Page 45 of Time After Time
“Feelings cannot be stupid,” I responded, my hands resting on her forearms. The texture of her skin, still covered ingoosebumps, suggested she was genuinely feeling cold. “I will always listen.”
“I was scared you’d take us to the cave... with Aria here,” she admitted, her voice trailing off as she tried to express her worries. At the same time, I pinched my nose, trying to expel the water that had gone up my nostrils, causing me to cough.
“Why would I do that?” I inquired, perplexed.
“I don’t know...”
“That’s our spot.”
Gen met my gaze, her bottom lip slightly jutting out as if she were trying to hold back a pout. I nodded once, wanting to show her I meant every word I was about to say, determined to keep any trace of doubt or vulnerability from showing.
“Let me say something, Gen.” I watched as her eyes filled with tears, her chin lifting just a bit. Within moments, a tremor started in her chest, making it shake.
Seizing the opportunity, I moved in closer.
“Any part of this town can be our spot, as long as we’re together,” I said firmly, wanting to reassure her. But a line formed on her forehead, and her brows knitted together in confusion, still holding onto a trace of sadness. “I just wish you wouldn’t doubt it.”
An unintelligible sound escaped her as my hands moved to her cheeks. My thumbs traced her cheekbones, guiding her gaze to mine. I wanted her to see the sincerity in my eyes, to understand that my words—especially the ones I was about to say—came from the heart.
“I would never take anyone else to our spot. It’s ours—our laughter, our tears, our memories. Just ours. I’d be damned if I had to share that with anyone but you. I’m protective of it, and I’d feel jealous if someone tried to take a piece of something I want to keep solely yours.” My right hand moved, gliding along the side of her neck until it reached her chest, where I could feelher pulse racing beneath my fingertips. I placed my palm over her heart, ignoring the slight tremor that accompanied my touch against her chilled skin. “And mine.” With my other hand, I took one of hers and laid it against my chest, covering it with mine and squeezing tightly. “Do you understand?” My voice softened into a whisper as I rested my forehead against hers.
Gen closed her eyes, her lashes brushing against her cheeks as she exhaled, parting her lips as a delicate sigh escaped.
“Don’t ever doubt what I would do for us… foryou, Gen. Never.”
Never, because you mean everything to me. You are my wheels.
Gen swallowed and nodded, her eyes still closed. Our foreheads pressed together, and I leaned in, allowing my nose to brush against hers. When my bottom lip brushed against her top one, we both drew in a sharp breath.
Chapter 15
Geneviève
Don’t ever doubt what I would do for us… for you, Gen. Never.
The passing days did little to ease the echoing of Sebastian’s words in my mind. Each night, I wrestled with their meaning, attempting to dissect them and then dismissing my thoughts, convincing myself I was over-analysing. As my best friend, Sebastian would go to great lengths for me, just as I would for him. His tight embrace and intense gaze held no hidden significance.
“Alright, I need the GPS.” Sebastian’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I turned to him, and for a second, my breath hitched.
The sunset painted the scene with warm hues, casting Sebastian’s figure in shadow against the breathtaking blended colours of the sky. His golden, wavy hair glowed brilliantly in the fading light, creating a halo of light around him. As the sun dipped below the horizon, it left a trail of vibrant oranges and pinks that seemed to bathe and decorate his features. The play of light and shadow accentuated the contours of his face,emphasising the curve of his jaw and the subtle lines of his profile.
Gosh, Rockport was nearly an hour and a half away, and after everything we’d already driven through, I’d been twitching non-stop—constantly shifting, trying to find a comfortable position, confused by the rapid thump of my heart and the restless bouncing of my left leg. Spending the night with Sebastian wasn’t anything new. But doing it in a hotel room, in another town, somehow felt… different. Like my heart was trying to escape through my throat.
“Gen,” he momentarily shifted his eyes from the road, seeking my attention. In a swift, almost imperceptible motion, his hand left the steering wheel to squeeze my thigh. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a jolt through me, and for a moment, I questioned if I was merely lost in delirium.
“Are you with me?” he chuckled, glancing in the rear-view mirror as another car edged too close.
I let out a nervous chuckle and rapidly grabbed my phone, which had been resting on my lap for most of the ride. My fingers flew across the screen, entering our destination into the GPS. “One hour left to Rockport.” I glanced at Sebastian and turned down the volume, knowing he preferred my directions over the robotic GPS voice, which he claimed made him anxious. “Take that road,” I leaned forward, pointing with my right hand, “the one farther to the right.”
Sebastian nodded, checking the right side to ensure the lane was clear before turning on the right signal. “And then?”
Glancing at my screen, I instructed him to continue driving forward for now, assuring him I would let him know if we needed to take another route.
Cora had been feeling under the weather for the past two days, her severe allergies keeping her bedridden as though she had a awful cold. Unfortunately, she had a business meeting inRockport and had also found a man selling an antique oak hall wardrobe from the Regency period. The wardrobe had some visible damage in the pictures, but Cora was thrilled to have found such a stunning and old piece of furniture. Of course, she was sure she could restore it without parting far from the original style.
Sebastian had promised to meet the seller and transport the wardrobe back to their house, which fit on the bed of the truck. To his surprise, his mum had also rented a hotel room for two days, planning to spend some quality time with Robert. While we would stay tonight, we were able to get the second night refunded.
“Man, this car is way too quiet. That’s not us.” He made a softtsk, shaking his head. “Do me a favour—there’s a red USB in the glove box.” Without missing a beat, I flipped it open, rummaging through the clutter of receipts and loose change until I found the small device.
