Page 42 of Unmasking Secrets
I groan as I push open the door of the office and deposit the water and snacks. My butt hits the seat, and I slouch in the seat before ripping open the wrapper of one of the protein bars.
“Why do you seem to be in an even worse mood than when you left? I thought food made people happy.” Matt questions.
“What did that guy say in the kitchen?” Tyler questions. “Dude, we saw it all on the feed.” He gestures to the screen in front of them.
I shake my head. “I’m not in the mood.” I crumble the wrapper and toss it into the trash bin in the corner. “And that guy is Max, one of her closest friends. He just wanted to say thanks for doing my job.”
“Sure.” Matt stands and shakes his head. “I’m going to walk the perimeter. I need to stretch my legs.”
Tyler and I sit in silence for five minutes before he flips the volume up on one of the cameras. They seem to be taking a break from recording videos. Snacks are being shared, and a few of them are adjusting their new costumes.
It’s static for a second before we hear the group of them in the living room, crystal clear. I’m not sure what I was expecting to hear, but definitely not what I do.
“Thor’s hammer, though.” A girl giggles.
“Have you seen Hulk?” Max interrupts.
“Which version. Are we talking about Banner or The Hulk?” another guy asks.
They all laugh.
Tyler flips the volume back off. “I don’t care to hear about the dick sizes of superheroes and which one is probably bigger.” He shakes his head.
“Is that what they were doing?” It clearly went over my head. “I thought they were talking literally about Thor’s hammer.” I shake my head. “Nerds.” I smile.
“Was she always into this stuff?’
“Yeah.” I grin. “Her comic collection was serious business. She never let others at school know while we were growing up, but it meant a lot to her. To this day, I’m pretty sure she left some of them in plastic wrap because they were special.”
Tyler laughs. “That’s kind of awesome.”
“Don’t even get me started on the times she made me go to midnight showings at the theater.” I close my eyes. I can picture those memories so easily.
“That’s not so bad,” Tyler argues.
“In costume.” I shake my head, then laugh as I open my eyes. “I mean, full costume, and we had to get there hours early.”
“I would pay money to see that.” Tyler bends over with laughter.
“I’m pretty sure her parents have pictures somewhere.”
I’d do it all over again. Those were the moments when Tabitha was most herself. She was in her element and got excited. It wasn’t a fake smile like she would give others growing up. She could always ask me for anything; I’d give in. I wore costumes and matching shirts even after she promised it was the last time. I took her to the movies, the comic book store, anywhere she wanted. I’d wait hours for the release of a game, movie, or book. I would do it all over again. Because it was her.
My eyes move to the screen where she’s dramatically telling a story. A genuine smile spread across her face. These are her friends now. This is exactly where she’s meant to be. I don’t fit into this environment, and that’s okay. I’ll protect her and keep her safe until she doesn’t need a bodyguard anymore.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ARCHIE
Ten Years Earlier - Age 22
I waitbehind the heavy door, it blocks all sounds coming from inside and it’s taking everything in me not to rip open the door. She still has no idea I’m here and I can’t fucking wait to see her.
Nobody knows I’m in town. My father is the only one—and only because he had to pick me up from the airport. I thought I was going to be late. I hadn’t even bothered changing out of my uniform.
This isn’t something I wanted to miss. It’s her big day and I’ve already missed too many special moments being away. I was tired of missing them, missing her. I was relieved when I found out I got approved to come home for the weekend.
I barely graduated from the academy and have years of service ahead of me before I will be done. The clock is ticking. I have thirty-six hours before I have to be back. But it’s long enough. Long enough to see her. Hug her. Smell her.
