Chapter 2:
The Next Morning:
Anthony woke to the sun shinning directly in his face; he groaned his head throbbing from his hangover. He lay on back and put his arm over his eyes trying to block out the annoyingly bright light that tormented him. He felt someone touch his chest and smiled, he couldn't remember much about last night, except for the fight with Ian and knowing he wasn't alone when he woke he realized that they must have made up he spoke.
"Morning babe!" Anthony said.
"Morning to you too!" Came an unfamiliar male voice.
"What the hell!" Anthony asked sitting up quickly, his head pounded. "My freaking head!" He moaned grabbing his head with both hands.
"Hang on I've got something for that!" The guy said smiling as he got up, Anthony watched him until he realized he was naked and quickly turned away. "What the hell is going on?" Anthony questioned himself as he checked under the blankets and saw he was naked too. "Oh no! Oh shit!"
"Here take these!" The guy said as he got back into bed.
"Thanks." Anthony said as he took the glass and pills without looking at him.
"You don't remember last night do you?" The guy asked watching Anthony.
"Would I be a douche if I said no?" Anthony asked, the guy shook his head no. "No, I don't!" Anthony admitted hoping all of this was a really bad dream. "I don't want to know anything either…wait, yes I do! Did…did we you know?"
"Sleep together?"
"Yeah, that!" Anthony asked nervously as he took the pills before putting the water on the nightstand.
"Yep, a few times actually!" The guy answered smiling.
"No, no, no! This cannot be happening! What have I done?" Anthony asked burying his face in his hands.
"I take it this was a one night stand?"
"This was a mistake! I'm sorry, I'm sure you're a really nice guy, but this shouldn't have happened! I have a boyfriend, and I love him I…I need to go!" Anthony said as he got out of bed making sure to keep himself covered as he gathered his clothes and went to dress in the bathroom. "I'm sorry!" He said as he left the room.
He dressed quickly keeping his back to the mirror he avoided looking at himself, he couldn't after what he had to Ian, the man he considered his soul mate! Once dressed he returned to the bedroom to look for his shoes and jacket, thankfully the guy was dressed.
"Where are my shoes and jacket damnit?" Anthony said as he looked around.
"Downstairs, I think!" The guy said. "Come on, I'll help you look."
"Thanks!" Anthony said as they headed downstairs and began looking.
"I can't find your jacket, but I did find your phone and keys!" The guy announced.
"I found my shoes!" Anthony said as he put them on. "I…I've got to go, just give Mike my jacket when you find it okay? He'll return it to me." Anthony said as he took his stuff from the guy. "I've never done this before, I feel like a douche! I'm sorry for whatever happened last night!"
"I'm not! Don't worry your precious Ian will never know!" The guy said smiling.
"Thank you! Umm…do we hug or shake hands? I have no idea what I'm doing here!"
"I think a handshake is good enough!" The guy said smiling as he held out his hand.
"Thanks again, bye!" Anthony said as he shook the guy's hand before he left.
Anthony stood on the guy's front porch looking around unsure what to do, so he decided to walk instead of taking a taxi he needed the time to think the guilt was tearing him apart. When he arrived home a half hour later he unlocked the door and quietly went inside shutting the door gently behind him unsure if Ian was awake or not. He took his shoes off and set his phone and keys on the kitchen counter before he headed into the hall. He didn't hear or see anything so he decided to check Ian's room first to see if he was awake. He opened the door quietly and peeked his head inside, he found Ian asleep on his bed on his back his cell phone in his hand obviously waiting for Anthony's return text or call. Looking at him made Anthony's guilt grow, knowing what he did would kill Ian and Anthony's heart physically hurt thinking of what he had done. He quietly shut the door and went into his own room, once behind the closed door the tears began to fall, and he let them come. He had cheated on Ian, the only person that truly knew and loved him and he had destroyed everything! He felt dirty so he grabbed clean clothes and headed to the bathroom where he had the hottest shower he could stand scrubbing every part of him until he was raw, and yet he still felt dirty. He could wash away the touch and kisses of the other man, but he couldn't wash away the guilt and pain he felt no matter how hard he scrubbed. Once done he dried off and got dressed trying to look normal for now at least, until he could tell Ian what he had done. He buried his clothes in the hamper before he took a deep breath and left the bathroom just as Ian came out of his room he smiled seeing Anthony. Anthony's heart beat faster and his breath caught in his throat, he had to force himself to stay strong and act normal, Ian spoke.
