6. News, Cheese, and a Hedgehog
news, cheese, and a hedgehog
Gabriel
Gabriel woke up to seventeen text messages, twelve Instagram notifications, and the distinct feeling that something had gone horribly right.
He squinted at his phone in the dim light of his bunk. The first text was from Luc:
Luc: Dude. DUDE.
Luc: Have you seen the article???
Luc: Tante élise is losing her mind (in a good way)
Luc: Call me
The second was from Tante élise herself:
Tante élise: Mon chou!!! The Gazette did a feature! You're famous!
Tante élise: Well, more famous
Tante élise: Call your aunt immediately
Gabriel sat up, careful not to bang his head on the bunk above him. Across the polished wood corridor, narrow but well-appointed, Marnie's curtain was still closed.
He opened the article Luc had linked.
"Wine, Cheese, and Romance: Inside Ontario and Quebec's Sweetest Promotional Tour"
The Gazette - Travel & Lifestyle
What started as a simple marketing campaign has turned into the love story Eastern Canada didn't know it needed.
Marnie Cole, 30, marketing manager for Evergreen Estates Winery, and Gabriel Bouchard, 32, fourth-generation cheesemaker from Fromagerie Bouchard, are capturing hearts across social media as they travel through Ontario and Quebec promoting local wine and artisanal cheese.
But it's not just the pairings that have people talking, it's the undeniable chemistry between the two professionals.
From their playful banter in viral TikTok videos to candid behind-the-scenes photos of sunset dinners and late-night grilled cheese sessions, Cole and Bouchard have given their growing fanbase plenty to root for.
"They're like a romcom come to life," says Toronto-based food blogger Jennifer Mills, who attended their Prince Edward County event. "You can feel the tension. Everyone's just waiting for them to admit they're in love."
When asked about their relationship status, representatives for the tour declined to comment, adding fuel to the speculation. The promotional tour continues through Charlevoix and concludes with a livestream event in Tadoussac this weekend.
Gabriel read it twice.
Then he said a word his mother would have washed his mouth out for.
From across the corridor, he heard Marnie's curtain rustle open.
"Gabriel?" Her voice was sleep-rough, confused. "Why is Kayla texting me at six in the morning about damage control?"
He pulled his own curtain back. Marnie was sitting up in her bunk, hair messy, wearing an oversized T-shirt, looking adorably rumpled and increasingly alarmed as she scrolled through her phone.
"There's an article," Gabriel said.
"What kind of article?"
"The kind where they think we're in love."
Her head snapped up. "What?"
"The Gazette. They did a feature on the tour." He forwarded her the link. "It's actually pretty well-written. Good photos."
Marnie opened the article. Gabriel watched her face cycle through several emotions: confusion, horror, frustration, and something that might have been panic.
"This is, we need to, how did they even..." She looked at him. "Gabriel, this is a disaster."
"Is it?"
"Yes! They're saying we're, that we're..."
"A romcom come to life?"
"This isn't funny!"
"It's a little funny."
"It's not!" She climbed out of her bunk, still holding her phone. "We need to issue a correction. A statement. Something."
"Why?"
She stared at him. "Because it's not true."
Gabriel leaned against the doorframe of his bunk. "Isn't it?"
Marnie's expression went carefully blank. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, we do have chemistry. Everyone can see it."
"That's not, chemistry isn't the same as, we're not dating, Gabriel."
"I know."
"Then why aren't you more concerned about this?"
He shrugged. "Because Kayla was right. It's good for the campaign. The Fromagerie Collective is thrilled. Your winery is probably thrilled. And honestly?" He met her eyes. "I don't hate the idea of people thinking I'm with you."
Marnie's cheeks flushed pink. "Gabriel..."
"Marnie!" Kayla burst into the bunk area, phone in hand, looking like she'd had twelve espressos.
"Okay, so this is actually amazing. The PR firm wants us to lean into it.
They're suggesting we do a couples angle for the Tadoussac livestream.
Nothing explicit, just, you know, play up the romance. What do you think?"
"I think we should correct the record," Marnie said firmly.
"Or," Kayla said, "we could ride this wave. The engagement numbers are insane. We've tripled our social media following overnight. People are invested. They want the love story."
"But there is no love story."
Kayla looked between them. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes," Marnie said.
At the same time, Gabriel said, "Maybe."
Marnie's head whipped toward him. "Maybe?"
"I'm just saying, we have fun together. We're good at this. Would it be so terrible to let people think there's something there?"
"Yes! Because when the tour ends and nothing happens, everyone will think we broke up. Or that it was all fake. Or..."
"What if something does happen?" Gabriel asked quietly.
The bus went very still.
Marnie stared at him. "What?"
"I'm just asking. Hypothetically. What if we stopped fighting this and saw where it went?"
"This, there's no this. We're colleagues. This is a professional arrangement."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I have."
Kayla cleared her throat. "Okay, so I'm going to go...
literally anywhere else. But think about the couples angle for Tadoussac.
We don't have to decide now, but it could be really good for both of your brands.
" She backed toward the door. "Also, we're stopping for breakfast in twenty minutes.
Somebody should probably find Gabriel's hedgehog.
I think I saw him in the bathroom again. "
She disappeared.
Marnie and Gabriel stood in the narrow corridor, the morning light making everything feel too honest, too exposed.
"I need to get dressed," Marnie said finally.
"Marnie..."
"Please don't." She wouldn't look at him. "Whatever you're about to say, just... don't."
She grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, technically a “spa pod,” according to the PR deck, with its rainfall shower and heated mirror.
Gabriel stood there for a moment, then went to find Maurice.
* * *
The hedgehog was, indeed, in the bathroom. Specifically, he was nestled in a pile of plush white towels, folded hotel-perfect and stacked on the marble counter, because, of course, this bus had a marble counter.
