The boat sailing was fun. After Gabriel showed me the Medici Fountain which was apparently really famous and twenty white marble statues of French queens and other important women from France which I enjoyed seeing, a text came through telling us that lunch would be served in the picnic area.
When we arrived, the guests we’d seen earlier at the rooftop were gathering around the Love Alchemists who were distributing little picnic baskets. Once we’d got ours, we found a spot to lay everything out.
‘You said that a picnic would be a good idea!’ I said to Gabriel. ‘And it’s great that they’ve given us a blanket. You wouldn’t want to get grass stains on those cream shorts.’
‘I am sure it will be fine,’ Gabriel said as he laid down the blanket then opened the basket.
Just looking at the food inside made my mouth water. There was an assortment of cold meats including ham, slices of what looked like roast chicken, salads and dessert.
They’d even provided juices, mineral water, glasses and real plates and cutlery. I was quickly realising that the Love Hotel always went the extra mile.
After arranging everything on the blanket, I poured Gabriel a glass of water and a glass of OJ for myself, then we got stuck in.
‘We should take a photo together, before we finish the food,’ Gabriel suggested.
‘Good point,’ I said.
‘I know this is not a first date, but for the purposes of the photo, perhaps it would be better if you were not sitting so far away.’ Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
I’d positioned myself at the edge of the blanket at the farthest point to create as much distance as possible between us.
‘Um… okay.’
A wasp started buzzing around the leftovers on my plate and I jumped. Ever since I’d got stung on the arse when I was a teenager, I’d hated them.
I quickly moved over to Gabriel’s side of the blanket, glad to escape the threat.
Gabriel pulled out his phone and angled it in the air with one hand as he held up his glass with the other.
‘You should get your glass too,’ Gabriel suggested.
Given the circumstances, I didn’t feel like we should really be toasting anything. But seeing as we were here and needed to complete the tasks, I reached for my glass cautiously, trying to avoid the wasp that was buzzing dangerously close to it.
After grabbing my drink, I returned to Gabriel’s side, plastered on a smile, then held up my glass.
‘To Paris,’ Gabriel said. At least he hadn’t made a toastto us.
‘To Paris,’ I said, clinking my glass with his.
But just as he started taking photos, a loud buzzing surrounded me and the wasp landed on the hand that was holding my drink.
‘Shit!’ I jumped, tossing my hand in the air to shake it off, sending the glass flying.
I started running around like a lunatic, batting the air and squealing as I tried to escape the wasp who seemed hellbent on following me. I must’ve looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. There was no way I was getting bitten on the butt again.
Not today, stinging Satan.
‘It has gone,’ Gabriel said.
‘Are you sure?’ I called out.
‘Certain.’
I paused, then scanned my body to see if there was any sign of it hovering. The buzzing had definitely stopped.
‘Oh, thank God,’ I said, my shoulders instantly loosening.
But when I looked over at Gabriel, I winced.
