--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She kept herself busy for a moment…" description: "\"“She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into a mug and giving Jay a chance to absorb what she’d just asked of him, letting him consider ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/kimberly-derting-2436_best-friend_she-kept-herself-busy-for-a-moment-pouri_2062488.jpg" --- # She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into… ![“She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into a mug and giving Jay a chance to absorb what she’d just asked of him, letting him consider her request. Before the dance and before they were a couple, there would have been nothing to think about; he would never have told on her. They’d…” quote by Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/kimberly-derting-2436_best-friend_she-kept-herself-busy-for-a-moment-pouri_2062488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/kimberly-derting-2436_best-friend_she-kept-herself-busy-for-a-moment-pouri_2062488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/kimberly-derting-2436_best-friend_she-kept-herself-busy-for-a-moment-pouri_2062488.jpg) > ““She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into a mug and giving Jay a chance to absorb what she’d just asked of him, letting him consider her request. Before the dance and before they were a couple, there would have been nothing to think about; he would never have told on her. They’d kept each other’s secrets. No matter what. But now everything— everything —had changed, and Violet was sometimes surprised by how far he would go to keep her out of harm’s way. She knew that, for him anyway, it meant that he would even betray her secrets if it meant she’d be safer in the end. She carried her steaming mug, with the tea bag steeping inside, and set it on the table as she sat down. Jay reluctantly sat too. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching her warily. Finally he sighed, “I won’t tell . . . if you make me one promise.” She met his eyes, hesitating at the look she saw on his face. The unusual mixture of tenderness and fear were at odds, but it made Violet feel warm and soft inside. He reached out his hand to her, and she took it, letting him pull her toward him. She settled onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling deeply as if the scent of her was somehow reassuring. “Next time . . .” he insisted in a voice quieter than before, “you call me.” She nodded, satisfied that he would keep her safe . . . secrets and all. It was completely astonishing to her—even after all these months—being in love with her best friend.”” [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A deepening bond where trust leads to protective sacrifice, blending tenderness with fear. **In simple terms:** Love can make people protect each other, even at personal cost. Key Takeaway Cherish trust and protect loved ones. Themes love trust protection friendship Mood romantic intimate Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - confiding secrets - comforting rituals - relationship growth Key Concepts emotional intimacy self‑sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - When does protecting someone become self‑harm? - How do we balance trust and self‑care? A Different Perspective May romanticize unhealthy sacrifice; boundaries can blur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Betray Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray-secrets-2761630/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Hot water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot-water/) [Kept secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept-secrets/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Secrets Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets-completely-3940984/) [Secrets Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets-meant-489304/) [Tea bag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tea-bag/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In love we are not only liable to betray ourselves, but also the secrets of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-love-we-are-not-only-liable-to-betray-ourselves-but-also-the/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [Money is a terrible blab; she will betray the secrets of her owner, whatever he do to gag her. 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In times of trouble, you not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/people-are-like-tea-bags-you-never-know-how-strong-they-ll-be-until/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“Women are like tea bags; you never know how strong they are until they’re put in hot water. — ELEANOR ROOSEVELT”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-rodriguez/women-are-like-tea-bags-you-never-know-how-strong-they-are-until-they/) [Deborah Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-rodriguez/) > [Women are like tea bags.They do not know how strong they are until they get into hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/women-are-like-tea-bags-they-do-not-know-how-strong-they-are-until/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [A woman is like a tea bag. It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-it-s-only-when-she-s-in-hot-water-that-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“RECIPE: TAN’S HOMEMADE FACE MASK Half cup yogurt—I use FAGE 2% fat Greek yogurt Contents of one green tea bag (steep for one minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-france/recipe-tan-s-homemade-face-mask-half-cup-yogurt-i-use-fage-2-fat/) [Tan France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-france/) > [You'll see in the movie he constantly does that-he only drinks his tea a certain way, brings his own tea bags, the guy pours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/you-ll-see-in-the-movie-he-constantly-does-that-he-only-drinks-his/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [A woman is like a tea bag, you never know her strength until you drop her in hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-you-never-know-her-strength-until-you-drop/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [“We are like tea bags - we don't know man lying on sidewalk as people pass byour own strength until we're in hot water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-busche/we-are-like-tea-bags-we-don-t-know-man-lying-on-sidewalk-as-people/) [Sister Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-busche/) > [Women are like tea bags: put them in hot water and they get stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/women-are-like-tea-bags-put-them-in-hot-water-and-they-get-stronger/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water but being