Page 22 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

REYKJAVIK BUS STATION, REYKJAVIK

‘So, this coach has heating, right?’

Kat clapped her gloved hands together as she jigged up and down on the spot outside the transportation hub where coaches and minibuses with numbers in the window sat in lines waiting in anticipation. A bit like them.

‘Yes,’ Chloe said. ‘But we can wait inside if it’s too cold.’ She checked her watch. It was almost five minutes to eight and there was no sign of anything happening with coach number six. Had she read the board wrong?

‘No, it’s fine. You said it was leaving dead on eight o’clock, right? So I won’t have time to turn into a frozen sculpture.’

If, in fact, the coach was going to depart on time. Just as Chloe was mulling over that thought, a truck sped into the parking area. A vehicle she recognised. It wheel-spinned to a halt with screeching brakes.

‘God!’ Kat exclaimed. ‘I know I rushed around the apartment getting ready in a frenzy but tell me I wasn’t giving that desperate for this trip.’ She laughed. ‘I hope the coach driver doesn’t drive like that.’

Chloe couldn’t help but smile as she watched Gunnar get out of the truck. ‘That is the coach driver.’

‘What?’ Kat exclaimed, eyes on the tall figure emerging in front of them. ‘Wait… that is your Gunnar?’

Chloe shivered. ‘He’s not my anything.’

‘Yet,’ Kat said. ‘Because, Chloe, he’s sooo fine!’

‘Sshh!’ Chloe said as Gunnar began walking towards their position.

She swallowed as she checked him out anew.

She knew he was attractive. But now, as she observed him, there were other attributes she hadn’t given him full credit for.

He was tall and athletic-looking. And his hair wasn’t yet under a hat. It was loose, wavy, dirty-blond. Sexy.

‘If you don’t want him I might have to unbutton my coat as soon as we get on board. Glad I bought that new push-up bra now.’

‘Don’t do that,’ Chloe found herself blurting out.

Kat grinned. ‘Ah! So you do like him!’

‘No,’ Chloe protested.

‘OK,’ Kat said. ‘That wasn’t at all convincing. But, who is the kid? His?’

It was only then that Chloe noticed there was someone walking behind Gunnar.

A boy. He was about ten or eleven. Blond hair shorter than Gunnar’s but still long enough to flop into his face.

He was wearing jeans, a black puffer jacket and a very glum expression.

Was this Gunnar’s son? Was he married? With someone?

Suddenly she was feeling caught off-guard somehow.

Except, he had never said he was single.

Why would he? They had shared a few conversations and he’d helped clean a stain off her coat. And she wasn’t looking for anyone…

But then he waved a hand in greeting and she found herself waving back.

‘Aww, cute,’ Kat remarked. ‘Now introduce us!’

Why was Chloe feeling suddenly nervous? She internally shook herself. She was a soon-to-be partner of a successful event-planning company. She was a business woman with the world at her feet.

‘Good morning, krúttio mitt ,’ Gunnar greeted.

‘ Halló ,’ Chloe answered.

‘You are here on time,’ Gunnar continued.

‘Earlier than you,’ she replied.

‘And did you bring the snacks?’ Gunnar asked.

Chloe gasped. She had completely forgotten about the liquorice.

‘I do not know if you can board the coach without this part-payment,’ Gunnar said, shaking his head.

‘It sounds like we should definitely be punished,’ Kat chipped in. ‘ Halló . I’m Kat, Chloe’s best friend. Or krutty mid or whatever you called her that sounded mildly sexual in your accent.’

‘Kat!’ Chloe exclaimed, her eyes going to the young boy in their presence.

‘Magnús, please get the information from Erik inside.’

Gunnar had addressed the boy and, still looking like his world was about to end, the boy headed into the building.

‘Sorry,’ Chloe apologised. ‘Kat had strong coffee before we left the apartment and it makes her brain disconnect from her mouth.’

‘Ouch,’ Kat said. ‘I am here you know. Sooo, you’re the man who helped Chloe find a room at the inn.’

‘What?’ Gunnar asked.

‘That was an unnecessary Christmas joke. She means you helped me find somewhere to stay,’ Chloe said.

‘And helped her take not too bad photos of the Northern Lights,’ Kat added. ‘A miracle worker I’d say. It’s nice to meet you.’ She stuck out her hand.

‘It is nice to meet you too,’ he said, shaking her hand.

‘So, when do we get going and do I have time to go to the toilet?’ Kat asked.

‘Yes,’ Gunnar told her.

‘Great! Be back asap.’

And with that Kat headed into the bus station building.

‘Sorry to bother you with the phone call last night,’ Chloe said. ‘I should have just booked on the website and?—’

‘It is OK. I gave you my number for things like this,’ Gunnar answered. ‘And I am glad the call was not because the apartment had a problem.’

‘No, everything is great and I’m really looking forward to the tour today. It sounds amazing.’

‘It is amazing,’ Gunnar told her. ‘And the coach driver is exceptional. Five-star rating for Tripadvisor.’

Chloe laughed. ‘I will be the judge of that. And Kat. She’s a harder critic than me.’

‘I will try not to make either of you sick.’

‘Gunnar.’

It was the boy back, offering some paperwork that Gunnar rapidly took almost as rapidly as he spat out words of Icelandic that saw the boy leave again, heading towards one of the coaches.

‘So, is the boy your?—’

‘Magnús,’ Gunnar interrupted. ‘Is… on work experience today. I am doing a good deed for a friend.’

‘Oh, that’s nice,’ Chloe said. It was nice. ‘Will he be in charge of the puking or the driving?’

Gunnar smiled. ‘It takes a long time to work towards being in charge of something, no? This is a premium trip. The trip of all trips.’

‘Oh, really?’ Chloe said. ‘I mean that sounds like quite the promise. Does it come with some kind of money-back guarantee?’

‘No,’ Gunnar said. ‘But, if you do not enjoy the day I will… take you to the Blue Lagoon.’

She’d read about the Blue Lagoon. It was on her visit list. But Gunnar saying it, imagining thermal springs and steam rising into the freezing air as everyone enjoyed drinks and detox face masks, was making her a little bit flustered. Was this intention on his part? An almost ‘date’ scenario?

‘And your friend, of course,’ Gunnar added.

Chloe felt her deflation but was quick to cover it up. ‘Challenge accepted.’

‘OK, krúttio mitt . I will prepare the coach now.’ He smiled. ‘And, just so you know, they do sell liquorice at the first place we stop.’

She smiled. ‘I can’t wait for this premium trip to start.’