Page 24 of Time After Time
Our eyes met, and I reached for her hand, hoping she’d dance with me. Gen hesitated for a beat, one eyebrow raised, a small chuckle escaping her lips. But the music pulled at her, and after a moment, her lips curved into a smile as she took my hand.
I pulled her into the dance, spinning her around as our laughter blended with the music. Each turn, each giggle, made me feel more alive and light. WithManiacblasting in the background, I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone else in the room was as caught up in her laugh as I was.
Chapter 9
Geneviève
The heat was unbearable, pressing into my skin until sweat pooled at my collar and trickled down my spine. My overalls stuck to me, damp and heavy, clinging in all the wrong places. Mud smeared my legs, seeping through the fabric, and my boots squelched with every step.
I’d pulled my hair back into a tight ponytail, hoping for some relief, but it didn’t help. Strands still clung to my neck and forehead, damp with sweat from the gruelling farm work.
A bead of sweat traced its way down my nose, and with an irritated sigh, I wiped it away, probably smearing another streak of dirt across my already filthy face.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, laughter rang out, snapping me out of my thoughts. I jerked my head toward the sound, nearly losing my balance, and found the source just a few meters away.
Sebastian’s laugh blended with the high-pitched giggles of Mrs. Marley’s granddaughter—who, even now, wore fashionable, perfectly fitted clothes—cutting through the noise of the farm. My lips puckered into a pout, and I turned away, the knot in my chest growing tighter. “What’s so funny aboutmilking a cow?” I muttered, the words escaping before I could stop them.
“They seem like they’re having fun.”
The voice caught me off guard, and I stumbled, my feet sinking into a patch of mud. I threw my arms out to catch myself, grabbing the wooden fence behind me to keep from falling.
I hadn’t noticed Mrs. Marley approach with a tray of freshly baked cookies and a pitcher of milk, her wide smile softening as her gaze flicked between Sebastian and her granddaughter, both caught up in what seemed to be the funniest moment of their lives while milking a cow.
A grunt escaped me as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. “What’s so funny about milking a cow?” The giggles from the cowshed only grew louder.
Mrs. Marley’s laughter was loud and contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile a little at the sound. “I know how you feel, darling,” she said, her eyes twinkling with sympathy. “I felt the same way when Marianne Bennet wouldn’t stop flirting with my darling.”
A wave of embarrassment rushed to my cheeks, and the cookie I’d just bitten into— after getting rid of my dirty gloves—decided to lodge itself in my throat. I coughed, struggling to swallow. “I... S-Sebastian and I aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
Mrs. Marley leaned in, her gaze soft but intense as her lips curved slightly. “Why?” she asked, her voice kind but laced with curiosity. I shifted, feeling heat rise to my face, my hands suddenly restless as I met her expectant eyes, searching for something I couldn’t quite put into words.
Before Mrs. Marley could press further, Aria appeared at her side, washed hands still glistening as she beamed up at her grandmother. She dried her hands quickly, then planted a kiss on Mrs. Marley’s cheek. “Thank you for the cookies and milk!”
I tried to pay attention to her, but Mrs. Marley’s question kept circling in my mind.
Walking towards the bucket, I let the cold water run over my hands, the chill easing the heat from my skin. I glanced over at Sebastian and Aria, suddenly feeling out of place. After drying my hands on my overalls, I reached for one of the cups of milk Mrs. Marley had brought, intending to offer it to Sebastian. But before I could, her granddaughter was already there, handing the glass to him with a bright smile. Sebastian’s face softened as he smiled back at her.
The burn had spread to my throat, but at least the day at the farm was over. I never thought I’d be so relieved to leave this place behind, even if only for the rest of the day. All I wanted now was to head to our favourite spot and finally relax.
Our secret place was a rock formation on the beach that years of different weather had carved into a secluded cove. It wasn’t exactly a secret—locals and visitors might have come across it—but it was sheltered enough that few did. Most people flocked to the more popular spots nearby, leaving this corner mostly untouched.
Sebastian had discovered it one summer day, as if it had appeared overnight, swearing it hadn’t been there the day before. Over time, it became the place we both returned to whenever we needed a bit of silence, especially when our minds felt particularly loud.
The light within the cave was tame, filtering through cracks in the rock to cast shifting patterns of light and shadow. The air smelled of salt and seaweed, and the sound of the ocean echoed inside, like holding a seashell to your ear. We’d gone there more than once to unwind, only to wake hours later, nudged from sleep by the other.
And now, I felt the same sensation, knowing that if I closed my eyes, I’d fall asleep within seconds.
“How about we try baking tomorrow?” A yawn made him stop as he adjusted his position. “It might turn out to be something you enjoy.”
I swallowed the knot in my throat. The ache in my chest throbbed as I searched for the right words, but they seemed stuck. All I could do was nod, the effort of speaking too much, my response nothing more than a soft hum of agreement.
The silence that followed wasn’t the same as before. It was thick now, heavy.
Sebastian stood, brushing the dirt from his hands before offering one to me. I hesitated a moment before taking it, his touch making me want to close my eyes. His smile had faded, replaced by a look I couldn’t quite decipher. Something more guarded, more pensive than I was used to seeing in him.
We began the walk back, our footsteps echoing faintly through the narrowing cave walls. The air felt cooler, more oppressive, as if it too sensed whatever was going on. I kept glancing at him, searching for a sign, anything that would explain the sudden shift in his demeanour, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed ahead.
I almost sighed in relief when his hands found mine, his fingers lacing with mine and prompting my shoulders to finally relax. They dropped, and only then did I notice how tense they’d been. Pain blooming now in the back of my neck and shoulders.
