The Queens of San Diego (18+)

Chapter 16

JJ

The early morning chill of Iceland still lingered in the air as I laced up my hiking boots, my breath coming out in small, misty clouds. The sun barely crept over the horizon, casting a soft glow over the rugged landscape. I inhaled deeply, letting the crisp air fill my lungs, but it did little to ease the tension sitting heavy in my chest. Lukas was here. That was the strangest part. Despite everything that had gone down between us, here we were, about to hike to one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland, trying to play it cool like nothing had changed. But it had. In a way that I wasn't sure could ever be undone.

It wasn't easy being mad at Lukas anymore, not with the way he kept trying to make things right. He hadn't stopped apologizing, and to be fair, he seemed genuinely sorry. I could see the guilt weighing him down every time we made eye contact, the way he'd drop his gaze or how his shoulders slumped just a bit when I brushed past him. The problem was, an apology only goes so far. Especially when the betrayal cuts as deep as his did.

The hike to Glymur Waterfall was supposed to be a welcome distraction. A chance to focus on something other than the emotional mess we'd all been wrapped in for weeks. But it was hard to fully lose myself in the beauty around us. Don't get me wrong—the scenery was breathtaking. The path wound through steep hills, moss-covered rocks glistening from the freezing waters that criss crossed our trail. The sound of rushing water echoed in the distance, promising a spectacular view at the top. Yet even with all that, my mind kept wandering back to Lukas, walking just a few paces ahead.

I wanted to be mad at him. I should've been furious. After all, he'd hooked up with Alejandro, of all people. The same guy who'd broken my heart in ways I hadn't even realized were possible. And yet, Lukas had been there for me through so much, especially back in the day when we were still figuring each other out in university. Maybe that's why it was so hard to stay mad. There was too much history, too much to just throw away. But how do you move past something like that?

The cold water splashed up over my boots as we crossed another stream, reminding me that we weren't in sunny Tenerife anymore, or San Diego. It was refreshing, though—being in Iceland after the sweltering heat of the Canary Islands. The air here was cleaner, the landscape more rugged, untouched. It gave me the space I needed to think, to figure out what the hell I was going to do about Lukas. Every time I tried to push those thoughts aside, the tension snapped back, tightening around me.

Behind me, I could hear Desmond grumbling about how they weren't meant for the outdoors, their voice carrying over the sound of the waterfall up ahead. It made me smile a little, despite the weight on my chest. Izzy, of course, was walking next to Conrad, who was explaining different types of wildflowers they passed. They were cute together. It was nice to see her so happy.

I wasn't sure what the day would bring, or if I was ready to forgive Lukas yet. But something about the vastness of the Icelandic landscape made everything seem a little smaller in comparison, like maybe—just maybe—there was a way forward after all.

As we continued the hike, the crunch of rocks and dirt under my boots mixed with the steady roar of the waterfall in the distance. I kept my pace slow, trailing behind Lukas as he walked a few paces ahead, the gap between us feeling symbolic of where we stood. I could feel Martina's presence beside me, her steps matching mine in an easy rhythm. She hadn't said much, but I knew she could sense the turmoil in me. Martina always had that way of knowing when something was off.

"So," she said casually, breaking the silence, "what's going on with you and Lukas?"

I sighed, the question lingering in the cold air for a moment before I answered. "I honestly don't know, Marti," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "It's complicated. I mean, I'm still so pissed about what happened with Alejandro, but at the same time... I still care about him. A lot."