Page 10 of Time After Time (Golden Sands #1)

Sebastian’s laughter came out as soon as he saw my exaggerated frown. He leaned back, eyes crinkling in amusement as he shook his head, enjoying my over-the-top disappointment. “You’re so lazy,” he teased, his voice warm as he handed the sunscreen bottle back to me.

I fluttered my eyelashes, trying to look as charming as possible.

“Ugh, I hate it when you do that,” he sighed, his voice low and tired as he tilted his head back, his shoulders slumping in mock frustration. “I’ll head back home, grab my bike, and pick you up.”

My grin faded almost instantly as his tone shifted. “But, Gen, we’re picking up our classes again. You’re going to let me teach you how to ride a bike, even if it takes all summer.”

I could feel a protest starting to rise in my throat, but I held it back.

Not knowing how to ride a bike had never embarrassed me, despite the surprise it usually sparked in others.

I’d just never been interested, and my attempts as a kid were always cut short by my fear of falling and getting hurt.

But looking at Sebastian… I could tell I’d be okay with him. He wouldn’t let me fall.

“Be careful getting off, Wheels.” His left arm slipped from the handlebars, his fingertips brushing against my bare calf where my shorts left my skin exposed.

My heart pounded as I tightened my grip around his waist, carefully sliding off the tall bike. I stole a glance at Sebastian, and the intensity of his gaze sent a flutter through me.

Once my feet were firmly planted, Sebastian swung his leg over the bike, leaned it against a nearby tree, and meticulously secured it to the sturdy trunk.

Our small town had always been quiet and safe, where crime was almost unheard of.

But over the past couple of years, it had become a popular destination for tourists looking for a peaceful getaway and stunning views.

Some of the older locals grumbled about losing our old, calm vibe, worried that newcomers wouldn’t appreciate our bond with nature and the respect we held for it.

Others, however, welcomed the change, seeing it as an opportunity for more business and a stronger local economy.

I didn’t mind the unfamiliar faces as long as they respected our town, but it was strange watching the market fill with people I didn’t recognise.

“What are we buying?”

Sebastian stayed silent as he took my backpack, casually slinging it over his shoulder despite its small size and the bright blue-and-pink floral pattern.

“Eggs, fresh milk, and some veggies,” he murmured, nodding toward the busy market stalls as we walked.

His hand brushed lightly against my denim shorts, pulling me closer.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice firm. When I glanced up, his eyes were sharp, scanning the crowd, watching anyone who got too close.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. There were more people than usual.

“Do you want to check out the flowers?” I asked, glancing toward Mrs. Taylor’s stand.

Her selection was always amazing, and she had a way of making everyone hang on to her every word, plus she always had great tips on plant care.

Her planner contained advice for every kind of plant and flower.

“We could pick a few different ones,” I suggested, my eyebrows lifting slightly, the faintest curve appearing on my lips as my gaze met his. But before he could reply, someone bumped into me, pushing me closer to Sebastian. I had to brace myself against him, making him grunt with the sudden jolt.

The man, realising his mistake, began apologising in a language I didn’t immediately understand.

I gave him a reassuring smile, signalling that everything was fine.

But Sebastian’s expression darkened, a flicker of hostility in his eyes.

“ Stai attento a dove vai. ” He wrapped his arm protectively around my shoulders, drawing me closer and urging me to keep moving, all while keeping a wary eye on the apologetic stranger.

“Anyway,” Sebastian’s serene expression returned as he glanced in my direction. Yet, his vigilance remained, scanning our surroundings to avoid further encounters. “I think I have an idea that will help us find your passion.”

My eyes widened, and my eyebrows rose as I waited for him to speak. “What did you come up with?”

He smiled and continued, “How about we look up some jobs online and try a few out? This town’s small, and everyone knows us.

I’m sure they’d let us work a few days or try different jobs together.

” He stressed the ‘ we’, again, and I could feel my pulse quicken.

“We could explore a lot of different things.”

I didn’t need to think twice. “I really like that.”

