REMI #2
If Seb decides to stay in England, we could find a place together. We could build something real. But if he chooses to go back to Paris as he’d originally planned, we’ll be facing a long-distance relationship, and the thought of being away from him guts me.
I’d never try to hold him back, though. I know how hard he’s worked for everything he’s achieved.
I won’t be the reason he gives any of that up.
Still, I can’t help it, just the idea of falling asleep without him beside me, waking up to a world where he’s not close enough to touch… it already hurts.
But whatever happens, I’ll support him.
And honestly, I’m amazed, and deeply relieved, that his panic attacks have eased lately. Aside from the understandable breakdown after the brutal rejection by his parents, he’s been managing his stress so much better than when we first met.
He hasn’t been in my life long, but it already feels like he’s turned it upside down in the best possible way. And I can only hope I’ve done the same for him.
The rest of the day passes in a kind of blissful haze, the sort that leaves you wondering if it was real or just some perfect dream.
We cycle home slowly, taking in every last stretch of coastline, and by the time we arrive, the sun is dipping low on the horizon, casting a golden glow across the garden.
Mum, Maude, and Ben are already sitting out at the table, sipping aperitifs and chatting as they admire the view. They’ve changed into their evening clothes, casual but elegant, perfectly relaxed. It feels like something out of a painting.
Naturally, Mum’s the first to speak.
“How was your trip, darlings?” she asks, eyeing us over the rim of her glass. Then, squinting at our faces, she adds, “Goodness, you’re both red as tomatoes! Don’t tell me you forgot the sun cream?”
Seb and I exchange a guilty look, then burst out laughing like a pair of kids caught sneaking biscuits before dinner.
“Uh… yeah, Emma. I might’ve forgotten,” Seb admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not used to the beach, it completely slipped my mind. But honestly, we had the best time. I absolutely love Cornwall.”
Then he flashes that dimpled smile of his, the one that could charm the birds out of the trees, and I watch Mum melt on the spot.
I get it. Believe me, I do.
Ben and Maude exchange a knowing look, silently shaking their heads at how obvious Mum’s soft spot for Seb has become, but, to their credit, neither of them says a word. She, on the other hand, reminds us that if we don’t want to lose our reservation, we’d better get a move on.
Seb and I race each other up the stairs. He’s just about to win when I catch him around the waist, and we nearly tumble into my bedroom in a heap of limbs and laughter.
He squirms, trying to break free, but I don’t let go. Instead, I start trailing kisses across every inch of exposed skin I can reach, his neck, his jaw, the delicate dip of his collarbone. He tastes like sunshine and sea breeze, and within seconds, my brain is utterly useless.
A rather unmistakable part of me is also making its presence known, but Seb pretends not to notice, at least for now.
“Oh, so this is your thing now, Remi?” he teases, feigning outrage. “Wasn’t body-slamming me once enough? You had to do it again?”
“Correction,” I murmur against his skin, “you tackled me, sweetheart. But I didn’t mind then, and I certainly don’t mind now.”
I pause, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.
“I’ve been yours since the moment I saw you. You know that, don’t you?”
He flashes me a smug little grin.
“Aren’t we sweet tonight? I like it, I’ll admit, but don’t think it’s going to charm me into shower sex while your family’s downstairs waiting for us…”
“What?!” I protest with an exaggerated pout, but it doesn’t work. He slips out from beneath me and strolls toward the bathroom with maddening nonchalance.
“Nice try, love. But just to be safe, I think you’d better shower downstairs, I don’t trust you. For someone who’s new to all this, you seem a little too fond of sleeping with a guy.”
He shuts the door with a playful sway of his hips, and I can still hear him laughing from the other side as I stand there, completely dazed and utterly smitten.
I’m about to give up and head for the other bathroom when the door swings open again. He peeks out just enough to flash that freckled, wicked nose of his… and a teasing glimpse of his smooth, tattooed shoulder.
“Oh, and one more thing,” he whispers, voice low and sultry, “if you behave… You might get your chance later.”
Then he winks and closes the door again.
I just stand there for a moment, grinning like a fool. One thing’s certain: tonight’s dinner is going to feel like torture. Because the only thing I’ll be able to think about… is dessert.
After a quick shower and slipping into dark navy trousers and a crisp white shirt, I join the others outside, my damp hair doing its usual wild thing no matter how hard I try to tame it.
Fortunately, I’ve still got a few clothes here in Sennen Cove, so I don’t have to drag much back and forth.
Unlike Sebastian, who somehow manages to pack half his wardrobe into that infamous pink suitcase of his.
