Page 12 of Time After Time
“Shit,” he muttered, his back arching as the cool cream touched his sunburned skin. He froze for a second, the sudden cold making him tense up, before he relaxed slightly.
“Sebastian Ventura, seriously, you need to pay attention when I tell you to use sunscreen,” I scolded, using his full name to emphasise my point. He let out an amused noise, barely stifling a laugh. “It’s really important.”
I patted his back once, prompting him to turn toward me. My words got stuck in my throat as his bare chest came into view, and I felt a wave of heat rush to my face. His intense gaze made my stomach tighten in a way I couldn’t quite explain, and I couldn’t figure out why I was suddenly so nervous.
I looked away, focusing on applying the sunscreen to his torso. What the hell is wrong with me?Did I sleep on my hand last night?
My fingers and palms tingled as they made contact with his skin, sending shivers down my spine. The feeling only intensified under his gaze. He was just... there, studying me with a look that made me feel oddly self-conscious, as if I had dried drool running down the side of my mouth.
I had planned to help him apply sunscreen to his face, but as our eyes met, I found myself pressing the bottle against his chest instead. He grabbed it from my hands, almost like it was a reflex.
“For your face,” I said, my voice coming out a little too clipped as I tried to ignore the heat creeping up my neck.
I felt a little light-headed, probably from the heat and the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything yet.
Sebastian squeezed sunscreen onto his fingers, carefully spreading it across his cheeks and the tip of his nose, his gaze still locked on mine. The slight pout on his lips made him look almost amused, though I couldn’t quite figure out why. He dispensed more sunscreen, moving to cover the rest of his face.
“Are we still heading to the market?” I couldn’t help but steer the conversation in a different direction.
Sebastian nodded, closing his eyes and briskly rubbing the cream across his face. Sometimes, men could be so brutish. “We’re walking there,” he informed me, which caught me off guard. He grinned at my reaction. “Sylvie needs to make sure everything else in the car is in perfect working order.”
I expected as much. Sylvie never did anything halfway; she always made sure everything was perfect.
“But it’s so far,” I groaned, not exactly excited about the idea of walking in the scorching heat. Though, truth be told, it really wasn’t far.
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.
