My stomach plummeted.
Juliette
So? How was your dinner? How is your match?
Is he handsome? Send pics if you can!
I let out a groan, then showed Claude my screen.
‘Thisis why I need another match!’
‘I understand your concerns,’ Claude said as he studied the messages, ‘but I still believe you should give Gabriel a chance. Please trust our matchmakers – they know what they are doing. He is handsome, successful and although I have only spent a limited amount of time with him, I have a good radar for arseholes and Gabriel does not seem to be one.’
‘Not an arsehole?’ A small smile touched my lips, giving my face a welcome break from the scowling I’d done since seeing Gabriel. ‘Sounds like something he could add to his CV!’
‘I do not think Gabriel will be needing a CV any time soon.’
He was self-employed so that was true. I wondered how his app was doing, but it was irrelevant seeing as I couldn’t see him again.
‘This issohard!’ I sighed. ‘I don’t want to do the wrong thing.’
‘Give it a few days. We have lots of fun activities for you to do in Paris. Try them. Spend some time with Gabriel and see how you feel. What do you have to lose?’
‘My best friend!’
‘Perhaps. But it is not wrong to spend time with someone. At the moment you are just two people who will be exploring this beautiful city together. You are not sharing a room or stolen kisses. You are doing nothing wrong.’
That was true.
I’d come all this way, I should at least try to see how we get on, right? I wouldn’t cross any lines. It could just be purely platonic.
Considering I’d come here looking for love, it wasn’t ideal. But it’d been ages since I’d dated or slept with anyone, so it wasn’t like I’d miss not having that intimacy.
If I left now, Juliette wouldn’t get a refund, so surely it’d be best not to waste her money.
Plus, I’d always wanted to visit Paris and now I was here, it’d be a crime to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through my fingers.
If I didn’t get on with Gabriel, I could just go around the city by myself.
When else would I get the chance to spend two weeks in an all-inclusive luxury hotel?
Never.
I’d regret it if I didn’t at least try.
‘Okay.’ I sat up straighter. ‘I’ll give it forty-eight hours. If I’m still not sure by then, can we speak again?’
‘Bien sûr.’ Claude nodded in agreement. ‘You have made an excellent choice.’
‘I hope so. Now I just have to figure out what to say to my friend.’ I stood up.
‘I am sure you will think of something.’
After giving Claude a weak smile, I headed back to my room and was relieved to see a trolley with a silver cloche. I lifted it up and saw my dinner laid out beautifully on a plate. I was glad that Claude had arranged to send up my food rather than cancelling the order completely because I was starving and couldn’t wait to tuck in.
Once I’d devoured the food, I picked up my phone.
It was time to reply to Juliette.
