5. Mariana #2
His thick, dark brows are just as expressive as I remember, always framing those intense, soul-piercing chocolate brown eyes—eyes that used to look at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
His hair, once a little unruly, is still dark and wavy, but now it’s got this effortless, perfectly imperfect look, like he just ran a hand through it and somehow it fell into place, messy in a way that makes me want to run my fingers through it.
And that jaw, strong, angular, dusted with the perfect amount of stubble. I used to run my fingers along it, feeling the slight roughness beneath my touch, loving the way he’d smirk when I did.
Instinctively, my eyes drift lower. He was always athletic, but now? Now his body is all hard muscle and smooth control. His broad chest fills out his shirt, the sleeves straining just slightly around his thick, sculpted biceps. His shoulders? Massive. Powerful. I swallow hard.
As if he feels my eyes drinking him in, I see his biceps flex slightly, a subtle movement, but I don’t miss it. My heart skips. I haven’t seen him since our high school graduation.
We had been together since sophomore year. Inseparable, in love, convinced we were forever. But I was leaving, and Sebastian was staying. He had his dreams, and I had mine—and no matter how much we loved each other, I couldn’t ask him to wait.
So I broke his heart. I broke my heart.
I could have given us one last summer. One more season of midnight walks on the beach, tangled limbs in the backseat of his car, his heartbeat steady beneath my palm, his lips whispering my name like a prayer, but I thought it would be easier this way.
That giving ourselves the summer to heal would be better than dragging out the inevitable. I’ll never forget the way he looked at me that night.
One second, he was smiling, hopeful, talking about our future. The next? His entire face shut down. It was the first time I had ever seen Sebastian cry. And it was all because of me. God, it shattered me. But I told myself I had done the right thing. I had to believe that.
And now, looking at him? Looking at the little girl by his side?
It seems like I was right. He got the life he wanted.
The family, the stability, the happiness.
And if breaking his heart back then led him to this, then it was worth it.
Even if seeing him now makes my own heart ache as if I never left.
“Seb!” Hilda calls out, waving Sebastian over.
Oh God. My brain instantly screams at me to do something. Hide, vanish, evaporate into thin air. I grab the box of books, lifting it slightly, angling myself behind it like it might block me from view.
He walks over, the little girl already darting toward the kids’ section. She grabs a few books and plops herself down onto one of the teddy bear-shaped chairs, completely in her own world.
“Hey, Hilda. Anna.” His voice is the same. Warm, deep, confident. Then he turns toward me. And freezes. His eyes widen just slightly, the shock unmistakable before he quickly masks it. Like seeing me after all these years is nothing. Like I’m nothing.
“Wow, Mari. Hey, it’s been a long time. How’ve you been?”
I swallow. My throat feels like sandpaper. “Great. Good. Fine. I’ve been fine.”
Sebastian’s lips twitch, his dimple appearing. “Well, I’m glad you’ve been great, good, and fine. Hopefully, mostly great.”
Kill me. Just kill me now.
My heart races as I try to gather my thoughts. There’s too much I see when I look at him. Too many thoughts. Too many what-ifs. Get it together, Mariana. What is wrong with me right now?
I lean back slightly, trying to play it cool. “Is that your daughter?”
He opens his mouth, but before he can answer, Hilda jumps in. “No, sweetheart, that’s his niece, Maya. Analyse’s little girl!”
I jumped a little at her voice, completely forgetting that she and Anna were even here. A wave of relief washes over me before I can stop it. His niece. Not his daughter.
“Oh! Your niece?” I say, my voice too high. I clear my throat. “That’s great. She’s adorable. How old is she?”
“Six. First grade. Although if you ask her, she’ll say ‘almost seven.’”
I glance over at Maya, now lost in a book. “Looks like she’s a bit of a bookworm.”
Sebastian chuckles. “Not a bit. A huge bookworm. Kinda reminds me of someone.” He leans in slightly, his voice dipping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “Are you still a bookworm, Mariana? Still into those smutty books?”
Oh. My. God.
Heat creeps up my neck. I cross my arms, forcing out a casual shrug. “Guilty. What can I say? Hot girls read.”
Anna snorts. Hilda coughs to cover a laugh. Sebastian just grins, slow and knowing.
Turning to Anna, he nods toward the box of books. “What’s in the box, banana?”
I forgot he always called her that. Not Anna Banana, just Banana. She always said she hated it, but I think she secretly loves it—the way he teases her like the big brother she never had.
Anna smirks. “Books for my kids at school. Actually, since you’re here, can you carry them to my car?”
Leave it to Anna to put him to work the first chance she gets.
“Yeah, sure.” Sebastian grabs the box from the counter, and he and Anna walk out of the store.
The moment he’s gone, My heart finally slows. My lungs unclench. I can breathe again. Sebastian Garcia. The first boy who stole my heart. The one I never truly got over.
And now, I’m back home, and I have to face him again. Over and over.
In this small town, there’s no escaping him.
God help me.