Page 61 of Time After Time (Golden Sands #1)

Sebastian

C losing the front door of my parents’ house softly behind me, I walked with shaky limbs and a shattered heart towards my old room.

Or at least, I intended to make my way to the darkness of it before Robert came through the front door, laughing and shutting voices behind him as he closed it.

When his gaze met mine, the smile evaporated from his face.

The empty wine bottle he’d been holding tipped over and rolled away with a dull clink as he stared at me, his eyes flickering between mine with concern.

He was closer now, his brow furrowed in a mix of worry and something else—something I couldn’t name but felt heavy between us.

His gaze swept over my face, lingering on the dark circles under my eyes and the streaks left by tears I’d tried and failed to swallow back.

I could feel the tremble in my hands and the tightness in my throat, every bit of exhaustion and fear laid bare.

He didn’t say anything, just watched me with that look, and I hated how easy it was for him to see right through me.

He opened his mouth, my name barely a breath on his lips, but I cut him off.

“I told her.” He sighed, eyes drifting over my tired face, the red-rimmed eyes.

He didn’t have to ask. I wouldn’t be here nor have this expression if she had said she felt the same or…

for that matter, if she had said anything at all.

“I told her I love her, and she just stood there, looking at me without saying anything.” My voice wavered, replaying the image of Gen’s tear-filled eyes, the way her face had gone pale, as if the blood had drained away all at once.

My heart pounded, wild and erratic, each beat hammering in my throat, rattling my ribs, desperate to break free.

“What now?” I croaked, barely holding it together.

Robert’s mouth turned down at the corners, his expression betraying his struggle to find words. Without another moment’s pause, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me in a firm embrace.

He tightened his grip, as if trying to hold together the pieces of me that felt like they were falling apart. In his arms, I cried harder, my anguish spilling out, and I felt the weight of my confession hanging heavy on my shoulders, knowing that silence would have been no less devastating.

I cried not only because I was losing a love that never truly was mine, but also because now I was facing the reality of losing her entirely.

“I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll help with dinner.”

The St. James were in the backyard, gathered for our annual summer meal.

Even though all I wanted was to hide away in my room, I couldn’t bring myself to miss this chance to be with them, especially since I’d be leaving in a week.

I resolved to make the most of the evening, even if it meant keeping my eyes on the ground to avoid Gen’s gaze…

if she even chose to come here after what I’d said.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” I whispered. He nodded his head, eyes closing momentarily as he offered a sad grin. “Thank you, Dad.”

The shock on his face was evident, and any sadness evaporated from his face as he stared at me with glossy eyes. “Always here for you, son.”

Just as I was about to turn and head to my room, the sound of my name being called stopped me. Robert and I exchanged confused glances, and when the calls grew more insistent, we both rushed outside.

As we reached the backyard, the scene that greeted us left me standing there, rooted to the spot in stunned disbelief.

My mum had ordered fairy lights online and draped them all over the backyard.

She’d envisioned them for nights like these—when we’d sit under the stars, sharing stories of our days or just enjoying the calm, cool breeze of summer evenings.

The wooden table she’d painstakingly restored was set up right under the shimmering lights, adorned with clusters of artificial blooms, and already covered with a spread of mouthwatering dishes.

But what really drew my attention was the look of concern and confusion on my mum’s face, mirrored by the St. James family. Sylvie, however, stood out—her eyes were wide with excitement as she smiled broadly, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

Her gaze was fixed intently on the girl standing not too far from Robert and me.

Gen’s hair was a wild tangle of curls, with a stray leaf caught in her locks.

Even from where I stood, only seeing her profile, I could see her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.

She turned her head, her gaze scanning the area with a sense of urgency, as if she was searching for something—or someone—in the dim glow of the fairy lights.

Sylvie called out her name, drawing Gen’s attention. Her sister then pointed in my direction, and a wave of dread washed over me.

I wished desperately that I had stayed inside, where I could avoid facing her.

