And the reason why is right here beside me, pedalling in jeans and a plain white T-shirt, his blond curls spilling out from under his helmet, catching the sunlight like threads of gold.
REMI
Sebastian and I cycle in an easy, comfortable silence for miles, breathing in the salty sea air, letting the wild beauty of the coast wrap around us like a soft breeze. Every now and then, I glance over at him, and he always catches me, flashing that smile. The one that deepens his dimple and flips my heart upside down without even trying.
I’m fairly certain he knows exactly what that smile does to me and uses it shamelessly to his advantage. Not that I’m complaining. If anything, I’m all too willing to fall for it, again and again.
When we finally reach the beach, we prop our bikes against a low stone wall and unclip the baskets, lifting them carefully into our hands. It’s a perfect day, sunny, warm, with a light breeze, but the beach is nearly empty. Just a few families in the distance and some surfers riding the waves, their bright boards dotting the shoreline like scattered sweets on a sandy canvas.
We lay the blanket out in a quiet, sheltered spot, away from the wind, and settle down side by side. Sebastian kicks off his black Converse, peels off his socks, and rolls up the cuffs of his jeans. Then, with a look of pure contentment, he buries his small, slender feet, so delicately built, like the rest of him, into the warm sand, wriggling his toes as it sifts between them.
He looks as happy as a child, and something about it stirs me deeply. I know how hard he’s worked all his life, how rarely he’s allowed himself moments like this. And now I get to be the one to give them to him, that simple truth fills me with a quiet, steady kind of joy.
“Let’s go dip our feet in the water!” he says suddenly, just as I’m slipping off my own shoes and socks.
“Baby, it’s freezing, just warning you,” I reply, half-laughing. But he’s already on his feet, tugging at my hand with bright, unstoppable enthusiasm.
We walk to the shoreline and dip our toes into the water. The moment Sebastian touches the icy sea, he yelps and leaps straight into my arms.
“I did warn you, Seb,” I say, catching him easily. “Careful, or you’ll…”
But he doesn’t let me finish. He wraps his legs tightly around my waist and clings to me, tucking his head into the crook of my neck in that impossibly soft, disarming way he has. He knows I can’t resist him, and truthfully, I don’t even try.
All I want is to give him everything I have, for as long as he’ll let me. Hopefully… forever.
I carry him along the shoreline, the cold waves lapping at my ankles, breathing in the sweet vanilla of his skin mixed with the salt of the sea breeze. Then he lifts his head and kisses me, and just like that, the world drops away. No sound, no thought, no hesitation.
When he finally pulls back, still wrapped around me like a koala, he looks at me with quiet concern.
“Are you sure I’m not too heavy? I don’t want to hurt you…”
I shake my head with a grin and press a kiss to his hair.
“You? Too heavy? Don’t be ridiculous. Your suitcase, on the other hand, that nearly did me in.”
He pulls a mock pout but doesn’t move an inch. If anything, he holds on tighter.
“Come on, Hercules,” he murmurs with a smile. “Let’s eat.”
Gladly.
We demolish our picnic with the kind of appetite only fresh air and sunshine can inspire, then stretch out side by side on the blanket, fingers laced, eyes closed, soaking in the warmth of the afternoon.
After a while, he speaks, his voice low, thoughtful.
“I still can’t believe you came out to your family like that and no one even flinched…”
He sounds genuinely amazed, like part of him was still waiting for something to go wrong.
I turn my head to look at him, keeping our hands locked together.
“I was nervous, too, baby. Coming out is never easy, no matter the circumstances. But I always knew I could count on them to love me, no conditions, no questions. That’s something I’ve never had to doubt.”
I pause, brushing my thumb gently over his knuckles.
“And besides… I think it’s pretty obvious they adore you already. My mum’s never been one to hide her feelings, and Maude, well, she doesn’t say much, but she’s not subtle either. You’ve definitely passed the unspoken test.”
Sebastian looks up at me, wide-eyed.