"I never heard you come home, what time did you get back?" Ian asked as he leaned against the wall across from Anthony who was leaning against the wall too.
"Oh, umm…you know I'm not sure. I was really tired so I didn't notice the time, you were sleeping though." Anthony lied hoping he believed him.
"I guess you crashed in your room huh?" Ian asked looking at the ground sadly.
"Yeah, I didn't want to wake you so I slept in my room."
"Oh." Ian said as he scratched the back of his head. "I know you're probably still angry with me about last night? After you left I did a lot of thinking and you were right I was being a douche! I let you down, you had every right to go to the party without me! I'm sorry Anthony, can you forgive me?" Ian asked sadly.
"Ian I just miss you that's all, and last night was supposed to be our chance to have some overdue fun and it hurt you blew me off!" Anthony said sadly as he sighed. "You weren't the only one who was an ass last night, I was too! I should have understood you were tired and stayed home, I wanted to spend time with you and I could have done it at home. I'll forgive you, if you forgive me?" Anthony said as Ian smiled again.
"You're forgiven!" Ian said as he kissed him before they hugged, Anthony held tightly to him wanting to keep him as close as he could while he had the chance.
"Come on let's go have breakfast! I'll cook!" Anthony said taking Ian's hand.
"You're going to cook? What's the occasion?" Ian asked smiling.
"Can't a guy make his boyfriend breakfast without needing a special occasion?" Anthony asked as they went into the kitchen.
"Only when it's you! Dude, do you even know us? We don't cook!" Ian said smiling.
"Well, maybe we should start?" Anthony suggested.
"Okay, sure! Umm…there's just one little problem!" Ian replied.
"What?"
"We don't know how to cook!" Ian answered laughing.
"Details, details! Now set the table, while I cook us breakfast!" Anthony said as he laughed too.
Two Months Later:
Time passed and Anthony's cheating remained a secret. He had tried many times to tell Ian, the guilt tearing him apart, but every time he tried the thought of hurting Ian and losing him killed Anthony and he was unable to do it. Unable to live with his guilt Anthony used it to become a better boyfriend, he became the most loving, caring, attentive boyfriend anyone could want which in turn helped Ian become one too! He stayed by Ian's side making sure to show Ian everyday how much he loved him. Their relationship changed growing stronger and they grew more in love, nothing could come between them! That was about to change though when the truth finally comes out! All six were at Ian and Anthony's getting ready to go out to dinner when the doorbell rang. Ian smiling answered it Anthony was still getting changed in the bedroom.
"Can I help you?" Ian asked the unfamiliar blond man.
" Maybe later…I'm looking for Anthony is he home?" The man asked looking Ian up and down smiling.
"Uh yeah, he's just changing. Why don't you come in, I'm…"
"Ian, his boyfriend." The man said cutting him off.
"Yeah…do I know you?" Ian asked confused.
"No, but Anthony's told me about you!"
"I can't say the same about you." Ian said unsure what to think.
"Okay babe, I'm…" Anthony said trailing off when he saw the guy he slept with standing with Ian, he froze not knowing what to do or say.
"Anthony this guy's looking for you." Ian said.
"Hey Anthony! Nice place you got here…and I have to say Ian's better looking in person!" The guy said smiling as he looked Ian up and down again, making Anthony angry. "Maybe we could go for coffee sometime Ian?" The guy said winking at Anthony, Ian didn't catch the hidden meaning, but Anthony did and he wanted to punch the guy.
"Babe why don't you go get the others while I talk to him?" Anthony said.
"No need, I'm not staying. I just came to return this!" The guy said smiling holding up Anthony's jacket. "I thought you'd like it back, I found it under my bed!"
"Your bed? His bed?" Ian asked looking at the guy then Anthony. "What the hell is he talking about Anthony?" Ian demanded angrily.
"You didn't tell him did you?" The guy asked pretending to be shocked. "Oops, my mistake!"
"Tell me what?" Ian demanded again.
"I'll tell him if you'd like? Maybe I'll comfort him for you?" The guy said smirking.
"Stay the hell away from him!" Anthony said angrily.
"Comfort me? What the hell is going on? I don't care who tells me, just someone do it now!" Ian ordered.
"Ian I…" Anthony began, but stopped noticing the others had joined them now, he hung his head before looking at Ian seeing fear in his eyes at what he was about to hear. "Ian this is so hard, but I…"
"Ian the night of Mike's party I met Anthony there! We spent the entire party together before we went back to my place and we slept with each other!" The guy said as he threw Anthony his jacket, Ian starred at Anthony hoping this was a sick joke.
