I contemplated taking photos, but decided to just enjoy the moment.
Throughout the journey Gabriel didn’t speak. Part of me had expected him to try and persuade me to reconsider my decision to date him, but he didn’t.
He was respecting my decision and giving me my space, which was certainly welcomed, given how close we were in this car.
I was sitting on the right-hand side of the back seat, whilst he was on the left. But even with the space between us in the middle, it still felt too close for comfort.
‘We have arrived,’ Daphné’s voiced boomed from a speaker I hadn’t even noticed. Once the car stopped, Daphné opened my door.
‘Merci,’ I said as I stepped out. It was so weird having someone open and close doors for me, but I knew this was all part of the hotel’s five-star service and I appreciated it. ‘What is this place?’ I asked as I joined Gabriel on the pavement.
‘This is Jardin du Luxembourg or Luxembourg Gardens,’ Gabriel said, before thanking Daphné, then leading me towards the park’s entrance.
‘Oh, wow, this is beautiful!’ I said, as we stepped through the gates and took in the sight of the lush landscaped gardens with their immaculate lawns and colourful flowerbeds.
‘Gabriel? Laila?’ Lisette, the Love Alchemist, called out.
‘Salut,’ Gabriel greeted her.
‘You arrived quickly!’ She smiled. ‘Here.’ She handed us two booklets. ‘These are your Love Passports. Everything should be easy to follow, but if you have any questions, please call me. All of the Love Alchemists’ numbers are on the message that was sent to your phone earlier. We will meet for lunch at 12.30. The details will be sent to your phones half an hour before.’
‘Okay,’ I said, thinking how well organised everything seemed to be.
‘Enjoy!’ Lisette said, before greeting another couple who’d just arrived.
‘So,’ Gabriel said. ‘We do not have very long. We should decide on what activities we will do that we can photograph.’
I swallowed hard. They weren’t just ‘activities’. They had to beromanticactivities.
‘Honestly, I have no idea,’ I shrugged. ‘It’s my first time here, so I don’t even know what there is to do.’
‘Tu as raison,’ he nodded. ‘Come. Let us sit.’
We passed a large pond opposite what looked like a palace. There was a crowd of people gathered around it as they used a long stick to control tiny little wooden boats across the water.
‘This is the Grand Bassin.’ Gabriel pointed to the pond. ‘Sailing the handmade toy boats has been a tradition here for almost one hundred years. And that building over there is the Luxembourg Palace.’ He pointed towards the grand stone building.
We sat at a green metal table with matching chairs. There were already men and women of all ages sitting around us either reading a book, drinking coffee or just people watching.
‘Have you been here a lot?’ I asked.
‘Many times. It is one of my favourite parks in Paris.’
‘Cool,’ I replied awkwardly, not sure what to say next.
‘I have thought of an idea for our activity,’ he said.
‘Yeah?’
‘I do not know what the hotel has planned for lunch, but if I was coming here for a date, I would arrange a picnic. They have a special area for them. So perhaps we can take a photo together on the grass with whatever food we have later?’
A picnicdidsound romantic.
‘Good idea,’ I agreed, racking my brain to think of other romantic things someone might do in a park. ‘Maybe we could just… take normal photos of us observing things? You could show me your favourite parts and take photos of whatever is interesting? I think that’s the most logical thing. I mean, if this was a real first date, which of course it isn’t, it’s not like we’d be holding hands or kissing.’
Tingles shot up my spine and I chastised my body for reacting just because I’d mentioned the word ‘kissing’.Honestly.
‘You are right. We should not overthink it. But first, we will sail a boat.’
