Page 33 of Time After Time (Golden Sands #1)

“I can’t let you step on the same sand that peasants touch!” I teased, flashing a smile at Aria as I carried Gen towards the ocean. I could feel her grip tighten on the hem of my shorts, the closeness heightening my awareness of her against me.

Stepping further into the ocean, the water lapped at my thighs, and Gen’s laughter became pleas for me to let her go, which she knew I wasn’t going to do.

“My blood is rushing to my head!” Gen exclaimed, her voice cutting through the giggles and making me chuckle even harder.

Laughter bubbled up inside me, a feeling that made me feel completely alive, and I swear everything around me became brighter just because of this moment.

“Please, I’ll pull your swimsuit down!” Gen threatened, coughing a bit as she screamed and continued hitting my back. But I knew her threats were just her trying to be put down.

Or so I thought.

Before I could react, I felt her fingers graze the hem of my shorts, her touch sending a shiver down my spine.

In a swift motion, she tugged them down, causing me to stumble and lose my balance.

With a laugh, I grabbed hold of her and flung her into the water, joining her with a splash as I hurriedly pulled my shorts back up.

As Gen emerged from the water, I couldn’t help but stare at her with wide eyes, my mouth hanging open in awe.

My cheeks flushed red as I waited for her to notice me, her laughter echoing in the air as she struggled to push her wet hair back.

When she wiped the water from her eyelashes, her gaze met mine, and she burst into even more laughter, pointing a finger at my expression of astonishment.

“I’m going to kill you,” I said between fits of laughter, her amusement only growing as I swam closer.

“Mr. and Mrs. Parker just saw my...” I couldn’t finish the thought, the image of their shocked expressions flooding back.

Their smiles had vanished when Gen yanked down my swimsuit, and the memory sent me into another round of chuckles.

“No way!” Gen exclaimed, her sounds of happiness blending with mine as I reached out, wrapping my arms around her waist just as a large wave rolled toward us.

“I swear,” I said, grinning as water splashed against her cheeks.

“They’re still watching us.” Without missing a beat, Gen glanced to the side and spotted the Parkers staring at us with wide eyes.

“Why are they staring so intently? Is it because it’s so tiny?

” I exclaimed, prompting Gen to throw her head back in laughter.

Her amusement was cut short, though, when a wave crashed over her, making her cough loudly as water went into her mouth. I placed my left leg under her so she could kneel or sit on it to be in a higher position and avoid that happening again.

“That was karma,” I said, trying to keep a straight face as she coughed. I reached out to tuck damp strands of hair behind her ear, and she managed a weak grin in response.

I was mistaken in thinking that our laughter had died down. “I saw your butt,” she confessed, her chuckle making my cheeks heat up again. “Now I get why the Parkers were staring.”

Pretending to be wounded, I laid one hand on my chest while the other stayed on her waist. “Are you kidding me? I’ve worked so hard on it! You got the greatest part.”

As Gen’s chortle faded, her attention drifted away from me and settled on the water’s surface nearby.

She watched her right hand as it glided gracefully back and forth, almost as if she were in a trance.

For a brief moment, I found myself mesmerised by the rhythm of her movements.

But the sudden stillness in her demeanour felt out of place.

When I lifted my gaze, I focused on her face, deliberately avoiding the temptation to linger on her arms, shoulders, or neck. I felt my breath waver. She appeared lost in thought, her attention still fixed on the shimmering water.

“What is it?” I asked, noticing how the lively sounds around us faded into a hushed silence.

Gen remained lost in thought, but I could feel her attention shifting toward me.

“What’s on your mind? Is something bothering you?

” Despite my questions, her face gave nothing away—no reassurance, no hint of what she was feeling.

A chill crept down my spine. I always knew how to read her, but lately, in certain moments, I seemed not to be able to, and it was killing me.

“Gennie.” The childhood nickname, long unused, seemed to pull her out of her reverie.

“I got a little bit scared before,” she admitted.

