Page 70 of From Helsinki with Love
…
You wound me
Jasper
Your ego can handle it
She should be back from snowboarding soon, send me the details once you know where we’re heading
Emil
SHE SNOWBOARDS? Why couldn’t I have met her first?
Jasper
Like Teddy likes to say, you snooze, you lose
Emil
I do like your roommate, but that isn’t his best line
Chuckling, I toss my phone on the bed and pack my suitcase. Tonight is our final night in Lapland, and I’m taking Vivian to a place I have on my bucket list. That’s why we need to collect our things around the place and pack.
As I’m finishing up, the door to the igloo opens, and a smiling Vivian walks in. “Greetings from the hills of Levi.”
She totally butchers the name, pronouncing it the American way, but I love seeing her glowing and relaxed.
“I take it you enjoyed snowboarding?”
“I did. I wish we had more time here so I could go again, but I know we need to return to Helsinki tomorrow.”
I kiss her forehead when she has moved close enough. “At least there are many great spots for snowboarding near home, right?”
“Yeah, I try to go to Vermont monthly and then the Rockies or Canada every season.”
“That sounds awesome. I wish I could join you.” I pout.
She smiles at me like she has a trick up her sleeve. “What if I told you that one of my bucket list items is to go snowboarding in Australia, and their skiing season is during our summer months and the Southern Hemisphere winter—aren’t you off-season by then?”
“I love how your brain works.”
“I have my moments.” She shrugs nonchalantly, making me laugh.
“You know, I have one more surprise for you tonight. I want to take you to a place I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s not too far from here, but we better finish packing and leave when you’re ready.”
Vivian’s eyes light up. “Really? What is it?”
“I won’t tell you,” I reply with a smirk. “But I promise you’ll love it.”
Vivian sighs dramatically before nodding. “Okay, I trust you.”
We quickly finish packing our bags and get into the car. As we listen to the radio station playing Finnish hits, I can feel Vivian’s eyes on me. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity anymore, she speaks up.
“Can you at least give me a hint about where we’re going?”
“Okay, one hint,” I say. “It’s a magical place and like nothing you’ve experienced before.”
She thinks my words over. “You told me the amusement park was closed in Helsinki and Disneyland Paris is too far from here, so it can’t be it.”
