Love Like Theirs

by Sophie Love

  Milo followed Keira inside. At the reception desk, Keira checked in, collected her key, then wheeled her case along the corridor to her new room. It was lovely inside, a small room decorated with dark green wallpaper and walnut-wood furniture. She deposited her case against the wall, where black-and-white images depicting horse-drawn trams hung.

  “Come on, history nerd,” Keira said to Milo. “When did the tram system stop being horse drawn?”

  “It was electrified in 1901,” he said, without missing a beat.

  Keira laughed. Milo looked pleased with himself.

  “There’ll be plenty more facts for you when we do the tour today,” he added. “Today is all about Vikings.”

  “It is?” Keira said. That was the first she’d heard of it.

  Milo grinned his mischievous grin. “Yes. And in fact, we’d better hurry.” He checked his watch. “The minivan will be here in a few minutes!”

  Minivan? Keira thought as she followed him, bemused, out of the room.

  They left the B&B together. It was a gray, cold day, and Keira fiddled with the belt of her jacket. Milo didn’t wait for her. He rushed ahead, all the way to the end of the narrow street to a small square of grass that had nothing more than a bench upon it. And there, parked beside the green, to Keira’s utter surprise, was a minivan with the Swedish flag emblazoned across it.

  “What on earth…” Keira muttered.

  From the van’s open doors, Milo waved, beckoning her eagerly to hurry. Keira jammed her cold hands deeply into her pockets and strode over to join him.

  “What is going on?” she asked, surprised and amused in equal parts.

  “We’re going on a Viking tour!” Milo said enthusiastically. “It’s just a short trip, but it will take us to some of the most important places of Viking significance around the outskirts of Stockholm.”

  “You mean to say you’re leaving the touring up to someone else?” Keira joked. “But surely you already know all the facts?”

  “Oh, I do,” he said, grinning. “But I never get tired of it. Anyway… surprise!”

  Keira felt the side of her mouth twitch up. Milo was… well, a bit zany. But she liked it. She liked his unapologetic enthusiasm for all things historic. He had a strong sense of self, and something about that was incredibly appealing.

  He stepped up on board and Keira laughed to herself before following. Deep down inside her stomach, she had a feeling that today was going to be a very strange day indeed!

  *

  The minivan headed north, leaving the bustling city behind and venturing out into the natural beauty of the Swedish countryside. Which, of course, was the perfect time for the weather to turn drizzly and the windows to fog up.

  “Welcome aboard,” their guide said. He was precisely the gray-haired, corduroy-clad man she’d been expecting Milo to be back in the museum. “The first stop on our Viking tour is the town of Täby. Here, we’ll take a brief stop to look at the ancient stone circles, at the sight of Viking parliament.”

  Keira looked over at Milo, whose eyebrows shot up with excitement. She couldn’t help but laugh. The way he got excited about history reminded her of a Labrador being thrown its favorite ball.

  After a short time, the minibus slowed to a halt. Keira defogged the window with her sleeve and peered out. Far from being the sparse country village she’d been expecting, Täby was a modern, bustling town, filled with new architecture. Keira couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. It seemed as if all the history had been eradicated.

  “Where’s all the Viking stuff?” she asked Milo.

  “Oh, it’s coming,” he said eagerly. “Just you wait!”

  They exited the bus and followed their guide across the muddy ground toward a lake. Surrounding it, in a circular route, were several stones, each one approximately four feet high. It was, Keira had to admit, pretty awesome. Each rock had its own unique, intricate patterns and letterings carved into it. The whole area felt very mystical. Milo, of course, was over-awed.

  “Aren’t they just spectacular?” he enthused.

  “Do you know what they’re for?” she asked.

  “They’re signposts,” he explained. “They list all the architectural achievements of Viking elders. Sort of huge proclamations.”

  “You mean like, ‘hey, I built a bridge’?” Keira asked.

