The Funny Thing about Love: Feel Good Sweet Romance stories

by Laura Burton

  Penny felt her ire surge to the forefront. Why was it everywhere she went she was labelled immediately as a ‘rude American’? Was it because she spoke up for herself, didn’t take any flack from people, or was she truly rude whenever she went places? It was giving her a real complex!

  The man turned towards the waitress like he was some sort of god, bestowing favors on the lesser people around him. Ugh! The nerve of him!

  “Treat our rude friend to something sweet for dessert… on me. Maybe that will soften her up and make her realize that it’s not polite to ostracize the people here.”

  “I don’t need your money. I’ll just take a Pepsi… to go, please.”

  “Coca Cola?”

  “No. Pepsi.”

  “Coca Cola?” the waitress repeated in broken English.

  “Yes. That’s fine.”

  “No, you need a dose of civility. Enjoy your time in Reykjavik, miss.”

  The man actually had the gall to walk right past her, as if she was nothing, and exited out the doors just like he owned the place.

  What an arrogant and nosy man! she thought.

  Well, she hoped that he enjoyed the spectacle that was her life and maybe she would write about it in her blog tonight as she introduced her month-long escapade in the wilds of Iceland.

  Chapter 3

  2

  Iceland was amazing.

  Penny was quickly falling in love with the country regardless of the hiccup she’d first endured on arrival at her hotel. The people and their customs were quirky and adorable.

  Everywhere she roamed, there were carved elves in windows or for sale on shelves. These people believed in magic and that it was delivered by the little elves. There were stories and folklore on them to the point it was a little overwhelming—and it’s not the Troll elves with the tall standing hair that you twisted and played with. No, this was the grotesque elves with knobby noses, big bellies, and warts on the noses.

  No one locked their doors here, no one carried guns. It was shocking to see so many car doors unlocked, people just walked right in homes, and the fact that there was so much trust in this community to do the right thing.

  Raudasandur Beach near the Latrabjarg Peninsula was beautiful and strangely unexpected. The sand was pink and reddish, reminding her of a time she’d camped out on the beach in the Bahamas. There the sand was pink because of the shells; here she wondered if it was due to the rocks and other sediments in the area.

  Iceland was known for its volcanic activity and where two tectonic plates met, creating earthquakes and slight rumbles under the feet at times. She’d felt one since arriving and it was just enough to make her slightly aware, but not uncomfortable or alarmed.

  Penny spent one day at the Viking World Museum, jotting down notes for her blog and staring at the wealth of history around her. It was like going back in time to the Viking Ages.

  There were weapons and great hulls of ships on display that were thousands of years old. It was shocking to her to see things on display that had witnessed the rise of man in a sense. She watched children play on Viking playgrounds, as they climbed on mock-Norse ships and fought with plastic swords that were sold in the gift shop.

  Taking the time to walk the streets, she admired the colorful buildings and noted the vast number of little shops everywhere. Looking out from a hill to the coast, she could see the fishing trawlers off in the water.

  Everything seemed so simple, so beautiful, that it was easy to relax. The ‘hustle and bustle’ of traffic was nothing compared to the 405 in Los Angeles or I-35 in Dallas. These little two-lane roads, some single lanes, that she travelled upon were breathtaking as they wound about the hills and valleys before her.

  Stopping for a late lunch, she gestured to a vendor called the Lobster Hut. The thought of lobster curry or a lobster ‘hot dog’ from a food truck was a little intimidating, but seeing others walk away from the window with their meals, and the line at the truck waiting for it, washed away any doubts she had.

  Her hot dog had caramelized peppers, sautéed onions, and lobster chunks covered in a spicy mayo that was to die for. Sitting on a park bench, Penny happily chowed down on her food and ‘people-watched’ for quite a while, only to see the blond-haired man from the restaurant the other day watching her in the distance.

