It
was time to get out of here.
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
94
He made his way downstairs, and they left the house
without being noticed. Once outside, Lance started walking,
Jakob in one arm and the travel bag slung across his other
shoulder. They wouldn’t make it very far like this, so he
pulled out his cell and called the taxi service they’d used
before. At least everyone here spoke English.
By the time they got into the car and the driver asked
for their destination, Lance had figured out a basic plan.
They needed a hotel for the night, and the best source of
information was the taxi driver, since Lance had no idea
what hotel to go for. There were bound to be lots of tourists
in Stockholm for the Midsummer Eve celebrations, so most
of them were bound to be fully booked.
He was pleasantly surprised when the driver informed
him that most Swedish people celebrated outside the city
and that drew most tourists away from the city. He
suggested they try the largest hotel in Stockholm, because
they’d almost certainly have at least one room available.
Once that was settled, Lance leaned back into the
comfortable seat of the taxi, his right arm tight around
Jakob’s shoulders. The boy had finally stopped sobbing
when they had gotten into the car and now snuggled into
Lance’s side, eyes closed and breathing more or less quietly.
Hearing Sigrid propose to Magnus, all self-assured of his
acceptance, had been bad enough. The points in her favor—a
career in Magnus’s scientific field and the approval of
Magnus’s parents—were massive. The lack of a reaction from
Magnus had been devastating, and when Sigrid started
belittling Jakob, Lance had had enough. Yes, Magnus had
reacted, but it was too little too late as far as Lance was
concerned.
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
95
Not sure about anything anymore, he hoped the night
away would give him some time to think things through. The
hotel wasn’t too far away from the Skansen Open Air
Museum where they had planned to attend the festivities on
Friday. He suspected that Jakob could do with a distraction,
and having some fun might be good for Lance as well.
The Clarion Hotel Sign was an impressive building. Its
ten floors had a glass and black granite exterior, and Lance
was glad he had his credit card with him. This was not going
to be cheap.
Luckily, there still was a room left, even if it was an
expensive suite. Lance couldn’t get himself to care. He wasn’t
going to sleep in the street. They made their way upstairs
and quickly settled in for the night. Jakob was bone tired
and was asleep before Lance could slip on the boy’s pajamas.
Once Jakob was safely tucked into the double bed, Lance
took care of his own needs. He took a quick shower and put
on a pair of clean shorts and a T-shirt. He didn’t have any
pajamas, since he normally slept in the nude.
When he lay down next to Jakob, there was a soft
rustling sound from under his pillow, and a sweet fragrance
tickled his nostrils. He lifted his head to check under the
pillow and found a small bouquet of several types of dried
flowers, including mistletoe. Apparently the hotel believed in
old traditions. Lance smiled. He was pretty sure he was too
tired to dream. He put the pillow back, leaving the bouquet
in place.
The next morning came much too quickly. Lance didn’t
want to wake up from his dream, where everything was all
right and he was in Magnus’s arms. Lance opened his eyes
with a start. He’d dreamed about Magnus. His lover would
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
96
tell him off for believing in yet another superstition. Lance
thought it was a good sign anyway.
What was he going to do? He was no closer to a decision
than he’d been last night. He was still torn between his love
for Magnus and his need to be recognized as his partner.
Was that external recognition really that important?
was time to get out of here.
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
94
He made his way downstairs, and they left the house
without being noticed. Once outside, Lance started walking,
Jakob in one arm and the travel bag slung across his other
shoulder. They wouldn’t make it very far like this, so he
pulled out his cell and called the taxi service they’d used
before. At least everyone here spoke English.
By the time they got into the car and the driver asked
for their destination, Lance had figured out a basic plan.
They needed a hotel for the night, and the best source of
information was the taxi driver, since Lance had no idea
what hotel to go for. There were bound to be lots of tourists
in Stockholm for the Midsummer Eve celebrations, so most
of them were bound to be fully booked.
He was pleasantly surprised when the driver informed
him that most Swedish people celebrated outside the city
and that drew most tourists away from the city. He
suggested they try the largest hotel in Stockholm, because
they’d almost certainly have at least one room available.
Once that was settled, Lance leaned back into the
comfortable seat of the taxi, his right arm tight around
Jakob’s shoulders. The boy had finally stopped sobbing
when they had gotten into the car and now snuggled into
Lance’s side, eyes closed and breathing more or less quietly.
Hearing Sigrid propose to Magnus, all self-assured of his
acceptance, had been bad enough. The points in her favor—a
career in Magnus’s scientific field and the approval of
Magnus’s parents—were massive. The lack of a reaction from
Magnus had been devastating, and when Sigrid started
belittling Jakob, Lance had had enough. Yes, Magnus had
reacted, but it was too little too late as far as Lance was
concerned.
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
95
Not sure about anything anymore, he hoped the night
away would give him some time to think things through. The
hotel wasn’t too far away from the Skansen Open Air
Museum where they had planned to attend the festivities on
Friday. He suspected that Jakob could do with a distraction,
and having some fun might be good for Lance as well.
The Clarion Hotel Sign was an impressive building. Its
ten floors had a glass and black granite exterior, and Lance
was glad he had his credit card with him. This was not going
to be cheap.
Luckily, there still was a room left, even if it was an
expensive suite. Lance couldn’t get himself to care. He wasn’t
going to sleep in the street. They made their way upstairs
and quickly settled in for the night. Jakob was bone tired
and was asleep before Lance could slip on the boy’s pajamas.
Once Jakob was safely tucked into the double bed, Lance
took care of his own needs. He took a quick shower and put
on a pair of clean shorts and a T-shirt. He didn’t have any
pajamas, since he normally slept in the nude.
When he lay down next to Jakob, there was a soft
rustling sound from under his pillow, and a sweet fragrance
tickled his nostrils. He lifted his head to check under the
pillow and found a small bouquet of several types of dried
flowers, including mistletoe. Apparently the hotel believed in
old traditions. Lance smiled. He was pretty sure he was too
tired to dream. He put the pillow back, leaving the bouquet
in place.
The next morning came much too quickly. Lance didn’t
want to wake up from his dream, where everything was all
right and he was in Magnus’s arms. Lance opened his eyes
with a start. He’d dreamed about Magnus. His lover would
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect | Serena Yates
96
tell him off for believing in yet another superstition. Lance
thought it was a good sign anyway.
What was he going to do? He was no closer to a decision
than he’d been last night. He was still torn between his love
for Magnus and his need to be recognized as his partner.
Was that external recognition really that important?
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