  “Precisely!” Milo said. “Jarlabanke Bridge, to be exact.” He pointed ahead to a small, crumbling stone bridge. “It’s nine hundred years old!”

  He said it like it was the most incredible thing in the world, and Keira couldn’t help but grin.

  Together, they followed the circuitous route, taking in each of the ancient stones as well as two small churches on the way. It was quite a small site, and they were back at the bus in less than half an hour.

  They climbed back on, grateful to be out of the drizzle, and headed on to their next location; an archaic Viking settlement called Granby.

  “This settlement dates back to 400 AD,” Milo told Keira as they pulled up in Granby.

  Just a moment later, the tour guide said exactly the same thing. Keira laughed, thoroughly amused.

  They left the warmth of the bus for another whistle-stop tour of crumbling stone monuments, dilapidated buildings, and tiny pathways. It was, in Keira’s opinion, a little underwhelming, especially since the rain made it difficult to see, and the mud slopped at her ankles. But Milo’s extreme levels of enthusiasm made up for it, and she couldn’t help but get swept up into the moment with him.

  Their next stop was a gorgeous little church called Orkesta Kyrka. Inside were some beautiful murals.

  “When were these painted then?” Keira whispered to Milo. She was certain he couldn’t possibly know such an obtuse fact.

  “Twelfth century,” he whispered back.

  “The frescoes you see here have been preserved since the twelfth century,” their guide then announced.

  Keira shook her head in disbelief.

  The bus traveled on through some gorgeous countryside before stopping at Sweden’s oldest town, Sigtuna. It was a beautiful place, filled with tiny streets, boutique stores, and, of course, Viking relics. Milo whizzed around like a kid in a candy store.

  Keira caught sight of a gift store that was stocked with traditionally silly Viking memorabilia.

  “Can we go inside?” she asked Milo.

  “Of course,” he replied, looking almost confused that she’d even ask.

  Keira went first, Milo following. The store was warm, which was a welcome relief from the icy rain, and very small. It took them about two seconds to peruse the shelves. The store stocked a combination of typical gift-shop stuff—erasers, pencils, and keychains—as well as some more elaborate touristy things.

  “My mom would love this,” Keira joked, putting a Viking hat on. She looked at herself in the small mirror. She looked ridiculous!

  “You should get her one for Christmas,” Milo suggested.

  He took one from the shelf and placed it on his head. Side by side in the mirror, they looked thoroughly absurd, and Keira couldn’t stop laughing. In the end, she bought not just one hat, but three, so she and Milo could wear one each, and she could take one home to Mallory.

  They headed back to the bus in their matching Viking hats. Their tour guide raised his eyebrows in disdain when he saw them. He was the type of serious man who’d never be seen dead in such a silly item of headwear, Keira thought. The complete opposite of Milo, who had a sense of humor and didn’t take himself particularly seriously at all.

  “Would you like me to drop you off at the hotel?” the tour guide asked.

  “Please,” Keira said.

  “Actually,” Milo said, addressing Keira, “I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner? And just to be crystal clear, it would be a date.”

  Keira couldn’t help but laugh at his complete transparency. She had to admit, their whole day had practically been a date. From the moment he’d appeared outside the boat this mo
rning, they’d been on their first date. It would be stupid to pretend otherwise.

  Yet still, with it made so blatant, Keira hesitated. There was no way of tricking herself into believing it was for work or research purposes. This time, dinner with Milo would be solely for romance.

  Is it a rebound? she wondered. Was she setting herself up for disappointment? But then, how would she ever know if she didn’t take the chance?

  “I’d like that a lot,” Keira said finally.

  “Great.” Milo grinned.

  As they got back on the bus, she swallowed hard. The decision had been made. There was no turning back now.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  After they’d driven back to Stockholm, the minivan pulled up outside a very fancy-looking restaurant.

  “This isn’t where we’re going, is it?” Keira asked Milo.

  “Yes,” he said. “Is that okay?”

