Page 38 of Adrift in Iceland
‘There’s nothing going on,’ Astrid said. It was hard to see how there could be when things had been so awkward earlier. Perhaps that’s what it would always be like if they weren’t on the boat.
‘Maybe not, but I don’t think that’ll be the case for much longer. Have you seen the way he looks at you?’
Two glasses of wine had softened Astrid’s inhibitions. ‘He smells amazing,’ she said to Iris in a low voice.
‘How do you know that?’
Astrid told Iris about the puffin trip.
‘I can’t believe you two haven’t got it together yet.’
‘I’m not into a quick fling, and I don’t think he is either. And I might only be here for the summer.’
‘He’ll take the summer, I’d bet good money on that. Be upfront with him and be honest with each other about how you feel and no one will get hurt.’
It was good advice. Perhaps she’d speak to Leifur after the tours had launched, once they were into a normal routine and the worst of the work was behind them. After their meeting in the coffee shop, she knew the feelings she had for him were mutual but she also knew that they were both out of practice when it came to relationships. And how did the fact that they like each other translate into something more than that?
‘Why don’t you tell him you like him?’ Gudrun said, coming from nowhere. ‘He must already know if you look at him like that all the time.’
‘He knows,’ Astrid said
‘What are you waiting for, then? Life’s too short to be wasting time with stolen glances across the room like you’re both teenagers in unrequited love.’
‘It’s not the right time, that’s all. I’ll wait until we start the tours properly when he’s under less pressure.’
‘It might help with the pressure,’ Gudrun said.
At around ten-thirty, people drifted off, with most of them having work in the morning. When Gudrun and Olafur left, Astrid thought that was everyone, and then Leifur came out of the bathroom.
‘Oh!’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,’ he said, laughing as she stood there with her hand on her chest.
‘I thought everyone had gone,’ she said, laughing herself.
‘Well, I was just about to.’
‘You’re not driving home, are you?’
‘No, I’ll stay onBrimfaxi. I’ll have the coffee brewed by the time you get there in the morning.’
‘Do you want a coffee before you go?’
‘That’d be great. Maybe a decaf?’
Astrid made coffee and took it over to the sofa where Leifur was sitting, lounging in the corner, his ankle resting on his opposite knee.
‘I enjoyed that more than I thought I would,’ she said.
‘Me too. I’m not great at small talk normally, but those guys are easy to get along with. Did you know Thor owns a bar down by the harbour? It’s where Ned Nokes tried out his stuff when he went solo.’
‘I didn’t know that. So Jonas and Olafur must know Thor already?’
‘Yes. Small world, huh?’
‘Tiny,’ Astrid agreed. ‘Did you ever think of leaving?’
‘I considered it when we lost the business. I could have gone overseas and fished somewhere else, but I think I’m too old to start again somewhere else.’