  Giving a slight cough as a lump of lobster went down the wrong pipe, she cursed the fact that she was drinking bottled water and was developing a caffeine headache to die for. No one here drank any other soda but Coke! It was the strangest darn thing… almost as crazy as the gorgeous stalker watching her.

  Taking one more bite, she casually got up and wiped her mouth on the napkin. She wasn’t about to look at him or give him the time of day. What kind of weirdo watched you all the time? It was a shame too because he was definitely her type—those dark eyes, blond hair, tall frame with gorgeous shoulders normally made her ga-ga and rang her bell.

  Darting in a nearby store, she perused the shelves and picked up a few things to send home to her parents from her travels. She bought a Bingo elf figurine for her mother and a t-shirt for her father.

  Reykjavik… here I come!

  If you are looking for a colorful, wild, fun-loving town – this is it.

  On the ocean, this small bustling city has grown by leaps and bounds. You will find parks, restaurants, food trucks, and shops galore around you. The streets are filled with music and the people—well- the people are very outgoing to where if you aren’t a people-person, you might take it the wrong way.

  Remember, we are the strangers in their land and while we are curious of their culture… they are curious about ours too. Embrace the change, enjoy the city, and try the food vendors!

  In town, one of the must-see sights is the Viking World Museum. Family friendly, enjoyable day trip perfect for everyone and all ages. Take your time and check out the numerous exhibits (avoid the pricey gift shop at the end—you can get the same merch down the street)…

  Yours truly,

  ~Penny Pincher

  P.S.- Side note for all you travelers out there. There is no Dr. Pepper, Mtn Dew, or Pepsi to be found yet—only Coca-Cola. Pack Advil or prepare to indulge in coffee at any hour to get your caffeine fix. My head is throbbing…

  Penny tapped her finger on her chin as she typed on her keyboard. The vision of the gorgeous guy watching her stuck in her mind. She wanted to say ‘hey, watch out ladies because there are some HAWT men here in town’ but she didn’t want to be perceived as sleezy or put that vibe out there for her readers. Instead, she closed her eyes and pictured his image as he had stood there, earlier in the day, leaning on the railing, casually watching her.

  Chapter 4

  3

  Grindavík

  Penny sat staring at her planner and the slew of pamphlets around her. Reykjavik had a lot more out there to see than she ever realized, but as it sat forty-five minutes south of Grindavík where the lagoon was located, it wasn’t the spot for her. At doing her research of Iceland before setting off into the wild blue yonder… she’d seen that there were vast expanses of green craggy hills, waterfalls, slags of ice to be seen floating in the ocean, and she expected some exotic land—not an urban, bustling city like Reykjavik.

  She had made a tactical mistake for noobs by not plotting her trip. Flying by the seat of her pants had always made her feel a bit more relaxed, and it was insane to her to plot out her life, her locations, and her timeframes based on convenience. She thrived in chaos, and that was part of what drew her here.

  New travelers always picked a big city because it was ‘safe’—and she’d been globe-trotting for several years now. She was hoping for whale watching, one lane roads, and to see the people in their habitat… not sitting in a café waiting on her grilled cheese sandwich, unsure which route to take. Shoving a pen behind her ear, she spread the magazine open once again, staring at the map.

  She was definitely spending the afternoon at the lagoon and would use the hotel as her ‘
base’ to travel from. Each day, she would check out a new location and scout about the shops, meet the people, and sample local cuisines. She almost wrote the post about the nosy, arrogant man, but then recognized that it was a chance to think about him again. She deleted the draft immediately, rewriting it.

  Penny always seemed to have a thing for brown eyes and heavy accents. She sighed heavily and shook her head, flipping over another pamphlet.

  “Godan daginn,” a warm voice interrupted and Penny winced, knowing exactly who was standing beside her table. “I hope you are enjoying Grindavík and in a better mood?”

  “I was.”

  “I see.”

  “Somehow, I’m thinking you don’t,” she admitted sweetly, gathering up her pamphlets. The man made her nervous and there was something about him that made her insides perk up—she just couldn’t decide if it was in a good way or a bad way. After the Justin-debacle, she didn’t trust her instincts and had sworn off relationships period…

  “You should see the lagoon.”

