Page 44 of Time After Time (Golden Sands #1)

Sebastian

T he calm before the storm is always deceiving.

The water was flat, stretching out in front of us in every direction, like a giant mirror reflecting the sky, and I was gripping the throttle too tight.

This was supposed to be relaxing. This was supposed to be fun, just a simple fishing trip with Michael and Robert.

No pressure. Just some time on the water.

But I couldn’t seem to shake this feeling crawling up my spine.

Something was off. Something was telling me to throw myself off this boat and swim back to the coast if I had to.

Maybe it was because Gen wasn’t here.

It’s stupid, I know. They’re fine. Sylvie’s the best driver I know, but still, the thought of them on the road heading to a city so far away makes me uneasy.

Sylvie had insisted on dragging Gen to that last-minute car convention, and they’d invited Aria, hoping she would get some fresh air instead of being cooped up in her grandparents’ house all day. They were looking out for her like they always did with the people they loved and cared for.

Although Gen had wanted to stay home. She had this huge list of things to get ready for the summer festival, and I knew she wasn’t thrilled about the trip.

She only went because Sylvie practically begged her, and Gen would do anything for her sister, especially knowing how important it was for her to go to these car conventions.

I could imagine her now, probably sitting in the passenger’s seat, worrying about what still needed to be done before the festival starts next week.

Me

Be careful, okay? Let me know when you arrive. I’ll answer as soon as I’m off the boat.

That was the first thing I did this morning—sent her that text before I even got out of bed. I hadn’t heard back yet, but they probably left early.

“You good, kid?” Michael’s voice cut through the sound of the boat engine.

I snapped my head in his direction, finding him sitting at the front, sipping from his thermos.

One hand lazily resting on the fishing rod while his concerned gaze roamed my face and the tension forming on my shoulders. “You are looking a bit pale.”

His words made Robert turn around to face me, a similar expression on his face as he studied me, unconsciously standing from his chair and letting his fishing rod fall to the ground as he stepped closer towards me.

“You do look pale.” His hand immediately went to my forehead as if I were a kid waking in the middle of the night, telling my mum I was feeling sick and waiting for her to cuddle me in her bed.

“You want us to turn back? I’m sure Michael wouldn’t mind.

” His voice came out as a whisper, as if he was scared that being louder would make me run away or shock me. “He will understand.”

Say yes, Sebastian. Say yes.

A brittle laugh escaped my lips, but my fingers curled into fists, my chest tightening as if a vice were closing around it. “I’m good. Just… trying to get us to a good spot.”

“Do that, kid. I’m going to out-fish you both again,” Michael said, grinning and accepting a water bottle as Robert, after squeezing my shoulder without believing my words, settled on the spot next to him. “Not sure your pride can handle that.”

I laughed, even though my mind was still elsewhere. I knew I should be relaxing, enjoying the day. This was supposed to be a break for me, a chance to get away from all the stress that’s been piling up recently.

The boat hummed softly as I killed the engine, finally slowing to a stop.

Looking down, the water was eerily calm, too calm for my liking, which was different from the sky, which looked like it was thinking about raining but couldn’t quite decide. The sun was there, but it hid from time to time under this growing grey-ish cloud.

“We’re here,” I announced, more to myself than to them as I walked to the front, grabbing my fishing rod.

Michael leaned back, casting his line with the kind of ease that only comes with years of doing this over and over again. He was a natural at this, at being out here. I wished I could relax like him. “Is this what you needed? A little time away from the kitchen?”

“Yeah, this is perfect,” I said, even though I didn’t fully believe it. I needed to stop worrying. Gen was safe. Aria had probably got them both laughing, and Sylvie was definitely talking their ears off about cars. They were fine.

Robert, sitting on my left, kept quiet. He didn’t ask anything related to the internship because he knew.

He knew that, even though I’ve always dreamt of it.

.. that from a young age I claimed I would fight and work as hard as I could, even if my legs and arms gave out to get in…

Well, lately, while still passionate about it and wanting to experience that and become what I’ve always dreamt of…

all thoughts about this opportunity came accompanied by a knot in my throat and I was starting to hate being asked about it.