a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-you-never-know-how-strong-it-is-until-it-s/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [A Man is like a tea bag- you never know how strong he is until he gets in hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-like-a-tea-bag-you-never-know-how-strong-he-is-until-he-gets/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A woman is like a tea bag. She only knows her strength when put in hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-she-only-knows-her-strength-when-put-in-hot/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [a women is like a tea bag.it's only when she is in hot water that you realize how strong she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/a-women-is-like-a-tea-bag-it-s-only-when-she-is-in-hot-water-that-you/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) ## More by Kimberly Derting > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“One night, when Violet’s parents had gone out, he teased her about it, whispering against her throat, “I should probably be dating girls my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/one-night-when-violet-s-parents-had-gone-out-he-teased-her-about-it/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“I just . . . I just wanted to make sure you were . . . okay.” He shoved away from the door as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/i-just-i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-were-okay-he-shoved-away-from/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“What are you doing here?" she asked as she slowed from a jog to a walk and placed her hands on her hips. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/what-are-you-doing-here-she-asked-as-she-slowed-from-a-jog-to-a-walk/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Hey, A-D-D,” she called out to Claire, “come over and try these on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/hey-a-d-d-she-called-out-to-claire-come-over-and-try-these-on/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“You even used to make up funny stories about those poor little lost creatures of yours. Remember Bob, the squirrel banker who forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/you-even-used-to-make-up-funny-stories-about-those-poor-little-lost/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“In the meantime, she and Jay sat shoulder to shoulder throughout the movie, and the warmth of his pressed up against her made it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/in-the-meantime-she-and-jay-sat-shoulder-to-shoulder-throughout-the/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“She picked up a handheld grenade launcher, cradling it like a baby.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/she-picked-up-a-handheld-grenade-launcher-cradling-it-like-a-baby/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Ewww!" Clair shrieked, shoving Chelsea away. "Get away from me!" "Leave her Alone Chels" Jules interupted, "or you're going to make her start on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/ewww-clair-shrieked-shoving-chelsea-away-get-away-from-me-leave-her/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“I loved voices, I always had. Words held meaning, but voices held emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/i-loved-voices-i-always-had-words-held-meaning-but-voices-held-emotion/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“The sounds she heard bouncing off the walls around her were those of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/the-sounds-she-heard-bouncing-off-the-walls-around-her-were-those-of/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Jay’s mom was a lot of great things that Violet admired, technologically savvy was definitely not one of them. She was one of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/jay-s-mom-was-a-lot-of-great-things-that-violet-admired/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“She slid a sideways glance in his direction, trying to figure out just what it was that was making her so . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/she-slid-a-sideways-glance-in-his-direction-trying-to-figure-out-just/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“He nudged her with his shoulder but didn’t say anything. They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the silence of being alone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/he-nudged-her-with-his-shoulder-but-didn-t-say-anything-they-stayed/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Odd how somehow she'd once thought she hated had become such an integral part of her daily life. Like breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/odd-how-somehow-she-d-once-thought-she-hated-had-become-such-an/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) [Explore all 166 Kimberly Derting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/) [Shelly Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-yang/) > [A best friend isn't someone who's just always there for you.Its someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-best-friend-isn-t-someone-who-s-just-always-there-for-you-its/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Sometimes the right people can make your day. They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) [Lisa's Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-s-voice/) [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She kept herself busy for a moment, pouring hot water into a mug and giving Jay a chance to absorb what she’d just asked of him, letting him consider her request. Before the dance and before they were a couple, there would have been nothing to think about; he would never have told on her. They’d kept each other’s secrets. No matter what. But now everything— everything —had changed, and Violet was sometimes surprised by how far he would go to keep her out of harm’s way. She knew that, for him anyway, it meant that he would even betray her secrets if it meant she’d be safer in the end. She carried her steaming mug, with the tea bag steeping inside, and set it on the table as she sat down. Jay reluctantly sat too. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching her warily. Finally he sighed, “I won’t tell . . . if you make me one promise.” She met his eyes, hesitating at the look she saw on his face. The unusual mixture of tenderness and fear were at odds, but it made Violet feel warm and soft inside. He reached out his hand to her, and she took it, letting him pull her toward him. She settled onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling deeply as if the scent of her was somehow reassuring. “Next time . . .” he insisted in a voice quieter than before, “you call me.” She nodded, satisfied that he would keep her safe . . . secrets and all. 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