“Really?” Sebastian smiled, pleased by my enthusiasm. The idea of trying different things and discovering what I truly enjoyed was exciting. Still, I couldn’t ignore the fact that finding something that felt right for the long term wouldn’t be easy.

His shoulder brushed against mine, and my gaze quickly shifted from where it had dropped to the ground up to his face. “Hey, Gen, we’ll find something. I know it.”

Summer stretched out before us, endless with possibilities for discovering what I was truly passionate about. It felt like there was so much time to explore, but also so little when I thought about what would come at the end of the season.

“Mrs. Marley, good morning!” Sebastian greeted as we approached the first market stand, his face bright with warmth.

When we stopped in front of her stall, Mrs. Marley’s face lit up with a wide, welcoming smile.

The petite, elderly woman, who ran a farm with her husband, was beloved as the town’s grandmother figure.

Despite the small number of children in our town, she had a special place in everyone’s heart.

Sebastian and I always looked forward to these visits, cherishing every chance to see her.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Sebastian.

” I’d stopped by the market while he was away, and she often asked when he’d be back.

She adored him—though, truth be told, everyone did.

“And you, Geneviève, seem to grow more beautiful each day.” Her compliment made me blush, and as Sebastian drew me closer, I couldn’t help but smile at her kindness.

“Could we get some eggs and milk, please?” I asked.

Mrs. Marley started gathering the items right away, her hands trembling slightly, as they often did. She had once mentioned it was because of her weak limbs, which made me realise Mr. Marley wasn’t around today. That thought lingered in my mind as I wondered where he was.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Mrs. Marley’s hands shook so much that Sebastian and I gently reached over to take the eggs and milk from her.

“I’ll be on my own at the market for a few weeks,” she added, her voice quieting.

I paused for a moment, studying her face, noticing that she looked a bit paler than usual.

“Mr. Marley had an accident.” Her gaze dropped, and before I could stop myself, a gasp slipped out.

Our eyes widened with concern. “Is he all right? What happened?” we asked in unison.

Mrs. Marley gave a playful roll of her eyes as she handed us a few extra eggs.

Sebastian sighed, as he always did when she insisted on giving him free things.

He would try to pay her, but she’d always give him that look—the one every grandma gives when you refuse to take their money.

“That old man still thinks he’s in his twenties. ”

Sebastian and I chuckled. That was definitely true.

“An old friend gifted him a horse, and he was determined to break it himself, just like he did when he was younger.” I winced, already imagining the scene.

“He took a fall, landed hard on his side and back, and even passed out.” Mrs. Marley’s gaze became distant, as if reliving the moment.

They lived alone on their farm, a bit farther out from the rest of us, and the thought made me uneasy, imagining the fear she must have felt.

“I nearly had a heart attack when I found him lying there, unconscious.”

“You’ll be running the market on your own while he recovers?” Sebastian asked, placing the milk on the scale to weigh it, then quickly pulling out money to pay for both items.

Mrs. Marley nodded, accepting the money with a tired smile. “I’ll also have to look after the farm.” The thought of her managing both the market and the farm alone made me anxious about how she’d handle everything.

Sebastian and I exchanged a knowing glance.

“Would it be alright if Seb and I came by every morning to help with the animals?” I asked, hoping it would give her one less thing to worry about. “That way, you can focus on the market.”

Her caramel eyes brightened with relief as she placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, that would be a godsend. I’d be incredibly grateful for your help.”

Sebastian took Mrs. Marley’s hands in his, giving them a light, reassuring squeeze. His eyes met hers with genuine kindness. “We’d be happy to help.”

After promising Mrs. Marley we’d be at the farm early in the mornings, we made our way to Mrs. Taylor’s flower booth.

The bright hibiscus blooms caught our attention, and after a bit of back-and-forth, we picked one of each colour.

With the flowers in hand, we headed to Cora and Robert’s place, already looking forward to breakfast.

As Sebastian closed the small white fence behind us, I noticed Cora kneeling on the porch, immersed in her work.

At the sound of my voice, her scowl softened into a smile—a mirror of the one I saw so often on her son.

She brushed the dust from her hands and set her protective glasses on the wooden porch before rising gracefully to greet us.