  “There’s a table over there that is empty,” Penny countered, only to see him grin and pull the chair opposite of her out, promptly taking a seat.

  “…Or you could sit down and I could leave.”

  “Did you buy a ticket yet?” he asked simply, tapping the pamphlet. One golden brown eyebrow arched questioningly. Penny hoped her face didn’t show her dismay. She hadn’t bought one yet—and now wondered if there was a backlog on them.

  She’d missed a few tours over the years because of her lack of planning, and it would be a shame to miss out on this. A geothermal hot tub, free silica facemasks, drinks, and all located in a beautiful setting… oh yes, the lagoon checked off every box on her list.

  “Not yet—and it’s none of your business.”

  “Would you like a ticket?”

  “From you? No, I’m good.”

  “I happen to have a premium package ticket that includes a drink at the LAVA bar downstairs.”

  Penny glared at him, squinting her eyes. She hadn’t bought the ticket yet because she was freakin’ cheap as the day was long, part of the reason she took on the moniker of ‘Penny Pincher’. She knew that ticket was pricey, at least thirty euros more than the others. To get in free, to be able to write about the ‘fancy-schmancy’ experience at the generous gift of one of the locals, would really tug at the heartstrings of some of her readers.

  “What’s in it for you? I suppose you want company for it or a date? Is that the reason you mentioned the drink? Is this a pickup line? Are you following me, buddy?”

  “Nope,” he said with a smile. “But if you are asking me out, I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

  “I’m not asking you out, Ikea.”

  “It’s Jon—and you are…?” he prompted immediately.

  “The rude American, remember?”

  “How could I forget?” he answered glibly with a grin. To her surprise, he set the expensive ticket down between them and pushed it towards her, not looking away. “Just enjoy the city and your visit here.”

  “First dinner, then I see you in the park, and now this? Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we are strangers and it’s weird to be gifting people stuff like that for no reason. No one does stuff like this without some ulterior motive-so spill it! Are you a stalker? A murderer? Do you want to wear my skin like in the movies or something creepy like that? Out with the details, Ikea…”

  “While you are very pretty, you are also very wary,” he chuckled, rising to his feet. “I am trying to be nice with no ulterior motives. You look like a tourist with all those pamphlets around and I thought I might help you out. I’d suggest visiting this one tomorrow,” Jon said calmly, leaning over the table and pulling a bright glossy ad out of the stack and setting it on top with finality. He tapped it several times as if to punctuate his statement.

  “The weather is supposed to be nice and it would be a perfect day.”

  “Are you a travel agent?” Penny blurted out, eyeing him.

  “No.”

  “Do you get a kick-back?”

  “You have some very strange ideas. Have a good day, rude American.”

  “You could stop calling me that anytime now,” she muttered as he walked off. She snatched up the pamphlet, opening it up and looking inside as she avoided picking up the ticket he’d left on the table for her.

  “You could tell me your name?”

  “Yep. You are definitely stalker-material. Goodbye, Ikea—have a glorious life, and thank you for the suggestions.”

  “Enjoy the lagoon,” he retorted with a smile.

  “I’m not going,” she replied in a singsong voice, trying to keep from looking at the mysterious man where he stood… and failing miserably. He was wearing a green polo shirt and khaki pants that made his eyes look even more intense than they already appeared. A light sweater was draped over his arm and she couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t wear a watch or a wedding ring.

  Her face flushed at the realization.

  Curses! Penny thought, kicking herself. You are a bloomin’ fool!

  “It would be a shame to waste the ticket,” Jon countered, shrugging. He put his hand on the door and looked back at her, his rich brown eyes meeting hers, and her insides flip-flop mercilessly.

  “Give it to someone who would like it then,” he mumbled, leaving the building. She sat there for several minutes, almost expecting him to walk back in and demanding her name or phone number. The café hummed around her and yet, he didn’t return.

