Page 51 of Secret
"True, I agree. Where do you dream of going someday?" Noam asked.
"Hmm, I've always wanted to go see Hawaii, and I've also wanted to go to that big Mayan Pyramid. I couldn't even tell you where it is honestly, but I've always wanted to walk up it. What about you?"
"I've always wanted to see Paris, and I've wanted to go fishing in Alaska."
Kasey grinned. "I could really get into both of those. We'll have to plan something when I get back. When you can get time off work we'll go for a week."
"Do you get a lot of vacation time?" Noam asked, noticing Kasey had said when he got time off, but didn't say anything about needing to ask for it himself.
"My boss is pretty cool about letting us get time off when we need it as long as we don't take advantage of it. I have to give a little notice, but for the most part, as long as I let him know I'll be gone, he'll have the others cover my shifts." Kasey was fully focused on his food. "It's one of the things I like about the job. It pays well, and I have the freedom I wouldn't have at a lot of other jobs."
Noam had wondered about that. Kasey had a very nice house and seemed to never worry about money, yet he didn't work more than a few nights a week most of the time. It was a lot more than most IT jobs would pay. He didn't push even though he was curious about how much Kasey made. "I wish I had a little more freedom, but I can't complain. They deal with my headaches and the time off I need for those." He sighed. "What time do you leave?"
"I have to work tonight, then meet the others at eight in the morning. We're driving there. It's only a few hours. I'm hoping to be back by Friday, so we can have the weekend together, but it might be Saturday. I'll know more once we get there and see what we're dealing with." Kasey set his fork down again. "You're not upset I'm going, are you? You seem sorta down."
Noam shook his head. "No, I understand you have to go. I mean, of course, I'd rather you be here with me, but we have spent a ton of time together the last few weeks. A little time apart won't kill us. I've just gotten used to you here. Maybe more than I should have."
Kasey reached across the table again for Noam's hand. "Babe, it's not just you. I'm having trouble leaving you as well. I like waking up beside you in the morning, having you with me the nights I don't work. I really tried not to go, but I can't make the others do all the work alone. Not on a job this big. If I really wasn't needed, I'd stay."
"I know that. I sound like some sappy school girl. I'll be fine. It's just made me realize how serious we've gotten in a short time. I'm not saying it's bad. It's just how it is. I don't regret how close we are. It just means that it's that much harder to be apart when we have to. You've just sort of taken my world by storm and I guess now that I know how it feels to be happy, to care about someone, I don't want to lose it."
"You aren't going to lose me, Noam. It's a few days, then I'll be right back by your side, fighting Casper for one side of the bed, and reminding you every day how much you mean to me as well."
Noam smiled over the table, giving Kasey's hand a squeeze. "I'm glad you came into my life. I hope you know that."
"Noam, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for you. I never dreamed I'd find someone who was willing to… Was understanding and wouldn't pressure me to be someone I'm not, do things I don't enjoy. And to share so many things in common, to be able to talk the way we do. You are everything I've ever dreamed I could never find. I'll be back in a few days and we'll talk more, but know while I'm gone, you are on my mind and in my heart."
As he stared across the table at Kasey, trying not to let his emotions show, he was sure that this was the man he wanted to spend his life with. He'd wait until they'd been together longer to tell him, but as far as he was concerned, he'd found the one, and as soon as Kasey was back home, he was going to do everything he could to make sure it happened.
