Page 7 of Time After Time
He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. When he saw my hand inching toward it, he gently patted it. Yet, I couldn’t help leaning closer, eager for a sneak peek. “Uh-uh,” he said, his voice teasing. “It’s a surprise. And there’s a new recipe this time.”
Impatience laced my words. “Seriously, why are we still waiting?” I spun around, excitement propelling me toward my room. Sebastian’s laughter followed me as I nearly tripped, rushing up the stairs two steps at a time. I grabbed my rucksack and stuffed it with anything I might need.
I wishedI could say the journey was quiet, but instead, I spent the whole time trying (and failing) to get him to tell me what he’d baked. Even though we weren’t headed to our secret place today, we took the same familiar route.
Sebastian and I had a place we called our own, even if it wasn’t exactly a secret. It was tucked away, rarely visited by anyone else, making it feel like it belonged to us, or at least, that’s how I liked to think of it. The spot itself was breathtaking, but the journey through our town was just as special. Each season made the path feel a little different, but summer was when it truly came alive for me. The open, sun-drenched fields, free of trees, stretched out like something from a painting or a film.
Sometimes, I would catch Sebastian closing his eyes, letting the tranquillity wash over him.
When we arrived, I spread a picnic blanket on the sand, my movements hurried as Sebastian shook his head and laughed. He knew I was rushing because I couldn’t wait to see what he’d brought. But as always, we turned it into a competition—who could get their things down and get into the water first. I scrambled to get everything set, but soon enough, Sebastian had tossed his bag aside and flung his shirt, half of it landing on the sand. With a wild laugh, he dashed toward the water, diving in head first when it reached his knees. Amused, I called him a cheater and followed close behind.
We swam for about an hour, and I nearly drowned from laughter when Sebastian started pretending to be a mermaid, singingUnder the Seaand accidentally swallowing water in the process. His exaggerated, undulating movements had me laughing so hard my limbs felt like jelly. By the time our fingers started to prune, we let the sun guide us back to the spot where we had left our belongings.
Once we sat down on the picnic blanket, I couldn’t wait for Sebastian to show me what he’d brought. I noticed how excited he looked, and I found my gaze drifting over him. His body had got stronger over time from lifting weights at home; he’d set up a makeshift gym in his living room because he hated going to the actual gym. He’d always had a problem with Law Davidson flirting with his mum, missing every hint that she wasn’t interested. Sebastian didn’t like the idea of being there and having to hold back from saying something to Law, especially if he made a comment he couldn’t ignore.
On top of that, he was up and running by 5:30 a.m. most mornings. His physique wasn’t overly bulky, but it was well-defined. His chest was solid, his abs more noticeable than ever, and even when he was still, his biceps stood out.
“You didn’t put on any sunblock?” I asked, noticing the pinkish hue on his shoulders.Ugh, he never learned. Sebastian reached into the pink basket he’d brought, picking out a handful of pastries while giving me a sheepish smile, clearly trying to distract me.
“Sebastian,” I whined, the frustration barely masked.
At the sound of his name, his eyes widened in mild surprise, like he hadn’t expected me to call him out. “It’s not from today,” he blurted, as if that would make everything better. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.
He met my gaze for a second, a hesitant smile tugging at his lips. He shifted, uncomfortable. “Okay, maybe I forgot to use sunblock when I went to visit my grandmother.” He paused, studying my face for any sign of my reaction. I raised both brows now, sensing there was more he wasn’t telling me.
Sebastian shrugged, his grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he glanced away. “I might’ve forgotten to put some on this morning when I went for a run,” he admitted, his eyes flicking back to me. The nervous edge in his smile gave him away. He knew exactly what was coming. He always ran shirtless, convinced that if the sun wasn’t burning down on him, sunscreen was optional.
I was about to launch into my usual lecture about sunscreen when Sebastian popped a bite of dessert into my mouth. The words vanished as the flavours exploded on my palate. Banana, something crispy, and a smooth, creamy taste that I guessed was whipped cream. “Holy shit, Seb,” I mumbled, my eyes closing as I let the taste caress the inside of my mouth. I sank back onto the blanket, a satisfied sigh escaping my lips, and cracked one eye open to peek at him.
From behind the basket, he pulled out a perfectly layered dessert glass. My eyes widened, and I propped myself up, unable to hide my excitement. I must’ve looked like a kid, my gaze following his every move as he handed me the glass with a soft laugh. “Golden Banana Crisp Parfaits.”
“I’d ask more questions, but I’m too busy enjoying this.” Grinning, I grabbed the spoon from his hand and took a bite, barely holding back a satisfied hum as the flavours hit me.
“It’s banana mousse with a crunch from the cereal toppings. A layer of each,” he explained, his eyes flicking between the dessert and me. He watched intently as I took another spoonful, his fingers tapping nervously against the edge of the basket.
“Is it good enough?” His voice carried a subtle tremor, which he tried to hide with a cough. Of course, I knew better. Sebastian always obsessed over the details, even if he acted confident. And right now, despite the casual look on his face, his eyes gave him away, waiting for my answer.
“It’s absolutely perfect,” I said, leaning in to make sure he knew I meant it. “The flavours... they just blend so well. I might not be an expert, but this—” I held up the empty dessert glass, turning it in my hand, “—was so good I swear I felt parts of my mouth I didn’t know existed. The banana with the crunch is just… wow.”
Sebastian’s lips slowly tugged into a grin, the tightness in his shoulders easing as a quiet breath slipped out. His fingers, which had been drumming against the basket, finally stilled.
“And the whipped cream makes it melt in your mouth,” I added, watching as his grin softened, his eyes flicking down for a second like he was trying to hide how pleased he was. But I caught it—that flicker of pride mixed with the gears already turning in his head, thinking about how to make the next one even better.
I saw his hand moving toward his curls, a nervous habit that always meant he was overthinking something. Quickly, I shifted the conversation to something else. “How’s the cottage going?” I asked, watching as his fingers paused mid-air, giving me a chance to pull him away from whatever he was about to get lost in.
“Good,” he said, shifting from kneeling on the blanket to sitting cross-legged. “I’m spending my first night there tonight.” My eyes widened.So he’d started settling in. “Robert helped mefix the water and electricity, and for now, everything’s working fine. Though the water’s freezing.” I winced at his words, hating cold water with a passion.
“It’s so weird that you’re moving to a cottage that’s literally within walking distance of your house.”
He scoffed a laugh. “Anything in Golden Sands is within walking distance.” He had a point. Cars weren’t really necessary here; most places were close enough to reach on foot. It was part of the charm of living in such a small town with practically no pollution. “It feels nice, though,” he continued. “I’m going to miss living with my parents and seeing them all the time, but I always end up making a mess of the kitchen and turning it into my space.” I laughed, agreeing with him. “And to be honest,” he added, voice dropping, “there’s been talk about my mum and Robert having a kid.”
My eyes widened, and I sat up straighter, unable to hide my surprise. “No way!”
Sebastian nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, pleased by my reaction.
I shook my head, almost in disbelief. “They love you, though,” I said, my voice quieter. “I’m sure your mum will have a hard time with you moving to the cottage... even if you’ll still be around all the time.”
“I’m not moving because I think they need the space.” He let out a dramatic sigh. “Ineed more space. A kitchen I can actually use without making a mess… without someone telling me to clean up.” He shuddered, pulling a face. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, “And, honestly, I don’t want to hear them… doing it.”
