Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

but Stone could feel his stomach clenching.
"But why?"
    Stone felt Preston's hand against his. "Because I acted like an ass and I want to make it up to you." Stone didn't know what to say, but he saw Preston color, and the man actually looked shy, which he didn't think happened very often. "And because of that kiss."

    Stone touched his lips on reflex, remembering the kiss as well. "Okay." He could hardly believe he was agreeing to this, and as soon as he'd agreed, he began to wonder what he'd gotten himself in for.

    "SO, DIDyour father flip out when you got home?" Jasper asked.
    Preston held the phone beneath his chin as he moved around the room, trying to figure out what he should wear on his date with Stone. "No. In fact, he's been unusually silent over the last few days. So either he's plotting a creative demise for me or he's decided if he ignores it, my gayness will just go away." He wheeled himself to the closet and began sorting through his shirts.
    "You don't seem upset about it."

    Preston sighed as he continued looking. He'd stopped worrying about what his father thought years ago. If he didn't care, then the man couldn't hurt him, and Lord knew his father had hurt him plenty over the years. "Nothing to be upset about; it's quiet and I'm happy." At least for now.
    "So what time's your date?"
"He's picking me up in about an hour." Preston couldn't drive, but to his gratitude, Stone had said that Geoff would loan him a car. He heard Jasper laugh. "Thank God. Can you imagine having to ask your mother for a ride?"
Peals of laughter rang through the receiver as Preston almost dropped the phone.
"You know, since the accident, there have been a number of things that I've cringed over.
    Having to go to the bathroom with someone's help, being dressed, and getting a sponge bath from a complete stranger who was so hairy I thought I was being bathed by Cousin It, but I draw the line at taking my mother on a date." He started laughing, and Jasper's giggles started up again. "Hey, I'm sorry, but Derrick just got home." Preston heard a door close behind Jasper, followed by a completely different type of giggle. "I'll see you tomorrow for our therapy session, and you can tell me everything." Jasper hung up as his giggles got deeper.

    Closing the phone, Preston found the shirt he was looking for and began to change. It took him some time, but he was able to dress and clean up on his own. All set, he wheeled himself out of the room and got his coat, waiting near the front door for Stone to arrive.
    "You're really going out with that boy?"
Preston turned around and sighed. He'd hoped he would be able to leave without seeing his father. "Yes, Dad."
He sipped his Scotch and looked thoughtful. "The one who kissed you?"
    "Yes." Preston smiled when he saw a slight shudder travel through his father. The first chink in the man's formidable armor and the look on his face made Preston stop and look for a second.
    He hadn't seen that look in a long time, and it gave him hope. He waited to see what his father would do next, but the man just stood there, looking at him. "Look, Dad." He sighed and wheeled himself closer. "I'm gay. I've never liked girls that way and I never will." He actually seemed to be listening. "I like men and that's not going to change, even if you parade the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders through the living room naked." He smiled and saw what he hoped was a ghost of a smile on his father's face. For the first time, Preston thought he might be getting through. Hell, this was the longest conversation they'd had in a long time, even if it was rather one-sided. "I'm sorry you're disappointed, but as you like to say, 'facts are facts'." Preston waited for some sort of reaction from the man, hoping for anything, but all he did was shake his head and walk down the hall, a door closing a few seconds later.
    "Damn," Preston whispered, as he blinked away the wetness that threatened to spill from his eyes. He refused to cry over him. He'd already done enough of that and he wasn't going to do it any more. He knew he'd never been the son his father had wanted. Preston spent much of his teenage years trying to get his father's attention and approval, but by the time he graduated high school, he'd found that was impossible. Whatever he did just wasn't good enough. "I know you wanted a football star, but you got me instead." He turned and looked at where his father had disappeared. "Fuck," he said as he wiped his eyes again. "No