Lust Of Paris

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

He didn't want to get up.

In the arms of Alex, his body was hot and sweaty and he needed a quick shower but he felt almost too comfortable there to get up. Both of them were still naked under the sheets and if he wasn't so exhausted from last night, Gabriel might even seduce Alex for one more round.

Checking the time, he saw that it was already 10.30am before noticing Bernadette sleeping at the end of the bed, on Alex's side. Then he sighed sadly, his mood changing completely as he remembered what a day today was and what he would have to do. Gabriel had been preparing to this day a long time but the pain was still there.

Now that all he could think about was Cece, he knew that staying on a bed was pretty pointless even if he was laying next to this gorgeous, sexy American man who looked like he had slept there for years, like he belonged there.

Sighing, he kissed Alex's forehead quickly before getting up. He tried to be as quiet as possible and let the man sleep longer since they didn't have much sleep last night. For a couple of seconds, he played with the idea of getting Alex with him and introducing him to Cece but then he decided to lose the idea. It was too soon for that.

Before he left, Gabriel quickly showered, put on some clothes and gave his cat food. Then he wrote a note for Alex so that he wouldn't think that he just left him so coldly after last night. He also wondered if Alex would still be here when he came back but he could use some company after seeing Cece.

When he got to his car, Gabriel was about to start driving when he realized that he couldn't. Not because he didn't know how but he physically couldn't get himself to drive towards the cemetery. Although he had visited there too many times to count during these two years, it still felt like the first time.

The day of Cece's funeral had been pure torture and it didn't help that Leo had started to drink immediately after they got home, unable to stay sober even a second longer. All he remembered was crying at the church and taking care of Leo at home when he got too drunk to even stand on his own. Unfortunately, his drinking never stopped after that.

After Gabriel finally got his car moving, he went to take pink flowers for her and tried to keep a smile on his face. If he now started to cry already, he would be a sobbing mess by the time he got to the cemetery.

Because it took him almost fifteen minutes to get there, Èlise had just enough time to call him like she did last year on this very same day. "Doudou, comment allez-vous? Avez-vous besoin de moi là-bas?" (Sweety, how are you feeling? Do you need me there?)

Of all things, it was those words that bought tears to his eyes but he swallowed them, forcing himself to stay keep all the emotions away. Not yet, he wasn't there yet.

"Non, je vais bien. Ne t'inquiète pas pour moi," (No, I'm alright. Don't worry about me) he whispered, smiling sadly while concentrating on driving.

"Êtes-vous sûr?" (Are you sure?) He could still hear the worry in her voice and he knew that despite what he said, Élise would worry that he was spending the whole day crying at the cemetery. That goddamn woman always worried too much.

"Oui! Maintenant laisse-moi conduire pour que je ne finisse pas à l'hôpital," (Yes! Now let me drive so I don't end up at hospital) Gabriel laughed, shaking his head even if she couldn't see him.

"Je t'aime. Appelle moi n'importe quand et je viendrai." (I love you. Call me whenever and I'll come) Élise made him promise that, repeatedly, and then she hang up.