"Anthony?" Ian said needing to hear him say it was a lie.
"Ian, I'm so sorry…I never wanted you to find out this way!" Anthony said seeing Ian's heart break in front of him.
"Now that you know doesn't it make everything better?" The guy asked smirking.
"You asshole!" Ian yelled angrily as he charged the guy who backed up as Anthony caught Ian holding him back as he swung at the guy.
"I don't know why you came here, but if you wanted to ruin my life you did! So get the hell out of here!" Anthony yelled at the guy.
"My job here is done! Ian if you ever want to get together we…"
"Stay the hell away from Ian and I you asshole! Get out of here now!" Anthony yelled as the guy smiling left.
"Let me go you cheating prick!" Ian yelled pushing Anthony off him.
"Ian let me explain!" Anthony begged as Ian turned and went into the living room.
"Explain what? How you slept with some guy at a party? How you lied to me for two months? Or how about how you lied to me when you said you loved me?" Ian yelled.
"I do love you Ian, you have to believe me!" Anthony begged.
"Why did you cheat then? Am I not good enough? Did I do something?" Ian said his tears threatening to fall.
"No, you have nothing to do with it! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me Ian!"
"Then why?"
"It was a mistake! It meant nothing to me…he means nothing to me! I…I don't even remember anything, damnit I don't remember his name! I was drunk and…"
"So that's supposed to make it okay because you were drunk?" Ian said upset cutting Anthony off. "I'm supposed to forgive you because you were drunk!"
"No, I…I just wanted you to know the truth!" Anthony said his own tears threatening to fall. "Ian I'm so sorry, you have to believe me!"
"How many times have you cheated?" Ian demanded.
"Just this one time I swear!" Anthony answered.
"So that change in you was all because you felt guilty about cheating? Not because…I'm such an idiot! I believed you Anthony, I trusted you and this is how you treat me? Did I ever mean anything to you?" Ian asked heartbroken.
"Ian I love you, of course…"
"Save it Anthony! I don't want to hear it! I never thought you'd ever do this to me! After everything we've been through the one thing I never thought you'd do is cheat on me! I'm done Anthony, I love you, but I can't be with someone who cheats!" Ian said upset.
"Ian no please! Don't give up on me…us!" Anthony begged crying.
"Me? You're telling me not to give up on us? You're the one who cheated, you gave up on us first Anthony!" Ian said crying too.
"Ian I'm begging you please don't leave me!"
"You broke my heart Anthony, I can't be with you anymore!" Ian said as he went to their room and began packing some stuff while Anthony tried to get him to stop. "Can I stay with one of you for awhile?" Ian asked the others once they were back in the living room.
"Yeah, you can stay with me." Lasercorn answered.
"Ian please don't leave me!" Anthony begged.
"It's over Anthony…we're over!" Ian said as he walked out followed by Lasercorn and the others.
Once alone Anthony shut the door and slid down it crying, he had lost Ian all because he had gotten drunk and slept with some guy who meant nothing to him. Ian couldn't hate him as much as he hated himself! Ian would never do that to him, he had thrown away seven years for one forgotten night! He sat against the door starring at the wall, he felt like part of him had died when Ian walked out! He got up and went into their…his room and turned the light off as he crawled into bed. He rolled onto his side and saw Ian's pillow and slowly reached over and picked it up bringing it to him. He held his pillow close, it smelled like him he held it tight closing his eyes, it was almost like he was holding Ian again and he cried. He ended up crying himself to sleep, but even his dreams weren't any comfort as he relived the break up all over again.
After leaving the house Ian drove to Lasercorn's meeting the others there. They went inside without speaking, Ian took his bags to the spare room and sat on the bed starring at the wall his heart broken. He never heard the others leave, or notice Lasercorn come to the door until he spoke to him.
"You holding up okay?" Lasercorn asked gently as he sat beside him.
"I never thought Anthony would do this to me! I thought he loved me!"
"Ian I can't speak for Anthony, but I can offer you a place to stay for as long as you need one and a shoulder to lean on!" Lasercorn said patting Ian's back.
"Thanks David!" Ian said smiling sadly. "I think I'll go to bed, I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay, get some sleep. Night Ian." Lasercorn said as he left shutting the door behind him.
Once alone Ian turned off the light and without changing crawled into bed rolling onto his side and tried to sleep. He tossed and turned trying to get some rest, but couldn't get the image of Anthony and guy out of his head and ended up crying himself to sleep which thankfully was dreamless.
TBC…