  Other than the fact that they were arriving in a gaudy van with the bright Swedish flag on the side, Keira had rain-drenched hair and mud-splattered clothes.

  “Um, I would’ve liked to have gotten changed first,” she admitted. “It looks quite fancy!”

  Milo shrugged. “Fancy? Not really. It’s a famous restaurant but it’s not particularly posh. You can head back to the hotel to change if you want.”

  Keira peered out at the rain and the darkening gray sky. She sighed. “No, it’s okay.”

  They left the van, thanking their guide for the wonderful trip, and headed inside the restaurant. Keira self-consciously smoothed down her frizzy flyaway hairs as they stepped inside.

  She relaxed a little once she was inside. Milo was right, the restaurant had a very relaxed vibe. It wasn’t just lots of couples in fancy clothes on dates, but instead, groups of loud, chatty friends. She noticed also that almost everyone was eating meatballs.

  “Is this place famous for its meatballs?” she asked Milo, suddenly enthusiastic. “I haven’t eaten any yet.”

  “Well then, you’re going to love it! This place has the reputation for the best meatballs in Sweden.”

  They were shown to a table by a server who handed them a menu that listed five different meatball dishes and nothing more. Keira opted for the meatballs in cream sauce, while Milo chose a tomato sauce.

  “Do you drink wine?” Milo asked.

  Keira nodded, though she was anxious to drink in his company. Her last few experiences with alcohol had been a little messy. And wine reminded her too much of Cristiano. She didn’t want any comparisons.

  “Actually, is there a traditional Swedish alcohol I could try?” she asked.

  “Brännvin,” Milo told her.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s pretty much vodka. But it’s flavored with herbs.”

  Keira wasn’t sure vodka was a better option than wine, but she did want an authentic experience. “I’ll have that.”

  Milo seemed surprised with her boldness, but he ordered two glasses nonetheless.

  “So, I’m aware I haven’t really asked you anything more for my article,” Keira said, leaning across the table. “I’ve gotten a bit caught up in the moment.”

  Milo chuckled. “Well, may I ask that you don’t start now? We’re on a date, remember. Strictly no work conversation.”

  “Oh, wow, okay,” Keira replied, giggling and holding her hands up in a truce position. “But I don’t know what else to talk about other than my work. My job is my life!”

  “What about your family?” Milo suggested. “You’ve mentioned a sister and a mom. Are you close?”

  “We are,” Keira nodded. “It’s only ever been the three of us. I mean, we wind each other up a lot, but we have each other’s backs. Most the time. What about you? Are you close to your family?”

  “I am,” he said, nodding. “We’re all massive nerds, which helps. My dad, Nils, loves to travel. He’s been all over the world, and our house is full of cultural artifacts from far flung countries. My mom, Yolanta, is a union representative. Her life is politics and protests and workers’ rights.”

  “She sounds awesome.”

  “She is,” he confirmed, nodding. “They both are. And my sister is like the smartest woman in the world.”

  Keira could tell just from the way his eyes twinkled as he spoke that he loved his family very dearly.

  “I have a question for you,” he said then.

  “Oh?” Keira asked.

  “Why were you digging in the trash?”

  Keira let out a loud, embarrassed giggle. “I can’t say. It’s work related.”

  “I can waive that rule for this one specific thing,” Milo replied, laughing.

  Keira could feel her cheeks getting pink. She really didn’t want to bring up the cover. But this was Milo. There was no reason to feel self-conscious in front of a self-professed nerd.

  “My magazine was on sale in the coffee shop and I didn’t want you to see it, so I bought all the copies and threw them in the trash.”

  He looked at her, bemused. “Then you changed your mind and wanted to get them back out?”

  Keira sighed. “No. I wanted to rip them up. Because…” She squirmed in her seat. “Well, I’m on the front cover.”

  Milo’s eyes widened instantly. “Really?” he exclaimed. “Haha! That’s amazing! I have to see this.”