When Gen turned to face me, I wanted to curse myself for how my body betrayed me.

A shiver ran down my spine, and butterflies fluttered in my throat, as if they were trying to burst free.

Goosebumps prickled my skin, and despite everything, my mind was already spinning with visions of a future together, each one more vivid and impossible than the last.

I tried to avert my eyes, looking down to avoid meeting her gaze any longer.

That’s when I noticed the rip in her new pink dress, frayed around her knees and revealing one of her legs.

The fabric was stained with what looked like blood, and my heart sank.

I looked up at her, my concern growing, and noticed she was clutching something in her hands, though I couldn’t see clearly what it was.

My gaze shifted to the side, and I saw her bike propped awkwardly nearby. It was clear she wasn’t entirely steady on it. The way she winced as she stood suggested she’d rushed here in a hurry, and the possibility that she’d fallen off only added to my worry.

I felt an overwhelming urge to step forward, to ask if she was okay and offer to tend to her wounds. Every instinct screamed at me to help her, to take care of the pain I could see and the distress I could sense.

“Gen, sweetheart?” Michael’s voice called out, but she didn’t look his way, shaking her head dismissively. She let the box she was holding drop onto the picnic table with a clatter, sending a few dishes rattling and causing one of my mum’s favourite pieces of cutlery to fall to the ground. “Gen?”

She didn’t respond, her attention entirely on the box in front of her.

Her hands trembled so violently that she muttered curses under her breath as she struggled to open it. Waves of frustration emanated from her, compelling me to step closer, eager to calm her and offer some support.

“Hey, Gen…” I whispered. She looked up at me, and my heart ached at the sight.

Her eyes were red and puffy, her bottom lip trembling as she alternated her gaze between me and Robert, who had moved to my side, keeping a careful distance.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my hand reaching out instinctively as her movements grew more erratic.

“Wait.” Her voice was sharp, and I froze, taken aback.

Gen turned her attention back to the box, struggling to open it until her dad stepped in to help.

“Okay, okay.” She turned to face me, visibly shaking, and took several deep breaths.

“This,” she said, pulling an item from the box and holding it out to me.

I didn’t reach for it, but kept my eyes fixed on the object.

“This is a box.” She blinked, watching my reaction, and when she saw my confusion, her cheeks flushed.

“A-a box that…” She faltered again, taking a profound breath as Sylvie stepped forward, whispering in her ear and rubbing her back before stepping away.

“A box that holds all the souvenirs you’ve ever brought me whenever you went to spend time with your grandma. ”

Robert stepped forward with a smile, taking the box from Gen. She didn’t resist as he opened it, revealing its contents to me—key chains, small figures, and various trinkets. Some of them were from years ago.

The next item Gen pulled from the box was a green and white bracelet, clearly handmade and somewhat uneven.

I recognised it immediately. “I don’t know if you remember,” she began, her voice trembling slightly, “but you made this at school. It was one of the first times you came to class looking really upset.”

I recalled that day vividly.

We had just moved to a new place, and while I was relieved to escape my father’s reach, I was also terrified that he might show up and take me away from my mum.

“You were so frustrated with that project, and after you finished the bracelet, you left it on the table, saying you hated it.” Her cheeks flushed as she fumbled for words.

“I didn’t hate it, so…” She hesitated, her eyes meeting mine shyly. “I kept it.”

My gaze shifted briefly to my mum, who was smiling with tears of joy in her eyes. She looked at me with a wide grin and moved closer to Robert, who also wore a pleased expression. Meanwhile, I was overwhelmed, consumed by a mix of nerves, confusion, and fear.

“I have an album filled with pictures of us, just like you do.” I nodded in acknowledgement.

“But I kept more than just photos,” she continued, her hand diving back into the box.

I was amazed at how such a small container could hold so many memories.

“Like this!” She pulled out a black and red jersey from the Golden Falcons, an older design before they updated their colours to better represent our town.

Who would have guessed that a team from a small town would become so popular?