The Queens of San Diego (18+)

Chapter 15

Lukas

I wake up to the soft glow of the Reykjavik sun streaming through the curtains, a reminder that, even in summer, the daylight stretches on longer here than I'm used to. My body feels heavy, weighed down by everything that's happened, but for the first time in a while, I don't feel completely hopeless. Today might be the turning point. It has to be.

The room is quiet, save for the faint hum of the city outside, and I take a deep breath, trying to shake the lingering tension. We have a full day ahead of us—the group's planning to head out early to see Seljalandsfoss, the famous waterfall that I've only seen in pictures. Maybe the fresh air, the Icelandic landscape, will help clear my head. Maybe it'll help me find the right words to say to JJ.

I roll out of bed, feeling the chill in the air as I step onto the hardwood floor. The coolness of Reykjavik is a welcome contrast to the heat I've been carrying inside me since everything went down. I cross the room and pull out some clothes—something practical. Sporty attire, a waterproof jacket for when we get close to the falls. As I dress, I keep glancing at my phone, wondering if JJ will text, wondering if today will be the day he's finally willing to talk.

I can't avoid it any longer—I need to face this head-on. I need to talk to him. The sooner, the better.

Buttoning up my jacket, I run a hand through my hair and make my way toward the door. The hallway is quiet as I walk down to JJ's suite. My heart races with each step, my thoughts bouncing between hope and dread. What if he's not ready? What if he's done with me for good? I swallow hard, pushing the doubt aside. I need to try.

I stop in front of his door, my fist hovering in the air for a moment before I finally knock. It's now or never.

As I stand in front of JJ's door, my heart thuds in my chest like a drum. Each second feels like an eternity, and I realize how much I'm clinging to this moment. I'm hoping for something—some sign that maybe JJ will hear me out. The hallway around me is still, but the tension is anything but. My knuckles hit the door softly, then louder the second time, as if willing him to respond.

After what feels like forever, the door swings open, and there's JJ—standing in nothing but black briefs that hug his hips and accentuate his body in all the right ways. I freeze, my mouth suddenly dry. His abs are taut, the fabric of his briefs clinging to his thighs and leaving little to the imagination. My eyes trail downward before I can stop myself, and I feel my face flush with heat.

I blink, tearing my eyes away from his body as JJ gives me a casual, almost dismissive look. His hair's slightly tousled, and he looks... like he's been busy. Really busy.

Before I can get a word out, a tall, broad-shouldered man steps out from behind JJ. My eyes widen. This guy could have stepped straight out of a Viking saga—blond hair, a scruffy beard, and the kind of chiseled physique that would make anyone feel self-conscious. He leans down and presses a quick kiss to JJ's cheek, murmuring something in Icelandic, something I can't understand but sounds intimate—too intimate.

"Thanks for a great time," the guy says, in heavily accented English. Then he walks past me without a second glance, leaving me standing there, my mind racing, my stomach in knots.

I don't know what to say. What the hell just happened? My heart sinks, but I try to gather myself. JJ's moved on? Already?

JJ sighs, crossing his arms. He looks at me, waiting. There's no warmth in his eyes, no sign that he cares about the mess between us. Just... cold. "What do you want, Lukas?" he finally asks, his voice flat.

I stammer for a second, the words catching in my throat. "I-I wanted to talk," I manage, still reeling from the sight of the guy who just left. "Can we talk, please?"