Page 16 of Midnight Sun

Finn snorts. “Too gay. I would’ve probably stolen your handsome knight instead.”

To Finn’s delight, his words startle a surprised laugh out of James.

“Did you always know? About your sexuality, I mean.”

“Well, my siblings and I were always obsessed with all things Viking. And I plastered my childhood room with posters of Viking warriors and action heroes. So it was pretty obvious, even forAmmaandAfi.”

“So you tend to have crushes on action stars, do you?”

Finn takes a quick gaze sideways and yes, James is looking at him with sparkling eyes and a flirtatious smile.

“I certainly would’ve put your poster up as a teen. You’re cute enough.”

“I’m not cute, I’m handsome,” James replies haughtily, but he reclines in his seat with a pleased little smirk.

“No, you’re cute. Don’t know why the others can’t see it. I have to bite my tongue to not call you Jamie all the time. It suits you so much better.”

James flinches at the nickname, flushing rapidly. How he earned his reputation as being tough and unshakable is a mystery to Finn, given how easy it is to fluster him. James coughs awkwardly and averts his gaze.

“So, you lived with your grandparents?”

“Only in the summer months and when our parents were away on excavations. We kids loved staying on the farm.”

“Sounds like living in an Astrid Lindgren book,” Jamie says wistfully.

Finn makes an annoyed sound.

“We’re not Swedes, you moron! The Westfjords are a rough place, but for us kids it was mostly heaven. Don’t get me wrong, I had my quarrels as a gay kid in a rural area, but I had it better than most I know. My parents andAmmawere extremely supportive and I thinkAfigot over it as soon as Hildur started to bring home her first boyfriend. I had my fair share of fights with the farm boys, but with a big brother and a fierce little sister to back me up, they didn’t have much of a chance.”

Jamie hums in understanding.

“Do you have siblings?” Finn asks softly.

“No. It was–a little lonely with my parents both being away so much.”

Finn frowns. He’s not up on celebrity gossip at all, but he remembers vaguely that James’ parents are famous too.

“Your parents are actors, aren’t they? Or have I remembered this incorrectly?”

James chuckles.

“What?”

“It’s refreshing to talk to someone who doesn’t pretend to know my life better than I do.”

“I guess it comes with quite some pressure to have famous parents.”

“Yeah, my father is a theater actor and my mother was a Broadway star before she became a playwright. It’s strange, but sometimes I get the feeling that they would’ve preferred me to be a Shakespearean actor as well; as if a Hollywood career was a second-class endeavor for them.” Jamie tenses as if he’d said too much. “Oh, what’s this lake called?”

“That’s the Hvítárvatn.” Finn decides to humor him. That Jamie allows him to even get a glimpse of his real self feels like a precious gift. “The travel hut at the lake is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman.”

Jamie snorts. “Are we going to start training when we arrive at the lodge?”

The road is rough, so Finn can only take a quick look at Jamie. He still looks tired, though not as shaken as he was in the hotel. Finn would like to know what had him so upset, but decides it’s better to wait and see, instead of asking directly.

“No. I think you need some rest. We’re starting tomorrow.”

Chapter 5