Chapter Sixteen

Sixteen

"O f course your boss likes you," Larissa says during our video call on Thursday.

I'm eating a Cup of Noodles for dinner, in my bed, supporting my iPad on a pile of pillows in front of me. Erik is at the gym, so I allowed myself a break from the project.

"Why wouldn't he, right?" I try to reason along with her. Lars is always talking about Erik when he talks about me, so I need to hear someone say that my boss cares about me too.

"He's just enthusiastic about the two of you together, and honestly, who can blame him?" Larissa continues, serene and nerdy with her round glasses, fandom tattoos, and the uniform T-shirt of the school where she teaches English as a Second Language. "You're the beautiful and promising new designer, and he's the gorgeous former employee and ambitious entrepreneur everyone loves. The two of you are a power couple. Like Sophie Turner and Nick Jonas."

"Wrong brother. And Sophie and Joe are no longer together."

"Really? Oh." She makes an expression of pity. "Then Kim Kardashian and Kanye West," she tries again with reckless certainty.

"Divorced," I say with my mouth half full of noodles. "And he changed his name."

Larissa makes a face, clearly scrambling. "Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady?"

"Broke up in 2022. You should read more celebrity news."

"And you should read less of it."

"It's just that—" I put the empty noodle cup aside and bring the iPad closer to my face "—Erik takes the spotlight, and I kind of...disappear behind his shiny presence."

How long will you keep hiding behind me, Sol? His words in the restaurant kitchen echo in my head. He's probably right. I've been relying too much on him...

"And you're afraid you won't impress your boss without Erik?"

"Well, yes." I look down, twitching my mouth.

"You just have to show more of yourself, Sol."

Hmm. That again.

"But being me—me without him—means I'm not what Lars prefers."

"Listen, Sol." She brings her face closer to the screen, the tip of her candy pointing at me. "Get your shit together, okay? You're awesome, and yet you keep being insecure. Drop that, girl, please. Like, immediately . Or I'll fly there and give you an earful."

"I wouldn't mind you flying here... It sucks to be so far away sometimes."

"I know..." She frowns at her split ends, then picks them apart. A moment of silence follows, until she says, "Now tell me, how is it going with the project? You and Erik?"

I'm not listening, distracted by a notification on my phone. I open the chat named "Fun Season—Group Lars" and see that George has shared a picture with us.

"Sol? Am I talking to a wall?"

"Sorry, I've just received a message in the Fun Season group. Look."

I turn my phone screen toward the iPad, and she squints to make sense of the image.

"Two people at the top of a..."

"An indoor climbing wall. One of the guys from the group with his boyfriend." I turn the phone back to me. "He wrote, ‘Wild day! Can any of you be even wilder? I propose a #wildchallenge. The winning team can be chosen at the next event. Are you in? Or are you a bunch of cowards?'"

"Well, I was talking to a wall," Larissa remarks.

I laugh, reading the follow-up messages in the group. Everyone is accepting the challenge.

"So, now you and Erik have to do something bolder and take a picture. Hmm. You climbing an actual mountain... I look forward to that." Larissa rubs her hands like someone ready for a juicy performance.

"Ha-ha," I fake-laugh. "You know I'm afraid of heights."

The front door opens, and I hear Erik's footsteps at the entrance.

"That's why it'll be fun to witness," Larissa teases me, and I show her my tongue.

"Bye to you. Let me ask Erik if he has any ideas."

" That one?" I point at the free-fall tower before me. It's so high I need to tilt my head as far back as it will go to see the top. I have been eyeing the tower's golden teardrop tip since we were outside the amusement park, as it juts toward the sky along with the historical towers in the Copenhagen city center.

"The Golden Tower," Erik says as if announcing a king entering a royal ballroom. "Sixty-three meters high."

"Sixty-three?" I look up, feeling nauseous just watching people ascending slowly and then descending in a high-speed drop. "And you waited to tell me that this is what we're doing until we were right in front of it?"

"Of course, so you wouldn't have a chance to escape."

I narrow my eyes at him, which only makes him smile brighter.