  …But a pang of regret did.

  She’d been rude to him twice—and he’d been nothing but polite the two times she’d talked to him. He could have confronted her in the park but didn’t. It was just how he’d been eavesdropping that had set her off initially—and the fact that she didn’t really care for clingy, possessive guys.

  This guy was a little different though, and she was recognizing it. Ikea/Jon swooped in, confronted or challenged her, parried wits, and then left to fight another day.

  It was a little unnerving that he kept showing up in different places, and she wondered idly if he was stalking her after all. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had followed her in a city, and she could certainly defend herself… but there was something about Jon that was like being sucker-punched. Maybe she was actually being rude, and she was going about this all wrong?

  Glancing down at the pamphlet, she smiled, and felt a blossom of happiness bloom in her chest. There was a small tour that took tourists to the islands of Akureyri and Lundey where the puffin colonies thrived. She adored penguins and puffins! They were so cute, cuddly, and sweet looking with their bright orange beaks. As a child, she’d always loved going to the zoo, but this was visiting animals in their habitat with no windows, fences, or cages between them—and right up her alley!

  Spa this afternoon and puffins tomorrow? she mused, flipping over the paperwork and checking the hours. Oh yes! This trip was definitely lifting her soul, and just what she needed.

  Slipping several euros under her coffee cup, she gathered up the pamphlets and slipped the ticket into her wallet. Penny admittedly lied—she would absolutely use the ticket to get into the lagoon and was on her way back to the hotel to cash in on it immediately.

  Lounging in the Lagoon

  Now many of you might say, “Penny, that’s expensive and so out of character!” but I can tell you that every single girl in this world is entitled to a day of pampering and luxury at some point in their lives—mine was a gift from a very kind citizen here in town. A very unexpected and truly welcomed gift, I might say...

  Before dipping into the Blue Lagoon—a little history at first. The Lagoon is not a natural hot spring like I had originally thought. The water originates from over 2000 meters below the surface and is brought upwards by a power plant that is nearby. The milky-white color of the fluid is from rich minerals, algae, and silica… and feels incredible. Let me reiterate that for you one
more time in case you didn’t catch it:

  Ahhhhhh-mazing.

  So, ladies—before entering the water? Wet your hair down in the nearby showers, use lots of conditioner and leave it on! Slap those strands into a bun! You can thank me later when you aren’t cursing your sticky locks later for days on end.

  Now, the premium package is well worth the money (thank you, my benefactor!) because I could enjoy the full use of the facilities. Lockers, towels, spa masks, and a complimentary robe—I even enjoyed a complimentary cocktail to boost my nerves at entering the massive pool, in public, in a swimsuit.

  Don’t worry about your love handles, Kankles, or cellulite, because you are about to see more skin than ever before… Kick that shyness to the curb and embrace your womanhood because everyone else here does! Iceland has some brave people when it comes to skin and temperatures. I wasn’t cold and was definitely the most conservative in my one-piece black swimsuit with a skirt on it (I know; I know!).

  Now, I’m off to relax in my room and read up on my excursion to visit the puffins tomorrow. Please take a moment to like & subscribe to my blog. Click below to enjoy a few photos.

  Yours truly,

  ~ Penny Pincher

  Chapter 5

  4

  Ægisgarður

  This was crazy!

  Jon looked around nervously, as he stood at the back of the tour office waiting and hoping she would show up. The American woman had accused him of stalking her and now here he was, doing that very thing.

  She was incredible, and the spark of fire to her spirit had him utterly enchanted. There was something about her that was so different, so invigorating, and it made him want to know more about her.

  When he’d seen her at the café, Jon immediately stepped inside, knowing that he’d made a bad first impression and wanting to rectify it. Her auburn hair was falling into her face and the way she tucked it back, made his toes curl. He wondered if those fiery locks were as soft as they appeared. The tiny ear that held the pencil looked so delicate; the sweet frown and pursed lips made him wish she’d smile for a moment.