"Tabarouette," Gabriel muttered, carefully extracting Maurice. "You're supposed to stay in your carrier."
Maurice chirped indignantly.
"I know, I know. The carrier is boring. But you can't just set up camp in other people's towels." He tucked the hedgehog into his jacket pocket. "Also, I think I just made things weird with Marnie."
Maurice offered no comment.
"She's scared. I get that. But I don't know how to..." He paused. "Why am I asking a hedgehog for relationship advice?"
From outside the bathroom, Marnie's voice: "Are you talking to Maurice?"
Gabriel opened the door. Marnie had changed into jeans and a soft blue sweater, her hair pulled back. She looked put-together again. Controlled.
"He's a good listener," Gabriel said.
"He's a hedgehog."
"That's what makes him so objective." He pulled Maurice out of his pocket. "Someone folded towels, and he thought they looked comfortable."
Despite everything, Marnie's expression softened slightly. "Of course he did."
"I'm sorry about the mess."
"It's fine. They're just towels." She hesitated. "Can I, can I hold him?"
Gabriel blinked. "Really?"
"I've never actually held a hedgehog before."
He carefully transferred Maurice into her hands, showing her how to support his body. "There. Just like that."
Marnie cradled Maurice gently, her expression shifting into something Gabriel had never seen before, pure, unguarded wonder.
"He's so small," she said softly.
"He's fully grown. Just compact."
"And you just... travel with him?"
"He's good company. Doesn't talk back much."
She looked up at Gabriel, still holding Maurice. "I'm sorry I freaked out. About the article."
"You don't have to apologize."
"I do. You were just being honest, and I..." She glanced down at Maurice. "I don't know how to do this."
"Do what?"
"Whatever this is. With you. I don't know how to be spontaneous or trust that things will work out or..." She took a breath. "I don't know how to want something without planning exactly how it has to go."
Gabriel stepped closer. Not touching, just present.
"What if you didn't have to plan it?" he said quietly. "What if you just let it happen?"
"That's terrifying."
"I know."
"What if it doesn't work out?"
"What if it does?"
Marnie looked at him, really looked at him. Maurice chirped softly in her hands.
"I need time," she said finally. "To think. To figure out what I want."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yeah. Take all the time you need." He gently took Maurice back. "But for the record? I already know what I want."
Her breath caught. "Gabriel..."
"Time," he reminded her. "I said you could have time. I'm not going to push."
"Thank you."
They stood there for another moment, the bus engine starting up beneath them, the team moving around, preparing to leave.
"We should probably go," Marnie said.
"Yeah."
But neither of them moved.
Finally, Kayla's voice called from the front: "Breakfast stop in five! Everyone buckle up!"
Marnie stepped back, breaking the moment. "I'm going to, I need coffee."
"Marnie?"
She turned in the doorway.
"For what it's worth," Gabriel said, "I think you're brave. Even when you're scared. Especially when you're scared."
She smiled, small, genuine, a little sad. "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time."
Then she was gone, and Gabriel was alone with Maurice and the uncomfortable feeling that he was falling in love with someone who might not be ready to catch him.
"This is complicated," he told Maurice.
Maurice, wisely, said nothing.
* * *
They stopped for breakfast at a small diner just outside Baie-Saint-Paul. The team scattered, Clara and Darnell grabbed a booth in the back, Kayla took a phone call outside, and Marnie... Marnie sat at the counter alone, nursing a coffee and staring at her phone.
Gabriel slid onto the stool beside her.
"You're reading the comments, aren't you?" he said.
"They're very enthusiastic about our relationship."
"That's one word for it."
She turned her phone toward him. The comment section was, indeed, enthusiastic.
OMG JUST KISS ALREADY
I'M OBSESSED WITH THEM
If they don't end up together, I'm never believing in love again
THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER THO
Gabriel scrolled through a few more, then handed the phone back. "People have strong opinions."
"They think they know us. They don't know us."
"Maybe they see something we don't."
"Or maybe they're projecting a fantasy onto two people who are just trying to do their jobs."
Gabriel was quiet for a moment. Then: "What are you afraid of, Marnie?"
"I'm not..."
"Yes, you are. And that's okay. I just want to understand."
She set down her coffee cup carefully. "I'm afraid that if I let myself want this, want you, it'll fall apart. And I'll have to be the one who keeps everything together while I'm falling apart inside. Again."
"That's not going to happen."
"You can't know that."
"You're right. I can't." He turned to face her fully. "But I can promise you that if we try this and it doesn't work, I won't just disappear. I won't leave you to deal with the mess alone. That's not who I am."
"You barely know me."
"I know enough. I know you're terrified of losing control.
I know you fold towels even on a bus. I know you care so much about doing things right that you forget to let yourself enjoy doing them at all.
" He smiled slightly. "And I know that when you held Maurice, you looked happy.
Really happy. Like you'd forgotten to be anxious for a minute. "
Marnie's eyes were suspiciously bright. "That's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"Being this... this patient. This understanding. You're supposed to be difficult, so I can keep my distance."
"Sorry to disappoint."
"You're not disappointing." She wiped quickly at her eyes. "You're terrifying. In the best possible way."
Gabriel wanted to kiss her. Wanted it so badly his chest ached with it.
But he'd promised her time.
So instead, he said, "Come on. Let's get breakfast. I hear they make excellent pancakes."
"I don't really eat pancakes."
"Of course you don't." He stood, offering his hand. "Live dangerously. Try a pancake."
Marnie looked at his hand. Then at his face. Then, slowly, she smiled.
"Okay," she said. "One pancake."
She took his hand, and Gabriel felt something slot into place in his chest.
This woman was going to ruin him.
He couldn't wait.