip began, and wished that I hadn’t read the text from Wes, but now I want things from Luke that I’m not sure are mine for the taking.
I have to keep reminding myself that Luke said the text was a joke, but my mind won’t stop wondering,what ifwhat he said and how he’s acting are two different things?
“Well, let’s make the last night of the trip a memorable one,” he says. He offers his hand. It’s not a normal gesture for him. I’m sure we’ve held hands before, but not for more than a second or two.
“By going to a bar?” I ask, eyeing the building.
He smiles. “Just trust me.”
I stare at his palm for half a beat before I wrap my fingers around his and let him lead me in.
The doorway opens up to a short entryway with walls plastered with colorful band posters. We step through another doorway and find a bar with LED lights to display the bottles and small wooden tables in front of a stage. The stage itself issmall, but there’s a mic set up and a guitar propped up against the wall.
A small crowd is gathering, and most of the tables are already taken.
“Are you here for open mic night?” the hostess asks.
“Yup!” Luke says, not missing a step.
I feel my jaw drop a bit.
“Just sign up here and feel free to sit wherever.” The woman smiles.
Luke jots his name down quickly and then pulls me over to one of the open tables in the back.
“I’m not singing in front of these people,” I say, a little flustered. The crowd isn’t massive, but I don’t think I’ve ever sung in front of anyone besides Luke, my parents, and Ava.
“I know,” Luke says, pulling a chair out for me. “I’m singing.”
I blink, and Luke gestures for me to sit. I lower myself to the seat, and he sits across from me.
“What?” I ask, looking between him and the dozens of people making their way to their seats.
“You said you wanted to hear me sing, and I told you I would. So this is me following through.”
I laugh a little. “You’re getting on stage?”
He shrugs, all confidence. “Why not?”
I raise my eyebrows. I feel like I’m calling his bluff. “Alright, can’t wait to see what you perform.”
§
After we orderour food, one of the staff members comes to talk to Luke, and he goes over to the stage to work out a few details. Within a couple minutes, the entire place is packed without an open seat to be found. A few people linger by the bar, standing.
Luke comes back to the table, looking a little more nervous than he did before.
