Page 69 of Secret
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kasey ran his hand over his chin, trying to remember the last time he'd shaved. He hadn't bothered doing very much of anything over the last few weeks. He was unsure what to do. He was still scared to go to the team house, afraid that someone might follow him. He wanted to trust Noam, but if there was even a sliver of a chance of anyone finding out who he worked with, he wouldn't take the risk. His heart told him that Noam wouldn't deceive him, but he still couldn't bring himself to contact any of the team.
Bryon and Matt had both dropped by, making sure he was okay, but he'd chased them off after reassuring them he was alright. He didn't need the company. He needed time to think and decide what direction his life was going.
It had taken time for him to get over the fear of going to prison. Even now, when he heard a noise outside or a car pulled into his driveway, his heart skipped, and he forgot to breathe until he saw who it was.
He tried hard not to think of Noam, but no matter what he tried to do to distract himself, he thought of him, wondering what he was doing, how he was doing. He'd almost picked up the phone several times to call him, but Noam knew where he was if he wanted to talk. There was no doubt after the way he'd left that Noam didn't want anything more between them. Hell, Kasey didn't blame him.
He wondered if he quit the team if Noam might give him another chance, but the truth was, the damage was already done. Noam probably wouldn't ever forgive him for everything. Relationships were built on trust, and he'd destroyed that trust by deceiving him.
Kasey grunted as he got up off the couch and made his way into the kitchen. Dishes sat piled in the sink, but he didn't have the energy to wash them. He hadn't been eating much, only warming a simple TV dinner when his stomach demanded that he eat.
He grabbed a bottle of water out of the pack that sat on the counter. He hadn't even had the energy to put it in the fridge to get cold. As he twisted off the lid, he wondered what Noam had been doing.
He was still in shock that Noam hadn't arrested him. No matter how many times he went over it in his mind, he couldn't understand why he'd chosen to let him go. None of it made sense. Bringing him in would have looked great for Noam professionally, and closed a lot of open cases.
He downed half the water as he stared at the clock above the stove. He had no clue what day it was. It didn't matter. They were all the same. With nothing to do, nowhere to be, and nothing to motivate him, he just didn't care.
He jumped at the sound of his doorbell, spilling water down his arm and over the front of his shirt.
"Who the hell?" He made his way to the front door, ready to yell at whoever was there, but when he opened it, he bit back his complaint.
"Stripes?" He looked at her, then down the driveway not seeing anyone. "You're alone?"
"Dad and Xander just dropped me off. They said for me to get you cleaned up while they ran to the store. We're going to cook you dinner tonight." She pushed past him, stopping to wrinkle her nose at him. "You stink and your shirt's wet."
He sniffed, unable to smell anything. "It's wet because I spilled water when the doorbell rang. As for dinner, why don't you and your dads just go home and cook there? I'm really not in the mood."
"Xan said that you'd say that." She put her hands on her hips.
"Well, it's the truth."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why are you so sad?"
Fuck, he was going to kill Xander and Matt for dumping Faith at his house. They knew that if he'd listen to anyone it would be her. "I'm just on vacation. There's nothing wrong with being lazy when you don't have to work."
"I'm on vacation from school right now and I still shower and brush my hair." She reached up and rubbed her hand over his growing beard. "Are you trying to look like Xander, cause it doesn't work for you. It makes you look old. You've even got gray hair."
"I do not have gray." He ran his hand over his beard.
"You do." She narrowed her eyes as if daring him to argue. "Anyway, Xander said I could pick out your clothes while you shower."
"Oh, he did, did he?" Kasey raised a brow.
"He said you'd let me or thathe'dgive you a shower when he gets back, andhe'dpick out the clothes for you." She grinned.
"You guys are cruel. I don't want to shower. I don't want to eat. And I don't want Xander threatening me."
"It's not a threat, it's a promise, so you'd better listen. I'll be nicer than he will. I'll let you stay in sweatpants, but clean ones. The stuff you're wearing now really stinks." She pushed him. "Go shower before Xander gets back. I don't want to hear you two fight if he tries to get in the shower with you."
She had a point. He'd deck Xander if he tried to shower with him. "When did you become so bossy?"
"When Dad told me it was the only way you'd listen." She grinned as she turned and headed to his bedroom.
He hated his friends right now. Why couldn't they just leave him alone and let him be miserable all by himself? The last thing he wanted was to watch Xander and Matt together, reminding him of what he'd lost with Noam.
"Shave, too. I don't like the beard." Faith was opening his dresser drawers.
