Page 8 of Secrets

ARCHIE

It was going to be a short visit. He wouldn’t have even bothered coming home for a party, but it was his parent’s anniversary. That was something he knew he couldn’t pass up on. He’d been putting off coming back since he left the military. The thought of just picking up life from before wasn’t something he felt he could do.

He’d seen and experienced things nobody would understand. Everything had changed. It wasn’t like he had a girl to come home to either. He tried once, and it failed. Not that he could blame his ex, he naturally compared her to his best friend. Nobody would compare to Tabitha Grimaldi.

That separate ship had sailed before when he couldn’t admit his feelings. He knew it was for the best. He didn’t have anything to offer her. She was too good for him and his reckless ways.

He thought he’d join the club, like several members of his family, after the military. It was what everyone thought he was going to do. It was what he planned to do until his divorce. He couldn’t go back to the way things were. He needed something different.

Archie knew the MC had been waiting for him to patch in. He could hear the hurt in his dad’s voice when he told him over the phone last month he wasn’t joining. For a while, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. Then a few of the guys he was friends with in the military reached out. They’d started a security agency. It was as simple as setting up security systems for people. It was just enough to help pass the time.

He figured he’d stay one, two hours, tops. Of course the Grimaldis captured his attention first. Any chance to hear how Tabitha was doing. He knew he shouldn’t care. Fuck, he hadn’t seen or spoken to her since shortly after she got married.

The smile on Carol Grimaldi’s face as she looked past him had him pausing. He swallowed as he turned around. Would she be here? He held his breath as his eyes met hers. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest at the sight of her. At first, he thought it was a ghost. She was just as beautiful as ever. Fuck, even more so.

He couldn’t stop his feet from moving towards her. He had to be closer and make sure he was really seeing her. It had been too long. For years, they were always around each other. They naturally gravitated together. It had always been like that.

She’d colored her hair since he last saw her. He followed her on social media; he knew what it looked like now. It was different seeing her in person. Her hair wasn’t the dark brown it had been growing up. It was this reddish purple and had blue peeking underneath. It fit her. She always denied being the little nerdy rebel she actually was.

Her hair was pulled back in one of those claw clip things. A few loose pieces framed her oval face. Her nose crinkled as they stepped closer and he noticed the small nose ring, which was new. Her smile grew right along with his with every step they took closer.

Few words were spoken and then he couldn’t help but pull her in for a hug. He had to touch her and know it wasn’t a figment of his imagination. It felt so good to have her pressed against him. He didn’t want to let go, but he knew she wasn’t his to hold on to. He’d lost that opportunity years ago when he didn’t speak up.

It was probably his only regret in life. He should’ve made a move. Even now he knew his life would’ve been so different, so much better with her in it. Fuck!

He knew he should probably ask her how her husband was, but he didn’t want to talk about him. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”

“I know. I haven’t been back in forever. I have to head back tomorrow. What about you? How are you?”

“Same.” He shrugged.

She was right. This did feel awkward. It had been too long. Tabitha was once someone he could tell anything too. Except the biggest secret, but it was too little too late.

“I’m alright. Finding ways to pass the time and figure out what I want to do.” He forced a smile.

“Your dad said you were all done, but didn’t want to join the club.” She chewed on her bottom lip, then let it slip loose. “I’m kind of glad. I always worried that you’d get hurt somehow.”

“You care?” That shocked him. She’d never told him that before. “I mean, no more danger than the military.”

“It’s different, I guess. I mean, I know some of what the club gets into.” She shook her head. “And of course I care. You know I’ve always cared about you.”

“Same.”

It felt good knowing even after all this time apart, she still cared like he did. They may not be as close, but knowing she thought of him some… helped.

“You look good.” It was the easiest way to compliment her.

Her eyes grew as she blushed. Red spreading across her face and chest. “Thanks. So do you.” She shook her head with a nervous laugh. “I’ve missed you.” She peered up at him through her lashes.

They made their way over to a few of the lawn chairs near the edge of the lawn. They made small talk for most of their conversation. There wasn’t enough time to really catch up. So much time had been lost between them.

Tabitha had been his best friend forever. Even now, without being around her in years, he’d consider her one. They used to know everything about each other. He knew some things, catching up with her on social media. It was all surface level. She practically felt like a stranger. He knew things, but it wasn’t the same.

He was mostly surprised to see she wasn’t a mom by now. He knew that was one of her biggest dreams growing up, not that he knew how to bring it up. For all he knew, they were having trouble getting pregnant. It also wasn’t his business, not really.

Not when he still wished she were his.

Regret him instantly. He couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if he would have told her the truth years ago. If he’d gotten to her first. If he hadn’t been so afraid of losing her.

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