Howard stops. For a second it looks like he might cry. He holds the cat closer. He wants to believe it so badly, but if he does and then Cedric lets him down, it'll hurt so much more. And he's tired of hurting over this.

"You're really a hundred perfect serious?" He's shaking, ever so slightly, like he's expecting some injury to come out of nowhere. Like a rabbit hiding from a wild dog.

It would be easier to kick Cedric out and believe the worst. Then it would just be no, go away, black and white hatred. But to put himself out there again and hope that Cedric's being honest is almost asking too much.

"Why now?"