Cheshire - 2. Step 2: Learning to forgive

Even though Cheshire adored his owner, he was quite hungry, and Ethan had not filled his bowl yet. This was absolutely unacceptable, and something had done to be done. He went to the bedroom door, his paws not making the slightest noise, and slowly pushed it inwards. Stealthily, he made his way to the bed from which heavy, deep breathing rose, and jumped up. In their late night (noisy) “activities” his owner and his lover had left a wide opening in the covers at the foot of the bed. Like a soldier, he dodged around various body parts as he made his way through. He squirmed his way inside his master’s arms, replacing Chris entirely, and started purring softly. His owner was warm and he felt at ease. Almost too late did he remember why he was here, as he had started to fall asleep. Ethan, being used to this gently held him and petted his back, which only made Cheshire purr louder. Even though this was very enjoyable, he had to do something about the abyss he had as a stomach. Giving Ethan a chance, he started by meowing in his ear. When that didn’t get a reaction from him, he gently dug his claws in the soft skin.

Ethan was having a wonderful dream. In it, Chris and him were alone on a sunny beach enjoying cocktails, laughing, and kissing from time to time. Suddenly, Chris climbed on top of him, and started purring and kneading his chest muscles softly. He smiled, Chris sounded just like Cheshire… However, he was not prepared when Chris planted his sharp nails in his skin.

He woke with a start, briefly disoriented. He looked down and saw two things. First, the back of a sleeping man, which made him smile. Second, a cat that was looking at him with wide, innocent eyes, which made him sigh. Cheshire just meowed at him, keeping up his act. He knew however that he wouldn’t be allowed to go back to sleep unless he did what his cat wanted. Looking at his alarm clock told him all he needed to know. It was well past Cheshire’s breakfast hour. He got up, completely naked and still carrying his cat who curled in his arms and nestled his head in Ethan’s arms.

Ethan tip-toed out of the bedroom, and gently set his cat on his couch, in a ray of sunshine. Cheshire meowed his approval and closed his eyes. Then, Ethan went in the kitchen, got himself a glass of orange juice, and started to prepare Cheshire’s bowl. He also brewed some coffee, and prepared a tea as well. If Chris preferred tea then he would drink the coffee, and vice-versa. Cheshire lazily walked in and sat down in “his spot”. Cheshire’s “spot” was on one of the counters from which he had a direct view on all the kitchen area and the living room, while also being in the sun in the morning, finally, in winter it was right under the hot air vent. Ethan set out the now full bowl in front of Cheshire before going back to the bedroom.

He slipped back in the warm covers and wrapped his arms around Chris, who was still sound asleep. Or at least, he thought so.

“Your feet are cold,” stated Chris, very matter-of-factly.

“Sorry, Cheshire was hungry.”

“That’s all right, but now I’m cold… and your feet are not helping!” he chuckled before turning around to face Ethan.

Chris snuggled closer to his boyfriend, he hadn’t been joking when he had said he was cold. Ethan wrapped his arms tighter around Chris and kissed the top of his head. They shared, in those moments, more than just heat, they shared the love they had found in each other, they shared a moment stolen from time, and they shared, without words, their heart, both opening themselves completely as to better welcome the other.

Back in the kitchen, Cheshire was done with his meal, and he was feeling lonely. The two love birds had had enough time for themselves, and thus he decided that it was time to get up. The coffee was getting cold anyway…

One of his favorite games was to pretend that his owner’s feet were prey and that he had to hunt them. As luck had it, this morning he had not one, but two pairs of feet to hunt. He went back to the bed, and he waited for the right moment. As quick as lightning, he jumped on the bed and went for one of the four of his preys in one swift movement.

Bullseye.

Chris jumped and quickly retreated, both feet returning to the relative safety of the covers. Cheshire was sad that two of his toys were gone, but he still had his Ethan’s. However, Ethan knew his cat, and he was prepared, when Cheshire jumped, he had moved his feet out of the way. Cheshire gave chase, but Ethan was quicker. He suddenly was grabbed out of the air, and brought tightly against a muscled chest. He meowed in protest, but the hands held him in place.

“Sorry about that, he gets playful sometimes after breakfast,” his owner said.

“It’s alright, no harm done.”

“Cheshire?” called Ethan

The cat looked up at his owner, his eyes gleaming and a grin stretched on his face.

“Excuse yourself Cheshire.”

With that, the gentle, but firm, grip was released, and Cheshire went to lick the tip of Chris’ nose very gently. He liked him after all, and he seemed to make Ethan happy. Then he curled into a ball in between them, while Chris smiled and stroked his back, making him purr in delight.

After a pleasant breakfast, Chris left, though not before promising to return, and soon. He hadn’t felt this good in ages. His confidence was at an all-time high, and for once he didn’t look at the ground as he walked down the street. He felt like singing, like dancing, and he felt like things couldn’t get any better.

