Page 27 of Unmasking Secrets
“Is there any tea?”
I don’t know whether anyone in the clubhouse drinks tea. Gracie drinks it, though, and I know she’s occasionally here. It wouldn’t be wrong of me to assume they might have a small box somewhere.
“Top far cabinet in the corner. There’s a bin we keep just for Gracie. The kettle is in the cabinet next to the stove.” He smiles. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks.”
I make my way over to locate the kettle, fill it and get it going before looking to see what kind of tea is available. Getting the little basket down, I noticed a decent collection of teas. I grab the classic Twinings English Breakfast and then search the cabinets until I find the mugs. A mismatched assortment of them brings another smile to my face. Not everything appears to have changed.
“How do you take your tea?” Lee folds the newspaper over.
“Same as Gracie would make it when I was young.”
He chuckles. “Young. Darling, you’re still young.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t feel like it. I feel like I’ve wasted the last decade of my life.”
My brows furrow as the kettle whistles. I get my tea to steep and turn back around to face Lee. I cross my arms and lean against the counter.
“Who’s to say what young and old is?” He questions. “You’re barely entering your thirties; most people these days don’t really start living until they’re in their forties. You have all the time in the world.”
“Realistically, I know that. It’s just that now it feels like the biggest mistake, and I was too blind to see it after all that time.”
“Don’t live your life focusing on regrets. We all make mistakes, but it’s the choices we make that turn us into who we’re supposed to be. So, you wasted a few years. All that time wasn’t for nothing. As I recall, you found something you’re passionate about and made a career out of it.” Lee grins.
“The only good thing to come out of all of that.” I smile back at him. “I have you to thank for all of that too.”
Lee gave me my first comic book after I spent a few hours at their house looking at his collection. Archie and I would go into his office and pull out boxes of comics and spend the entire night reading them.
“I’m surprised Archie doesn’t collect them now like us.” I chuckle.
“You know it was never about the comics. He just wanted to spend time with you.”
“Well, we were best friends.” I swallow.
“Uh huh.” He smirks and returns to watching the little television.
I turn around and take my time making my cup of tea. I’ve made it the same way for years. Every now and then, I’ll try a different type of tea or mix up how I take it. In the end, I always go back to the classic. A little bit of sugar and a splash of milk.
My mind wanders to my teenage years and even earlier. Summer days spent at the Stryker’s home. Lee was often busy with the club. Archie and I would spend hours reading comic books. I remember us both reading them. He never got into them as much. We’d talk about them for hours after reading them, or maybe it was just me.
I shake my head. It’s all in my head. I’m all in my head—again.
Last night has really messed with me. I don’t know what to think. I didn’t know last night either, so when he got back to the room, I pretended to be asleep. I wasn’t ready to face whatever almost happened. Then, I started doubting it was going in the direction it felt like.
His lips were right there and then—ugh. It feels like it’s all in my head. Maybe it was a trick of light.
There were times like that when we were younger when I thought there might’ve been something there. I was always wrong.
Why should it be any different now?
Fifteen YearsEarlier - Age 17
This is a crazy idea.He’s going to think I’m nuts! I know it’s ridiculous. Even the idea of it sounds insane! Would he go for it? Archie has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He was literally born days before me.
Our moms practically planned it. They grew up together, got married around the same time, and then got pregnant around the same time. Our moms did everything together, same with our families. The Grimaldis and Strikers are inseparable.
Vacations, holidays, happy times and sad—we were always together. I wouldn’t have been surprised if our moms even thought of Archie and I getting together one day. It’s not a crazy thought. Something to tie our families together even more. Not that he would see me like that, we’re just friends.