I just hope he’s on time tonight… though, if past experience is anything to go by, Seb isn’t exactly known for getting ready in a hurry.
I take a sip of chilled white wine, trying to calm the flurry of nerves starting to stir in my stomach.
We’re getting close to our dinner reservation, and despite all the comfort I feel around my family, there’s still something about bringing Sebastian fully into this world, this quiet, familiar life of mine, that leaves me slightly on edge.
But then, finally, he steps outside, and he’s so breathtaking that I’m fairly certain everyone at the table forgets to breathe for a second.
The sun-kissed flush on his cheeks brings out his freckles more than ever. His bright green eyes are subtly outlined with a touch of eyeliner, and his hair is swept back into that signature messy bun he always wears at concerts, effortless, but impossibly elegant.
Beneath a cropped leather jacket, he’s wearing a black satin top that skims his collarbones and hints at the delicate floral tattoos curling over his skin.
His trademark black skinny jeans hug his long legs perfectly, accentuating the subtle curve of his hips and that perky little arse I’m more than a bit obsessed with.
He approaches the table a little shyly, scanning each of us for a reaction, as if bracing himself for disapproval. But he needn’t worry.
I’m completely stunned into silence, but it’s Maude, of all people, who breaks the spell.
“Bloody hell,” she says, deadpan. “Now I see how you turned my brother gay.”
“Maude!” I groan, burying my face in my hands, praying Sebastian didn’t take offence.
But he bursts out laughing, completely disarmed, and visibly more at ease.
Inside, I exhale a long, silent breath of relief.
Seb knows Maude is neurodivergent, that she can be unusually blunt without meaning any harm. But even when you’re prepared, her delivery can still catch you off guard. It does for me, too, more often than I care to admit.
But Sebastian takes it all in stride. More than that, he genuinely seems to accept and appreciate Maude exactly as she is. And that only makes me love him more.
Yes, love.
I haven’t said the words yet, not out loud, but there’s no question in my mind anymore.
Still, I feel the need to clarify, if only for myself.
“Just for the record,” I say, glancing at the group, “I’m not gay. I think I’m bisexual, if anyone still cares about labels.”
Naturally, Maude takes me entirely at face value.
“I definitely don’t believe in labels,” she replies, unfazed. “But I stand by what I said. You’re not bisexual. You’ve never liked a guy before, and I’d know, because you’ve told me about every single crush you’ve ever had. I think you’re gay for him.”
She points straight at Sebastian, who bursts into another fit of laughter, his eyes crinkling with delight.
Mum watches him with the soft, glowing pride of someone who’s already adopted him into the family, and Ben just shakes his head slowly, his expression a perfect blend of fondness and mild exasperation, like he’s still trying to figure out what he’s gotten himself into.
“Okay, Maude…” I sigh, deciding to concede with a small shake of my head. “Fine. Your definition might be more accurate. But either way…”
I get up, walk over to Sebastian, and wrap my arms around him.
“This boy is taken.”
I press a kiss to the top of his head and whisper into his hair, “Mine.”
Sebastian lifts his sparkling eyes to mine, then leans in close, brushing his lips against my ear.
“Of course I’m yours,” he murmurs, voice low and teasing. “But don’t forget, you’re mine too now.”
“You don’t need to convince me, baby.”
I take his hand and glance at the others. “I think we’ve missed our chance to walk to the village, Mum, do you mind if we take your car?”
She nods at once, but there’s a flicker of something in her eyes, thoughtfulness, maybe. Suspicion.
“Of course, darling. No trouble at all. But while we’re at it… would you care to explain where exactly the car you two arrived in came from?”
Seb and I exchange a guilty glance.
“Erm… I borrowed it from Ian,” I admit, scratching the back of my neck.
“In a bit of a rush, I’ll admit. He’s, well, he’s an admirer of Seb’s.
I mean, a friend. An old friend of his and Anne’s.
Things were still... complicated at the time.
But it’s all sorted now. We’re planning to talk to Maddie and the rest of the group as soon as we’re back. ”
Seb nods at my side, clearly touched that I’ve brought it up so openly.
Mum throws her hands up with a long-suffering sigh, but there’s no real annoyance behind it.
“Alright, alright, you don’t need to explain yourselves any further.
I know you’re good boys, and you’ll do what’s right.
Maddie might be upset, sure, but you’ve been apart for a while, and you’re still young.
You have not only the right, but the duty, not to settle.
Go out there and find the great love of your lives. ”
She gives us that radiant, steady smile of hers, so full of warmth and certainty, like she truly believes everything will work out in the end.
And God, I hope she’s right.