Love in Ireland

/6/

-Monday June 26th-

"You sure this is still a good idea?" I asked Declan, who was sitting across from me in the car.

"I doubt the beach will be packed with people. Mostly just vacationers. We just need enough people there for someone to take pictures or tip off the press."

Declan and I were brainstorming all of yesterday about how we were going to do this whole fake dating thing. We decided it would be best for the press to find us first. Or well, Declan came up with the idea and I just agreed. But Declan thought we should start the whole charade as soon as possible. So today we're going to Dublin beach for a picnic. I'm in a yellow and white floral one piece bathing suit with a smocked top and spaghetti straps. There was a small ruffle at the top and a bow on the left side of my hip. Over the top of the bathing suit, I wore a flowy white skirt cover up that fell to the floor. I had on black wedge flip flips that had sparkly gold straps. I decided not to do anything with my hair and I definitely did not put on makeup. Round prescription sunglasses sat on my face where my glasses usually were. My normal glasses were in a case in my beach bag, along with SPF 100 sunscreen, a towel, a book, my phone, a strap for my sunglasses, a floppy hat, and a water bottle.

Declan was in black swim trunks and a plain white t-shirt. His hair was, of course, messy and he had classic black wayframe sunglasses perched on top of his head. He was wearing black flip-flops as well. On his lap, he had a picnic basket and a beach bag. The basket had our lunch and a large towel for us to sit on. In his bag he had SPF 50 sunscreen (Imagine not needing SPF in the hundreds), a towel, his phone, a soccer ball, a frisbee, and a water bottle.

In the trunk of the car was an umbrella so we would have some shade. The sun today was BRIGHT, the temperature was also warm, and there was a slight breeze. Perfect weather for a beach day.

"Alright, we have arrived," the driver said, parking on the side of the road near the public beach access.

Declan got out of the car and held out his hand to help me out. At least I was fake dating a guy who was considerate and had manners.

"Thank you." I smiled, taking his hand. He nodded and shut the door. I took the picnic basket from Declan so he could get the umbrella from the back. We watched as the car drove away, not to be seen again, until we decided to go back to the castle.

"Ready?" Declan asked as we walked down the beach access stairs. He had his sunglasses on now and he looked like a completely normal person going to the beach. I wonder if people would even recognize him if he kept his sunglasses on the whole time.

"Ready." I confirmed.

We made it onto the beach and even with my flip-flops on, I could feel the hot sand on my feet. We walked for a few minutes until we were far enough away from the stairs and set up the umbrella and towel.

"You know this isn't terrible so far." I said, sitting down and kicking off my flip-flops.

"Nope." He laughed. "It still feels like we're just hanging out as friends."

"Yeah." I hummed in agreement.

Declan got out the food from the picnic basket and passed me my chicken, avocado, and tomato sandwich, which I wrapped in tin-foil. Declan then pulled out a plastic tupperware container full of strawberries and slid it over to me.

"I found them in the kitchen fridge before we left. Figured I would bring them for you." He said, pulling out his sandwich as well.

I smiled, taking the container of strawberries from him. "You know me too well. Strawberries is one of my many food weaknesses." The other weaknesses being coffee and dessert. I have a HUGE sweet tooth, so really anything with sugar is a weakness.