From then on, they started seeing each other at least 3 times in the week, and spending the weekends at Chris’ or Ethan’s apartment. They had gone into a sort of routine that fitted them both, and Chris had never felt so good.

Ethan was a little early, but walked in the restaurant to see if their table was ready, you never know… As it was, their table was all set up and ready for them. He sat down and patiently waited for Chris. The restaurant was almost full, but it wasn’t too noisy. They had already come here once, for their first dinner date, and Ethan had chosen it because of that. Tonight he had a very important question for his boyfriend… They were both madly in love, and he thought they were ready.

Chris came in, radiant, and spotted him almost immediately. He had a spring in his step as he came to their table. Ethan stood, and quickly kissed him on the cheek sweetly, they were in public and he knew how much Chris was shy about this sort of thing.

They ordered their meal and started chatting gaily. Conversation always came to them easily, and they both enjoyed their long talks that could last hours on end.

During the main course, Ethan mustered all his courage and said:

“Chris, can I ask you something?”

“Of course Ethan!”

“Chris, would you like to…” Ethan paused.

Chris gulped.

“… live with me,” Ethan finished.

Chris blinked twice, then answered:

“Of course!”

He was relieved and slightly disappointed at the same time. He was very happy with moving in with Ethan, his apartment was the same distance from his work, and he felt lonely on the nights where he was in his own apartment without Ethan. He felt foolish for thinking that Ethan was going to propose to him so soon, even though he probably wouldn’t have turned him down…

Thus it was decided that Chris would move in with Ethan and Cheshire. The latter was very content with this as he could coax more favors from Chris than his master. The day of the move, he looked at them carrying boxes in the apartment from his spot, occasionally sniffing them to try and guess their content. That night they finished unpacking Chris’ stuff, mostly books and mementoes. They had prepared everything, sold most of Chris’ furniture in advance, and selling Ethan’s TV as Chris’ was better. All in all they had a mix of things from both. The result was a very packed apartment with little room for any sort of storage left. However this didn’t bother them at all. Cheshire had had to make a few concessions, meowing his disagreement to the placement of certain objects that took up space that he usually occupied. On a few occasions Chris had laughed and moved said objects elsewhere, while Ethan just smiled mischievously at his cat, revenge was sweet sometimes… Cheshire made a mental note to take steps to correct his owner’s behavior, a few good pranks would do the trick, and he grinned at the thought.

Chris was coming “home” from work the next day, when he saw a familiar shape ahead of him. The man was too far to make out details, but he was walking towards him. Chris finally recognized him: Cody, his college boyfriend, the guy that had taken his heart, ripped it to shreds, trampled it in the mud, before picking the pieces up and shoving them back in his chest. Anger swelled inside him, and his eyes hardened. It seemed that Cody recognized him as well, as his eyes grew wide in surprise.

“Chris is that you?” he asked.

“Cody,” Chris replied curtly.

“How have you been man!?”

“All right.”

Had he forgotten? How could he!! Chris balled his fists.

“Wow, I didn’t know you lived in this part of town.”

“What’s it to you?” Chris said, his usual politeness lost to his anger.

“Sorry man, it’s just, we didn’t leave on good terms back in college…”

“You don’t say,” Chris muttered.

“And, well, how to put this… I felt like shit after… after you know what,” he continued uncomfortably. “I missed you a lot, and I always hoped for a day where I could say how sorry I was.”

This was unexpected. Chris had never thought that Cody would actually excuse himself, after that day he had branded him as the world’s biggest asshole. His anger subsided. He frowned but stayed silent.

“I fucked up that day, I really did. You’re a great guy and I was an idiot and an asshole for doing that to you. Can you forgive me? And I’d understand if you didn’t I mean…”

Little did Chris know, Ethan had caught up to him as he talked to Cody. He came up behind him as chris was going to answer Cody.

“Hey you,” he said.

“Oh, hey, what are you doing here?”

“I finished early.”

“Oh. Well uh, Ethan this is Cody, Cody this is Ethan, my boyfriend,” he emphasized the boyfriend part.

“Hi Ethan, I’m Cody, Chris’ boyfriend in college,” he said, extending his hand out.

Ethan stared at him a second, this was the guy that had hurt his boyfriend badly. He didn’t really want to shake his hand, but… Chris seemed pretty calm and didn’t look particularly angry or anything. So he decided to stay courteous, he shook hands with Cody.

“Well it was nice seeing you Chris, I hope we can meet up sometime.”

“Maybe…” Chris wasn’t sure he wanted to see Cody again.

“You still have my number? I haven’t changed it.”

Chris nodded.

“I’m off, have a good evening you guys.”

“Likewise,” Ethan replied.

They started walking, but Chris turned.

“Cody.”

Cody stopped and turned.

“I forgive you.”

Not waiting to see his reaction, he took hold of Ethan’s hand and walked off in the night, back to his and Ethan’s home.