I sank my feet into the uneven sand as the waves rolled in. Gen, just a head shorter than me, gracefully manoeuvred on top of my thigh, her knee digging into me.

“Scared of what?” Glancing behind to ensure no waves loomed, I placed my right hand on her lower back, pulling her closer so she could anchor onto me if needed.

A quiver ran through her, and goosebumps appeared all over her arms and legs.

I yearned to know whether it was from being in the water or the touch of my hand.

“It’s getting cold.” Her words slipped out, and I sensed an undertone of avoidance.

A puzzled frown crossed my face as I tried to make sense of what she meant.

“And Aria must be bored by herself.” I glanced over at Aria, who was lounging with a book, her eyes closed and a slight grin playing on her lips as she soaked up the sun.

When I looked back at Gen, she was no longer resting on me, gliding through the water, moving effortlessly as she swam and tiptoed at the same time. Without hesitation, I placed my hand on her shoulder, bringing her to a stop. “Talk to me, Gen.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a large wave coming toward us, so I dived into the water and slipped between Gen’s legs.

She instinctively grabbed onto my hair, her grip a little too tight, clearly surprised by my sudden move.

When I came up for air, I gasped, but the wave crashed into my back, drenching my face and nearly sending me sprawling forward.

Once I regained my balance, I set Gen back on her feet. Coughing, I met her gaze while I scooped water into my palms, using it to push my soaked curls away from my face. Then my hands glided down, wiping the lingering droplets from my eyelashes.

“It’s stupid,” Gen muttered, her voice tinged with frustration.

“Feelings cannot be stupid,” I responded, my hands resting on her forearms. The texture of her skin, still covered in goosebumps, suggested she was genuinely feeling cold. “I will always listen.”

“I was scared you’d take us to the cave... with Aria here,” she admitted, her voice trailing off as she tried to express her worries. At the same time, I pinched my nose, trying to expel the water that had gone up my nostrils, causing me to cough.

“Why would I do that?” I inquired, perplexed.

“I don’t know...”

“That’s our spot.”

Gen met my gaze, her bottom lip slightly jutting out as if she were trying to hold back a pout. I nodded once, wanting to show her I meant every word I was about to say, determined to keep any trace of doubt or vulnerability from showing.

“Let me say something, Gen.” I watched as her eyes filled with tears, her chin lifting just a bit. Within moments, a tremor started in her chest, making it shake.

Seizing the opportunity, I moved in closer.

“Any part of this town can be our spot, as long as we’re together,” I said firmly, wanting to reassure her. But a line formed on her forehead, and her brows knitted together in confusion, still holding onto a trace of sadness. “I just wish you wouldn’t doubt it.”

An unintelligible sound escaped her as my hands moved to her cheeks. My thumbs traced her cheekbones, guiding her gaze to mine. I wanted her to see the sincerity in my eyes, to understand that my words—especially the ones I was about to say—came from the heart.

“I would never take anyone else to our spot. It’s ours—our laughter, our tears, our memories.

Just ours. I’d be damned if I had to share that with anyone but you.

I’m protective of it, and I’d feel jealous if someone tried to take a piece of something I want to keep solely yours.

” My right hand moved, gliding along the side of her neck until it reached her chest, where I could feel her pulse racing beneath my fingertips.

I placed my palm over her heart, ignoring the slight tremor that accompanied my touch against her chilled skin.

“And mine.” With my other hand, I took one of hers and laid it against my chest, covering it with mine and squeezing tightly.

“Do you understand?” My voice softened into a whisper as I rested my forehead against hers.

Gen closed her eyes, her lashes brushing against her cheeks as she exhaled, parting her lips as a delicate sigh escaped.

“Don’t ever doubt what I would do for us… for you , Gen. Never.”

Never, because you mean everything to me. You are my wheels.

Gen swallowed and nodded, her eyes still closed. Our foreheads pressed together, and I leaned in, allowing my nose to brush against hers. When my bottom lip brushed against her top one, we both drew in a sharp breath.