Evermore - Cheradine

Chapter 16

This chapter includes sexual content, intended to portray the intimate dynamics between the characters.

After I confided in Cheryl, I felt a profound sense of calm and relief. The burden of the secret about Dave and my insecurities had been weighing me down, preventing me from fully embracing my time with her. It meant a great deal to me that she not only understood my struggles but also validated them. Cheryl approached my worries with understanding and good humour, never belittling them, which I deeply appreciated.

At times, it seemed to me that Cheryl did not receive the recognition she deserved. She was a remarkable blend of intelligence, empathy, and respect. I couldn't understand how her previous partners had failed to appreciate her and allowed her to slip away. If it were up to me, I would never let her go. This realisation led me to seriously consider making our relationship official. I wanted something that made it clear we were exclusive and that she was mine, and mine alone.

I've always been a bit possessive. As a child, I was even jealous of my dolls and would sulk if I saw one of my sisters playing with them, despite my parents' lessons on sharing. While I could share some things, others, I insisted on keeping just for myself. Cheryl was one of them.

The only thing holding me back from asking her to be my girlfriend was the fear of rejection. She had playfully called me hers a few times, but her playful nature made it hard to gauge her seriousness.

We had another show in Newcastle and then moved on to Aberdeen for another performance. In Aberdeen, I contemplated making things official with Cheryl but hesitated because we would be apart for the next five days.

As soon as the Aberdeen show wrapped up, I caught a flight to Ireland. I was itching to be with my daughter, whom I'd missed terribly after being apart for over a week. That's why I left right away.

During the five days off, Cheryl called me daily to check in and see how my day had gone. I eagerly anticipated her calls just to hear her voice. We also kept in touch via text, though Cheryl wasn't quick to reply. Each delay in her response made me increasingly anxious.

I remained uncertain about her feelings towards me. She had never fully committed her words, and neither had I. I knew it was too soon to declare my feelings. I didn't want to scare her away, especially with everything still being so new. The idea that my feelings might drive her away was unsettling. No, it was better not to risk it.

I was scheduled to arrive in Glasgow in the afternoon, while the girls were arriving early in the morning. As I left my home, a wave of sadness washed over me, but the thought of seeing Cheryl again filled me with excitement. I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms and shower her with kisses.

On my way to the airport, I got a message from Cheryl. She, Kimberley, and Nicola had gone on a day trip to Edinburgh and would be back just in time for us to head to the show's venue. My heart sank. I replied flatly with a "Have fun," no exclamation marks. I couldn't believe Cheryl chose to explore Edinburgh with the girls instead of being with me when I arrived. I was dying to see her, but it was clear she wasn't as eager to see me. If the roles were reversed, I would have been there waiting for her, no questions asked.

When I arrived in Glasgow, I headed straight to the hotel and locked myself in my room. Alone with my thoughts, I replayed every moment I'd shared with Cheryl, trying to figure out if I was just a fling or something more. Overwhelmed by the endless speculation, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to a knock on my door and stumbled over to answer it. Cheryl stood there with a seductive smile, but I wasn't feeling it. After nearly a week apart, I'd hoped she'd be eagerly waiting for me, not out and about with Kimberley and Nicola. My disappointment was clear in the slight frown on my face.