  Keira buried her face in her hands. “No, no, no. It’s so embarrassing. I’m posing with my ex. It’s this black-and-white Parisian movie theme.”

  “Ah, now I get it,” Milo commented. “You didn’t want me to see your ex.”

  Keira peered out her fingers. “No.”

  “Why? Was he grotesque?”

  “No!” Keira laughed. “It just ended quite abruptly and it’s still painful.”

  “Can I ask what happened?”

  Keira didn’t really want to address this topic with Milo, but he asked so politely and seemed so genuine she felt herself opening up. “It was moving too fast. He proposed. I said no. I wasn’t ready to settle down yet.”

  “Wow,” Milo replied. “I’m so sorry. That must have been a very tough breakup.”

  Keira realized there wasn’t even the smallest hint of jealousy in his tone. She felt herself relaxing even more. “It was… an intense relationship. It came off the back of another romance—a boyfriend who broke it off suddenly when his father passed. So I thought he was a rebound but I fell for him hard. And then it ended too. It’s been emotionally very taxing.”

  “It sounds like your heart has been through a lot,” Milo said. “Is that why you hesitated when I asked for a date?”

  She nodded, slowly, cautiously. She wasn’t sure how much she should be telling him. “Let’s just say it’s been a crazy year for me. Everything’s changed. Work. Home. Partner. Everything.”

  “I’ll try not to be too pushy then,” Milo said. “Which will be hard, because I like you a lot.”

  Keira blushed. His candidness still took her by surprise. “I like you too,” she admitted.

  Just then, their meatballs and vodka arrived, putting a natural end to the conversation, much to Keira’s relief. The food looked and smelled amazing, and she licked her lips in anticipation. Milo picked up his little shot glass.

  “Let’s toast to the future,” he said. “And whatever she may hold.”

  Keira, feeling suddenly overwhelmed with possibilities, raised her glass and clinked it against his. “To the future.”

  In unison, they downed their vodka shots.

  *

  A Viking tour and dinner weren’t the only surprises Milo had for Keira. After eating, he suggested yet another location.

  “The ice bar,” he said. “Have you ever been?”

  Keira felt a little merry from the vodka shot. “No. Is it cold?”

  He gave her a look as if to say the answer to her question ought to have been obvious. “Yes, it’s cold,” he confirmed. “I mean, it’s a bar made of ice. The clue is in the name! But they’ll give us thick coats to wear.”
r />   Keira was feeling adventurous, so she threw caution to the wind and agreed.

  They arrived at the ice bar and were given fur-lined ponchos and gloves to wear. For the second time that day, the two of them looked utterly ridiculous together. But Keira didn’t care. Looking like a fool in front of Milo didn’t concern her at all.

  Once dressed, they were led down a staircase into a dark room. Keira gasped. Not just because of how freezing it was, but because of how stunningly beautiful the interior was. There were ice sculptures everywhere. Chandeliers made of ice. Ice fountains. And even the tables and chairs were made of ice.

  “Would you like a drink?” Milo asked.

  “I’ll get them,” Keira said boldly.

  She went up to the ice bar and ordered two vodka cocktails, then returned to their ice table and handed Milo his. Just as they had in the restaurant, they clinked their glasses together before downing the shot in unison. Keira remember the shot she’d shared with Rob at Shelby’s party, and realized how utterly opposite this experience was with Milo. Here, she felt completely at ease. Milo wasn’t the type of guy who’d accuse her of leading her on, of flirting, of owing him something. He was smart and gentle and easygoing. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man.

  She felt the warm alcohol worming into her stomach. The contract between the freezing environment and burning alcohol was quite interesting.

  “Thank you for today,” she said, leaning into Milo, feeling confident from the liquor. “It’s been a really great day.”

  “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself. Thanks for letting my inner geek go wild.”

  Keira laughed. Milo seemed to have a way about him that made her feel carefree. There was no pretence with him, no image he was trying to project. He was just himself, and it felt very appealing.