"Well, it was you who wanted to participate in the challenge. And who said that walls were not an option." Erik pulls me sideways for a hug. "You'll be fine, Sol. I can hold your hand."

Caught in his arms, I look up at him. I'm shivering because even though he is heating me from the cold, being embraced by Erik in an amusement park—the second oldest in the world—is romantic. If there was one right thing he could say to convince me, it was that. The idea of holding his hand is so attractive I will even agree to be dropped from a two-hundred-foot height.

"What about the picture? If my phone falls, there'll be nothing left but powder."

Erik laughs. "We can buy the photo they take. Come on, now." Erik pulls me by the hand out of my spot in the middle of a busy Tivoli path on Halloween night.

It's the prettiest amusement park I have ever been to. Everything is so charming—with a thousand lanterns, lush trees, and fairy-tale-like buildings—that not even the creepy Halloween decorations diminish the romantic vibes.

When Erik said we should go to Tivoli for Halloween, to find something wild to do there, I was confused. For some reason, I'd imagined only cute carousels and tiny sailing boats—maybe a fast roller coaster or a haunted house. But then we got in, and my mouth opened in surprise. The Golden Tower is far from being the only wild ride here.

We face the long line, and the closer it gets to our turn, the more I nervously dance to shake off the cold and the fear. Erik laughs at my embarrassing moves.

Finally, we sit on the ride and get locked in place. I test the safety of the seat, fearing I will fly out of it.

"Goodness gracious, what am I doing?" I start to panic, and Erik only laughs more. "You'll pay for this, Erik Storm," I mutter between my teeth.

"Just relax and enjoy the view," he says. "It's wonderful. You'll see the entire city."

I try to do as he says, even though my nerves are killing me. But I only relax for real once he holds my hand. I look at our fingers clicked together like Lego pieces. The shivers are stronger than ever.

When I look at him, he is no longer laughing, just smiling, serene and encouraging. He squeezes my hand. He can probably hear my frantic breath and feel me shaking.

We ascend, roller-coaster carts becoming moving toys under us. All around me, a beautiful city where old redbrick buildings combine with a lit-up skyline. Cars pass under us like animated miniature models. I tell myself not to look down at my feet hanging in the air.

Erik squeezes my hand. We are reaching the top.

"So far, so good, eh?"

I've trusted Erik. I do trust him. I realize I'd go to the end of the world with him.

I nod in response. Because I'm fine. It's all good.

We laugh, hands united, and the moment of suspense comes, when we are left hanging up there for a couple of seconds before the drop. And it's in that couple of seconds, looking at Erik's beautiful profile, long golden hair flying with the cold wind, that I have the realization.

I'm falling in love.

I'm in love with Erik Storm.

I lose my breath. My stomach drops before I do. I'm free-falling, and I scream and scream until my lungs can't take it anymore and my voice won't come out. The city is a blur. It feels as if my soul has left my body and thrown itself back in again.

I'm in love. Holy ship. Motherfather.

We keep going up and down. My mind is foggy, my heart hammering in my chest. I look at Erik, pale but joyful, his hair lashing around his face uncontrollably. I feel like screaming more, but I also feel like laughing, a jolt of adrenaline running through my veins.

I did it. I dropped from the tower.

I acknowledged that I'm in love.

Our hands are frozen together. I can't let go. I don't want to let go.

I want him to be my real boyfriend.

When the ride is over and we are released from the seat belt, Erik has to help me walk out. My knees are jelly.

He laughs. "It wasn't so bad, was it?"

"It was terrible!"

He laughs even more, holding my hand again even though no one we know is looking. We check our picture. It's horrible, and Erik laughs even more at my expression in the photo—wide-open mouth and tightly closed eyes.

"I can't post this." I cover my face in shame.

"Come on, do you want to win the challenge or not?"

I check the notifications on my phone. There are new messages in the group.

"Oh no, look at this." I show the screen to Erik. Chiara and Anika shared a picture a few minutes ago of the two of them in the tower we've just walked out of.

"Their faces look better than yours," he says, and I push him lightly with my shoulder. "Are they here now?"