“Just don’t forget about us when you’re a famous baker running your own place.”

I rolled my eyes, but the pressure was there, lodged deep in my chest. I didn’t want to fail, not after everything. But even more, I didn’t want to let anyone down. I didn’t want to let Gen down, and for the first time in a very long time, I didn’t want to let young Sebastian down.

I dragged a hand over my face, inhaling deeply, trying to shake the weight pressing against my ribs.

Nothing.

We haven’t got anything yet.

The weather was changing fast. What had started as a clear, calm morning was shifting, and I could feel it in the air.

The wind was picking up, colder—the water getting rougher beneath us.

The clouds were creeping in, dark and heavy, blotting out the sun, and I knew Robert and Michael could sense it too.

They were glancing at the horizon, where the sky was turning into an ominous shade of grey.

“We might want to head back soon,” Robert finally said, his voice edged with concern.

Michael cast another glance at the water, biting his lower lip with a flicker of doubt as he glanced between the water and the sky. “Let’s get this last one and then we’ll go. Storm’s not here yet.”

I nodded, tightening my grip on the rod, determined to catch just one fish before leaving.

I felt a tug, just a little at first, but then it jerked hard.

My heart leapt as I leaned forward, the thrill of it pushing everything else to the back of my mind.

I stood up, bracing myself, feet wide for balance, as I fought to reel it in.

This fish was strong, pulling the line deeper, and I could feel the tension and burn building in my arms as I wrestled with it, almost going forward in a particularly strong tug.

“Got a big one, huh?” Michael asked, grinning.

But the wind was picking up even more now, slamming against the boat harder, and the water wasn’t just rippling any more.

The waves were rising, bigger and more forceful, knocking us off balance with each pass.

The sky had turned from grey to almost black, and the first drops of rain began to fall, light at first, but something told me it wouldn’t be too long until they would hit us uncontrollably.

“Seb, let it go!” Michael yelled over the wind. He was serious now, no trace of the earlier banter and teasing in his voice. “We’ve gotta get out of here before this storm really hits!”

But I didn’t let go.

The fish was so close. I could feel it.

I had worked too hard to lose it now, not after all the tension building up inside me.

My muscles strained with the effort as I tightened my grip and pulled harder.

I leaned into the fight, ignoring the way the boat was starting to sway dangerously beneath my feet.

I didn’t care. I needed this. I had stood here for hours, not catching anything, and now that I finally had something, I couldn’t just throw away all of my effort.

It was all or nothing.

It was always all or nothing.

The wind howled, stronger now, whipping through my hair and pushing the boat off course.

We were tossed around like a toy in a box as the dark, violent water churned and slapped against the hull.

The rain was coming down harder, cold and stinging against my skin.

My breath caught in my throat as I realised how bad it was getting, how quickly everything was spiralling out of control.

“Seb, seriously, drop it!” This time, Robert was the one shouting, loud, but his voice was barely audible over the roar of the wind.

Then it happened.

The boat lurched—sudden and raging, hit by a wave so big it felt like we had slammed into a wall.

The force knocked me sideways, my foot slipping on the slick deck.

My hands instinctively tightened around the rod as I tried to steady myself, but it was too late.

The boat tipped sharply, throwing me off balance, and I went down hard, the fishing rod still clutched in my right hand.

My left arm reached for the railing, but my body twisted awkwardly, and that’s when I felt it, or better, that’s when I heard it. A sharp, sickening crack.

The sound was wrong, unnatural, like the snapping of a thick branch. Pain shot through my right arm, blinding and immediate, white-hot and unbearable. I hit the deck with a thud, the rod slipping from my hand as my body crumpled under the weight of the pain.

I gasped, my vision blurring as I clutched my arm, but it was useless.

My right arm hung limp at an unnatural angle, bent in a way that made my stomach twist. The pain was so intense it stole the breath from my lungs, and I turned my head to the side, almost not quick enough to empty my stomach there.

“Sebastian!” Michael was at my side in an instant, his face pale, hands reaching out to keep me from moving. “Stay still. Don’t move!”

I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.