Page 24 of Time After Time (Golden Sands #1)

I crossed my legs and scratched my right knee absent-mindedly, the skin feeling dry from skipping moisturiser. My feet started to fidget. “I don’t know.” Leaning my elbow on the table, my gaze drifted to the mermaid tail napkins. “He’s been acting off since the other night.”

Sylvie leaned forward, her curiosity evident in the arch of her brow. “Any specific incident triggered this change?”

I sighed, my fingers instinctively crumpling one of the mermaid napkins beneath my clenched fist, my knuckles turning white with the intensity of my thoughts. “I’m not sure. I asked him, and he just said everything was fine, that I couldn’t do anything to make him mad.”

Sylvie listened intently as I told her everything that had happened recently, my clenched fist relaxing as the napkin beneath it smoothed out. It was our usual routine, getting together to talk through our thoughts and feelings in a place we both loved.

“He’s been helping me figure out my passions,” I said, steering the conversation while keeping Sebastian in focus.

“We’ve been working at Rob’s diner in exchange for his business advice.

I’m intrigued by the idea of owning a business, but I still need to decide what kind and anyway, there are a lot of things that could go wrong with owning a business. ”

Sylvie sighed, wincing a bit before she opened her mouth. “There are a lot of things that can go wrong just because they can.”

Sylvie kept asking questions, trying to suggest potential interests that might align with my likes and dreams. But the same issue remained: I didn’t have a clear passion or hobby.

The thrill of losing myself in something I truly loved still felt unimaginable.

Sylvie had found hers in cars, and Sebastian had discovered his in baking.

I felt adrift, still searching for that sense of purpose.

Our conversation was cut short by Benjamin, one of Marigold’s servers and a close friend of Sylvie’s, who I suspected might have a crush on her.

“I was missing my favourite ladies,” he said, setting down my coffee and cake—there was no need for him to ask who had ordered it—with a charming smile that drew attention to his left snakebite piercing.

“And, of course, the strangest combination ever for you.” As he handed Sylvie her order, my attention shifted from his lingering gaze to the dark-coloured cake in front of her, which didn’t look very appetising.

“Thanks, Ben,” Sylvie said, offering a small smile as she pushed her sunglasses up to the top of her head. Benjamin’s gaze was warm, hinting at something more, while Sylvie’s was purely friendly.

“Can I bring my car to you one of these days? It’s making that awful noise again.” Ben said, batting his eyelashes.

My sister rolled her eyes and raised an eyebrow at him.

“You shouldn’t have gone to Old George’s,” Sylvie said, her frustration clear. “He’s clueless about what he’s doing, and it shows in his work. He’s just in it for the money.”

She was right.

Old George clearly hated his job, and it was a mystery why he kept at it.

His lack of enthusiasm was evident in his shoddy repairs.

Before Sylvie started taking in cars for service, Sebastian’s mum had taken their pickup to him.

Old George charged them but never did a decent job.

As word spread, more people turned to Sylvie for reliable service, and Old George’s reputation took a hit.

Now, whenever he saw Sylvie, he shot her a resentful glare.

“Bring it next Tuesday, and I’ll take a look,” my sister replied as Ben resumed his tasks with a nod and another grin towards Sylvie, along with a friendly one directed at me.

“So...” I took a sip of my drink, trailing off. “Did anything happen between Ben and you?”

My sister moistened her lips, trying to suppress a slight smile.

“It did,” she whispered, making sure he wasn’t around serving another table.

My eyes widened at her statement, and I leaned forward, placing my coffee back on the table.

“We slept together twice, but we talked about no feelings or anything. Just... that.”

“But...”

“But I think he is starting to have feelings for me, and I don’t feel that way.”

When she noticed my expression, she nodded and took a mouthful of her cake, making a disgusted face. Today’s pairing was a Turmeric Ginger Latte and a piece of Matcha Black Sesame Cake. “To be honest with you, I always thought he had a crush on you.”

Her eyes widened, the surprise flickering across her face.

“Are you serious?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

I nodded in response, watching as her expression shifted.

“God, if I’d known, I never would’ve slept with him.

” She took another bite of her cake, her face contorting in distaste before softening into quiet satisfaction as she sipped her coffee.

A sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head.

After a moment of silence, she glanced up, her tone more cautious.

Gosh, she was going to go back to our prior topic.

“Have you... talked to Dad about any of this?”

I hadn’t even thought about telling Dad about my whole ‘finding myself’ thing yet.

“Nope, not yet,” I confessed, absent-mindedly running my fingers around the rim of my coffee cup.

“I’m waiting, I guess.” Waiting to see if I’d even find something worth talking about—or if what felt like a win to me would just disappoint him.

“How did Dad take it when you told him you weren’t leaving Golden Sands? ”

I’d lost count of how many times I’d asked her, but it never got old. There was something reassuring in the way she told her story, like each time she shared it, it gave me a little more hope.

“I told him I wanted to repair cars,” Sylvie began, her gaze distant as if reliving the moment.

“I expressed my love for being here, but I also made it clear that if my true passion led me to a course or an opportunity related to cars that required moving, I would follow that path.” My gaze softened, and I allowed a thoughtful hum to leave my body as I absorbed her words.

Her lips curled into a gentle smile, and her eyes softened as they crinkled at the edges.

“The whole moving thing is kind of scary, you know? I don’t have a clue where I’ll end up, but I’m all in for chasing my passion, soaking up whatever I can.

Even if I can’t figure out my spot or make a new home away from Golden Sands, I’ll find my way back.

” Her expression changed, and she leaned in slightly.

“Golden Sands isn’t going anywhere, Gen.

” Those words sent a shiver down my spine, causing goosebumps to appear on my exposed arms and legs.

“Its people might leave.” The words escaped with a surprising bite.

“Yeah, that’s bound to happen,” she acknowledged, her honesty, though a bit harsh, strangely reassuring. “But if I were to leave, would you stay in touch?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my sister, and I love having you in my life. I want to be there for you. Be part of your life just as much as I want you to be a part of mine.”

“Relationships, whether they’re family or friends, take effort. And if you truly care about someone, distance or changes won’t alter that. It’s about making an effort and being there for each other.”

“Would that be enough?” The words slipped out, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It should be, and if it isn’t, it’s not a relationship worth maintaining.

It makes no difference how much you desire to keep that person in your life.

” I shifted my eyes to the worn patterns on the tablecloth, my fingers fidgeting with a loose thread.

I could feel the tight knot in my throat growing, and I knew that if I kept meeting her gaze, the well of emotion I was struggling to contain would overflow.

“Let’s settle up and head out. I’ve got a sudden craving for a new skirt.” It wasn’t like I needed one—my closet was already overflowing, with some pieces still in their shopping bags. But the idea popped into my head, likely stirred by the way I kept tugging at the hem of the one I was wearing.

So once we finished what we ordered and sat there for a while in silence, eyes closed and just enjoying the weather, we drove to the square where all the stores were. We ended up spending quite a bit of time there, leaving one shop only to walk right into the next.

“What do you think of this?” Sylvie called me over from the display, holding up a breathtaking black lace set.

The bra was adorned with a delicate heart-shaped pattern, and the matching panties had tiny cutouts forming heart shapes, giving a hint of the skin underneath.

A small silver gem nestled at the centre of the bra, right below the cleavage, catching the light with a subtle sparkle.

“Gosh,” My eyes must have shimmered as I admired the lingerie Sylvie displayed to me. It was stunning. “I love it.” My fingers traced the fabric, appreciating its softness.

“Buy it.” She said casually, her tone relaxed, as she placed the item in my hands. Without missing a beat, she continued flipping through the racks, her eyes scanning for more finds.

“I’ve never worn anything like this.” Although I did indulge in lingerie, my choices leaned towards lighter hues and weren’t as daring or… provocative as this one. “Maybe it won’t suit me. It seems like something that would look better on you.”

She scoffed. “Shut up. It wasn’t a suggestion.

We’re taking it, and who knows what will happen.

..” Her shoulder lightly brushed against mine as she gestured for us to head to the checkout.

“Maybe some lucky soul will get the privilege of taking it off.” I couldn’t help but laugh softly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

I think I heard her murmur something along the lines of, “Preferably a blond.”

SEBASTIAN