Page 70 of Secret
"What if I like it?" He rubbed his chin. It was only two weeks' worth of growth, but it was shaggy and as much as he hated to admit it, there probably were tones of gray in it.
"Then ask Xander for some of that stuff he puts in his beard to make it soft, and trim it, because you've got long hairs and short ones." She tossed a pair of sweatpants on the bed along with a black t-shirt. "You can get your own underwear." She turned to face him. "I'll be in the kitchen when you're done." She gave him a smile as she walked out of the room.
"Damn it." He really didn't want to do this. He was fine sitting around being lazy. It wasn't like he was missing out on anything. He had nothing to do. Refusing to argue with Faith, he walked into the bathroom and shut the door, pausing to look at his reflection in the mirror. Faith was right, he really did look old with a beard.
He quickly shaved before stripping off his clothes and climbing into the shower. The hot water was refreshing, and he tried to remember when his last shower was but couldn't. He really had let himself go. It was no wonder his friends were intervening, but hell, did they have to use Faith to do it? She was the one person he just couldn't say no to.
Even though their hearts were in the right place, the last thing he wanted was to spend the next few hours with them. Not only was he going to watch Xander and Matt play happy, loving couple, but they would also talk about work. At least some. They were careful what was said around Faith, but knowing her, she'd be gaming all night while they talked. He wondered if he could bribe her to stay by his side.
He rushed the shower, even though he just wanted to lean against the wall and let the water hit him, maybe wash away the sins, the shame, the pain.
Once dressed, he walked to the kitchen to find Faith loading the dishwasher. "You don't need to clean up after me."
"Dad will need room to cook, besides, it doesn't look like you've cleaned up for days." She turned, drying her hands on a dish towel. "Why are you so sad?"
He shrugged.
"You remind me of Dad when Xander and him fight. Did you fight with Noam?"
"Xander and your dad fight?" This was news to him. He'd never seen those two even bicker.
"Dad says all married couples fight sometimes. So, is that what happened?" She leaned against the counter watching him.
"A little of it was a fight with Noam. We decided not to see each other anymore, but there's more to it. I'm just trying to decide what I want to do with my life."
"Aren't you going to keep saving kids?" She walked over and sat down at the table.
"I'm not sure. I'm guessing that's what your dads want to talk about tonight."
"Did you make them mad? Is that why you're thinking about not working with them anymore?"
Kasey smiled. "I almost did something that would get them in trouble. You know how we tell you that you can't tell anyone about us saving you? You have to let them know it was the police?"
Faith nodded.
"Well, I had to tell someone what I do and that put everyone in danger, so now they might be a little mad at me." He figured being honest was best. The girl was smart and there was a good chance she'd overhear them talking later and he didn't want anything to make it seem as if he was lying to her in any way.
"It was Noam, wasn't it? That's why you're fighting with him?"
Kasey nodded. "It doesn't matter now. Noam won't tell anyone, but we also won't be dating anymore. I'm sorry. I know you liked him."
"Is that why Dad and I had to leave so fast the last time we were here?" Faith asked.
"It is. Noam and I needed to talk things through. I'm sorry we cut into your game."
"It's okay. Your talk was more important." She played with the end of her braid. "You know what I think?"
"I bet you're going to tell me." He smiled.
"You like working with my dads and the others and you're good at it. There are a lot of kids who are being hurt the way I was. I saw them on TV a couple weeks ago. Two girls around my age taken from the mall. If you can help them, why would you not want to? I heard Dad talking to Xander and he said there were a bunch of kids in Nevada when you and Xander went."
Kasey nodded. The two girls she'd seen on TV had been there, but he wasn't sure it was his place to tell her that.
"If you hadn't gone, then they wouldn't have been saved." Faith stared at him. "Why would you quit when you're helping people? I don't get it."
"You guys in here?" Matt called from the front entry.
"In the kitchen," Kasey called back before looking at Faith. "I have a lot to decide, but thank you for helping me see why I shouldn't quit. I don't know what I'm doing yet, but you've helped me start to think things through more clearly." He reached over and gently brushed a stray hair back from her forehead. "I love you, Stripes."
