Chapter 10
LAILA
‘Follow me,’ Claude said as we stepped out into the hotel’s courtyard.
Thankfully, there was no one else out here.
The beautiful space was filled with lush plants and colourful flowers which smelt so sweet, I almost closed my eyes to inhale the scent.
The sound of the water trickling from the elaborate white stone water fountain that was positioned in the centre was incredibly calming and the pretty twinkling fairy lights hanging above us were so romantic.
Under different circumstances I would’ve loved sitting out here with my match, but that wasn’t going to happen now.
We sat on a bench and I wasted no time telling Claude what was wrong.
‘I can’t date Gabriel,’ I said quickly.
‘Because he is your friend’s son?’ Claude replied.
‘So you did hear me!’ I said, surprised that he hadn’t had more of a reaction.
‘I did. But it was not my place to comment.’
‘But you can understand why it’s a problem, though, right? I’d prefer to be matched with someone else, please. It’d make things much less complicated. And I’d asked for someone my own age and not so…’
I wanted to say that I’d prefer a man who didn’t look so insanely hot, but then I’d be admitting to the fact that I found him attractive.
I’d also prefer someone in a customer service role, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker. I actually thought it was brilliant that Gabriel was following his business dreams, but I definitely couldn’t admit that I admired his ambition either, so instead I settled on saying, ‘We’re just not a good match.’
Right now, I wished I could call someone back home and vent about this nightmare. But the friend I’d normally chat with about something like this was the one person I absolutely couldn’t tell.
Juliette was my only real friend. Marjorie and Cordelia were acquaintances that I spent time with when we got together as a group. I didn’t know them well enough to discuss this and even if I could, they’d go straight back and tell Juliette everything.
She was like the sister I never had and a best friend rolled into one. Which made this situation more impossible. Good besties were hard to come by. I couldn’t afford to lose her.
And his age was a big problem. Imagine what Ricky would say if he knew I’d been matched with the friend he used to hang out with? Then again, last time I heard, his dad was going out with a twenty-three-year-old. But everyone knew society judged women differently if they dated younger men.
‘I am afraid that it does not work like that,’ Claude said softly.
‘The matchmakers find one person for you. You have been matched by the experts for a reason. Their success rate is exceptional. That is why there are no rematches or refunds – only for exceptional circumstances. And your match being your friend’s son unfortunately does not qualify. ’
Frustration bubbled in my chest.
What was wrong with everyone?
How could they not see why this was such a big deal?
Claude could be excused because he didn’t know Juliette and how she’d react. But Gabriel should know better than anyone that if his mum got wind of this, it’d be enough to start World War III.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I was going to ignore it but it buzzed again.
It must be Ricky. He always sent a string of messages rather than one, which I never understood. I needed to make sure he was okay.
‘I’m sorry but I have to check my phone. My son’s travelling and he’s just messaged so it must be urgent.’
‘Of course,’ Claude replied.
I took out my phone. But when the message previews flashed on the screen, I saw that it wasn’t Ricky. There were two more texts from Juliette.
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.
‘This is 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 is so hard!’ 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 s?r.’ 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.
Me
Dinner was lovely, but I had to leave the restaurant early. Time of the month. Sigh. I’m back in my room now about to get ready for bed.
There.
Done.
Almost everything I said was true. Dinner was delicious, I did leave early and I was about to get ready for bed. The period thing was a little white lie. No harm done.
My phone chimed.
Juliette
You got your period again? I thought you had it last week and it finished a few days ago?
Shit.
Juliette knew me too well. It was impossible to lie to her.
Juliette
This could be the start of the peri-menopause. When I was going through it, my periods became so irregular. Sometimes I would have none for months and other times I would get two ‘visits’ within weeks. You poor dear.
Rest up and feel better.
Guilt twisted in my gut. I’d lied to her. Juliette was an angel of a friend and I was a terrible person.
But although I felt shitty about lying, if Juliette thought I wasn’t feeling my best, she was less likely to ask about my match. Which meant I’d bought myself at least another day, maybe two, which would tie in well with my decision deadline.
It also meant that I had to make the most of that time, because in just forty-eight hours I’d be heading back home to London.