✨Written in the Stars✨

Chapter 5 - Heavy Questions

Gerald sat with Eric asleep on his shoulder, breathing softly and snuggling into the older man unconsciously. He ran his hands through Eric's hair and placed a soft kiss on his forehead, which made the other man stir slightly and gently wake.

"I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's alright."
"Did you rest well?"
"Of course, I was very tired out after what we did."

Gerald wrapped his arm around Eric and squeezed a little. Eric looked up at him with wide eyes. "I have a question, Mr Croft." Gerald smiled at him reassuringly. "Then ask it."

"Did you really love Sheila?"

Gerald took a moment to think about it. "Yes. I did. But only for the first few months. Your sister is a lovely girl, of average beauty, but she was far too materialistic for my liking. I saw her greed early on and I, unfortunately, found that unattractive. Whenever we walked together, she would always critique the appearance of other girls on the street. She was always asking for new dresses, rings, shoes, it was too much. That's why I had that affair with Daisy. She was just a nice break from all of the nagging, I needed someone nice, y'know? But even she was just a distraction."

"Then what do you think of me? Am I another distraction?"

"Of course not Eric." Gerald held him by the chin and pulled him up into a gentle kiss on the lips. "Eric you're so much better than either of them. Ever since we first met, I've felt so much comfort around you, you truly make me feel amazing. Sheila never picked up on it, she was too oblivious for paying attention to anything other than clothes, but I was only truly loving to her when you were around. I needed to satiate my desire for you somehow."

"Gerald, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me." Tears pricked at the corners of Eric's eyes. "Oh god, I feel so awful about my actions. How can you love me after what I did to that poor girl I— I was so confused that day I didn't know what I was doing— she just looked so pretty and..."

"Shh, shh, it's okay..."

"No. It's not. I've ruined that girl's life." Gerald wiped away Eric's tears as he cuddled in closer, now sobbing.