Chapter 36
Harper
I’m exhausted by the time we get back to Reykjavik, and it isn’t even dinnertime yet. I almost ask Luke if we can take a quick nap at the hotel we’ll be at for the night, but he’s so excited to keep going that I don’t say anything.
Today has been what I’d hoped the entire trip would be. There’s no Cassie or Tom. It’s just me and Luke having fun, which makes me feel a whole new set of confused emotions.
It doesn’t help that Luke’s been acting weird. Not a bad weird, just different. His hands linger on my back, or I catch him looking at me in a way that most girls dream of. After everything with Cassie, I feel like I’m starting to go crazy or reading into things.
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 to the 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 if what 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 is small, 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 order our 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.
“Ready?” I ask in a teasing tone.
He gives a faint smile. “Yup!”
Our food is delivered, and the hostess goes to the stage to welcome the first singer, a woman named Amie who sings an acoustic version of “Somebody to Love.” We eat at our table, watching the different people come up to sing their songs.
I sneak a few glances over to Luke and his face is paler than I’ve ever seen it.
He looks at the man now singing on stage in another language, but his eyes are glazed over like he isn’t really listening.
The song ends, and when the crowd starts clapping, Luke snaps out of it.
He takes a bite of his fries and then pushes his plate away. His burger is mostly untouched.
“Alright, next up is Luke, who comes to us from the United States,” the hostess announces.
My eyes return to Luke as he pushes himself up from the table. He takes a quick, deep breath and gives me his best smile.
“Good luck,” I say as the crowd gives him a round of applause.
I’ve never seen Luke so nervous before. Part of me feels like I should tell him he doesn’t have to do this, but my curiosity is winning out and wants to know what his singing sounds like.
When he gets to the stage, he grabs the guitar and strums softly, like he’s testing it. Someone brings him a stool and sits it in front of the mic. Luke gives a sheepish smile, adjusting the height of the stand.
“Hey,” he practically whispers, fidgeting with the guitar.
“My friend and I have been here in Iceland for almost a week now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place more beautiful.
” He pauses and finds me in the crowd. His posture softens and he smiles like it’s just the two of us talking.
“So thank you, Harper, for bringing me here with you. This one’s for you. ”
A few people at the tables around me twist to look in my direction. I feel myself go hot with the attention. There’s a little pang of longing as Luke starts to play the guitar. The soft acoustic strumming sounds like home.
Does he realize what he’s doing to me? The way he’s torturing me?
Any girl in the world would love to have a guy serenade her like Luke is doing. But he isn’t trying to serenade me. He just wants to prove a point and show that he can sing.
He plays a few bars, not opening his mouth to sing, and I start to wonder if maybe he won’t sing after all. Luke leans into the slow, steady rhythm, his face soft as he looks down, strums, and sings.