I look around as if I'm expecting to see them right behind me. "Weird coincidence," I say, now a bit annoyed that my sacrifice was worthless.

"Not so weird, I'd say. It's Halloween. Everyone is here. And the tower is an obvious choice when you think of ‘a wild experience' in this city."

"We need a selfie, at least. Come here." I turn on the front camera and frame Erik and me with the tower in the background. He comes closer, and I take the photo. "Not good enough. More intimate. You're my boyfriend." I must confess, I enjoy saying those words and pretending they mean what they mean.

Erik puts a hand on my shoulder, his fingers tangling in my unruly after-free-fall hair, sending shivers down my spine. Once we have a normal smiling picture, our faces together, we take one where he kisses my cheek. My heartbeat almost goes back to the speed it reached during the free fall.

"Better," I say and discreetly try to catch my breath. Seeing a cute picture of the two of us together doesn't help. "Can I post it on Instagram? I mean, couples post pictures together." That's my rational reason. The irrational one is that I want the whole world to see how great we look together.

"Sure," he says like he doesn't care, and so I post the two selfies, with the caption: Halloween at Tivoli, free-falling from the Golden Tower! #wildchallenge #love #happyhalloween . Then I share the post in the group, saying, @Chiara and @Anika, the two of you beat us, but there will be a round two!

A few seconds later, Chiara writes back: OMG. Are the two of you still in Tivoli? Let's meet up!

"Are you okay with meeting them?" I ask Erik, a part of me hoping he will say he would prefer to spend the evening alone with me, because that's what I'd like. But I can't refuse to meet Chiara and Anika. They are nice.

"Sure," he says one more time, again like he doesn't really care.

I write them back, and we meet at the bridge. We then go together to the boats, Chiara and Anika in one, and Erik and me in another.

"Thank you for doing this with me," I say to Erik, now glad that we met with Chiara and Anika since it gave us an excuse to keep holding hands and pretending. I know it's not the same as if it were real, but for a fleeting moment it feels like we're actually dating.

"It's fine, Sol." He smiles more softly and genuinely than I'm used to seeing. I start to wonder if he is enjoying this too.

He looks relaxed, comfortable. He is in the moment, immersed in his role. When Erik is playing my boyfriend, he is confident and cheerful. He is lightning, not thunder. His deception is beautiful.

But it can't be so deceptive. He is starting to act like that when we are alone too. When it's just us working on the project, making some quick dinner, or cleaning the apartment to the sound of Scarlet Pleasure. His light shines through the clouds.

And he's being bright and lively today. The way he squeezed my hand at the tower... Could it be...?

No. I can't ask. I can't ruin it all. Better to have fake-boyfriend-roommate-friend Erik than to not have him at all.

After the boats and a quick burger, we follow Chiara and Anika to the light show at the lake and find a spot under a beautiful tree with long ropey branches falling like a cascade over the water. From here, we have a marvelous view of the colorfully lit park, the lights reflecting on the water making me feel like I'm inside Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rh?ne .

It's magical, and Erik is holding my hand again. When the space starts to get crowded, Anika moves in front of Chiara, who embraces her by the waist. Erik puts me in front of him too, close to the railing, except that his hands stay on my shoulders. Still, it's good. Really good.

When the show starts, with the waters rising, dancing, and changing colors, I feel like I'm in another world. A fantasyland. My Cinderella dream.

And as Cinderella stories go, it ends at midnight.

We won't be apart. We'll go back to the same home, but the magic will stay here.

I try not to focus on that. I stay in the now, letting the soothing, ethereal music touch my soul. I let the lights confuse my senses even more than they already are. I'm dancing inside like those lights. Rising to the sky and falling again, unable to settle.

"Have you guys heard of the tradition?" Anika looks at us. "When the show is about to end and all the lights are dancing at their peak, couples must kiss. It's for luck and prosperity," she finishes, saying this just a few seconds before the music starts escalating to its finale. "It's now. Are you guys ready?"

She holds Chiara's face and kisses her girlfriend. I turn to Erik, nervous. We have an audience. A large crowd packed all around us. On the other hand, it's dark and everyone is looking at the dancing waters... Will he do it?

