Page 15 of Time After Time
They balanced each other perfectly.
“You know I’m gonna pay you, right?” I said, crossing my arms with a look I hoped made my point.
Sylvie tossed her head back with a long, weary sigh. “I’ve told you a million times. You don’t have to pay me.”
“I get it, but I owe you, big time,” I said, leaning against the truck with a grin that dared her to argue. “You’re using new parts, waking up early to fix my truck... It’s way past time I paid up.”
She shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I actually enjoy working on it. It’s not a waste of time for me.”
I nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. That feeling of losing yourself in something you loved, where every minute felt worthwhile, wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I’d spent countless hours chasing that same kind of fulfilment.
Not wanting to push her further, I shifted gears. “So, where’s Gen hiding this morning?”
“She just rolled out of bed a few minutes ago, but she’s probably still sprawled out, staring at the ceiling or something.” I couldn’t help but grin, picturing Gen’s groggy morning face. She’d be half in dreamland, still trying to figure out where she was.
Just as I was lost in that thought, the door swung open, and there she was. Gen stepped out, ready for a day on the farm. She wore towering black boots like mine, dark green dungarees tucked in, and an old white t-shirt with faint blue stains, probably from their last attempt at repainting the weather-worn windows.
Her chestnut hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a style she didn’t particularly like, but one that suited her perfectly.
I couldn’t help but find it amusing that we were dressed so similarly. I was also wearing dungarees—faux denim, worn and weathered over time—with a white t-shirt that had a few discreet holes, showing its age.
“I’m ready to go,” she declared, her voice still carrying the weight of sleep.
Unable to suppress a grin as I turned to grab my bike, planting my feet firmly on the ground to steady it. Just as I was about to swing my leg over, I felt her hands on my shoulder, using me for support as she swung her leg over the seat, though it was a little high for her.
Her hands slid down to my hips, finding their usual spot. But this time there was a gentleness to the touch that hadn’t been there before. It almost felt like my shirt wasn’t even there, her warmth seeping through the thin fabric.
I glanced up at the sound of a sigh and found the blonde-haired girl standing before me, arms crossed and left eyebrow raised. The look on her face was half-amused, half-exasperated, and I couldn’t quite figure out why.
Clearing my throat and feeling a little uncomfortable, I shifted my attention to the girl behind me, who was staring off over my shoulder. “Ready?”
She gave a sleepy smile, one eyelid drooping slightly more than the other. Despite the scorching heat of the summer—one of the hottest in years—the mornings still carried a biting chill. Goosebumps crept up my arms, and I fought the shiver that threatened to ripple through me.
A few seconds after, I felt her body tremble in response. Gen, too, felt the bite of the cool air, fully aware that it would soon give way to the sweltering heat that would bear down on us as we worked on the farm.
I’d thought she couldn’t get any closer, but I was wrong. Her chest pressed against my back, and the insides of her thighs and legs snugly pressed against mine. Another shiver swept through me, though this time I couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or something else entirely.
The farm gradually came into view, a proud three-story building with a reddish-brown hue and a black roof topped by two chimneys. The white window frames stood out against the darker tones of the house. Beside the main building were the stables, matching in style but only one story tall.
Surrounded by lush greenery, the air felt refreshingly clean with each breath, bringing a soothing calmness that eased the tension in my shoulders. I could feel Gen behind me, her body pressing against mine as if the wind itself had settled her there.
Tall trees in varying shades of green surrounded the property, concealing it from anyone unaware that the Marley family lived here. Fences marked the boundary, set up by the local townsfolk to keep the curious horses from wandering off. Beyond the gates, a wide, lush field stretched out, offering the horses plenty of space to roam, exercise, and bask in the summer breeze, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
To be honest, the scent was hard to put into words—a mix of plants and flowers with a bit of earthiness and something else that felt unique to this place. I liked it, knowing it wouldn’t last long before it was replaced by the more familiar smell of animals.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when we dismounted, and the sharp scent of the barnyard hit us full force. It was the kind of smell that flooded your senses, making Gen gag in reaction.
“I don’t think I really thought this through,” she admitted, grimacing as she placed a hand on her stomach, which seemed to protest against the overwhelming smell. Her face tightened in discomfort, and she tried to brace herself against the assault onher senses. “I don’t think I’ll make it without gagging every five seconds.”
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could handle it either, but I gave her a reassuring smile and wrapped an arm around her in a comforting side hug.
“At least we’ll find out if you’ve got a hidden talent for farm work.”
She scrunched her nose, a few fine lines appearing at the effort. “I doubt it.”
“Oh, come on,” I said, shifting our embrace into a more relaxed stroll with my arm draped over her shoulders as we neared the front entrance. “We haven’t even got to the best part yet.”
She tried to fight off a smile, knowing exactly where this was headed. “We still have to milk the cows and clean up the horse shi?—”