"For luck and prosperity?" I try.

Erik snorts and smiles shyly. He won't do it. What was I thinking?

I'm spinning on my heels to watch the show again when he takes my arm and turns me toward him. One of his hands digs through my hair, cupping the back of my head, while the other slides along my waist and brings me closer. My palms go to his chest by instinct, and the moment I smell his skin, his candy breath, I know there is no stopping what is coming.

He brings my face toward him, and our lips meet.

At first, a soft little kiss, his wet lips savoring mine. Then a second kiss, longer, stronger, his teeth biting my lower lip with the right amount of pressure. The reactions inside me are so intense, I feel like I'll explode. Butterflies assault my stomach when I press my mouth against his, and his smell— oh, his smell —is so delicious that I grip the nape of his neck with uncontrolled power, and he reacts by pushing his tongue into my mouth.

I melt inside. Everything in my body feels like it's on fire. A rainbow of lights passes over my closed eyelids. A celestial song plays in the background, turning more dramatic by the second. As the light show reaches its climax, I suddenly understand why couples must kiss at this point in the show.

Erik kisses me like he means it, the symphony through the hidden speakers orchestrating the rhythm of our lips. Our intimate dance of colorful desire. His fingers trail over the back of my head and my neck, giving me goose bumps. His hand brings me closer, pressing his solid, massive torso against my small frame. I'm touching his chest over layers of winter clothing.

I finish the kiss with a hand on his bearded face, and the texture is wonderful. I want to caress his cheek and scratch his rough chin. I want to go home and kiss him until the sun rises, naked in my bed with him.

The crowd applauds, and I feel like they are clapping for us. Erik opens his eyes too, slowly, and our gazes meet. We are in shock, confused about what happened. Bewildered at how absolutely amazing it felt.

Because he must have felt it all too. I can see it in his eyes. I can feel it in his hand, still on the small of my back. He wants to pull me closer. It was just a teaser for him too.

I'm suddenly eager to go home.

"Wonderful, wasn't it?" Anika asks us with a sly grin.

"There is no kissing tradition," Chiara reprimands her girlfriend, but looks like she found the prank amusing.

"Yeah, I made that up. But look at them." She gestures at us with her head. "They had a wonderful moment."

Indeed, we had.

"We should get going." Chiara checks her watch. "We have to go to work tomorrow."

"Oh, don't remind me," Anika groans. She told us she works as a content creator for a clothing company, and that while she enjoys it, what she truly wants is to be a jewelry designer.

We all walk together to the exit, and I avoid looking at Erik. What happened in the light show affected us both. We don't know how to act now. What we did out there was so convincing that holding hands is not needed at this point.

Chiara and Anika have already left us when we reach our bikes. I'm opening my lock when Erik's phone rings. He looks at it, a line appearing between his brows, as if he's wondering why someone would disturb him at this hour.

" Mor? " He takes the call, his frown deepening.

I watch him as he speaks, increasingly concerned. As the talk is all in Danish, I understand nothing he is saying. When he ends the call, I ask, "What's wrong?"

"My dad fell off a ladder when changing a lamp and is at the hospital now."

I raise my eyebrows, worried. "Is he okay?"

"Just a broken leg, and maybe a rib, they think. But he'll be staying overnight."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"I'm going there now."

"What, tonight? But don't your parents live, like, three hours away?"

"I'll borrow my cousin's car. My mom shouldn't skip work, ideally, and she'll need help in the next few days. My sister's in Amsterdam, and I don't have a job. So it's not a hassle for me."

I nod, understanding. I'm proud of him. I like that he won't hesitate to help his family. On the other hand, something tells me this is the escape route he wanted to find after what happened between us tonight. It came at the perfect time...

I know I shouldn't think about that when his dad is in the hospital. It's selfish of me. If it were my parents, and I could reach them after driving for three hours, I would have done the same.

"Do you think you'll be safe driving at night? Aren't you tired?"

He shakes his head, and I know what he's thinking. He wouldn't be able to sleep tonight anyway.

I know for a fact that I won't.