Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

his anger start to drain away. "He pulled away, and I put my hand on his thigh. I just wanted to remain in contact with him," he hurried to explain. "But the way he looked at me...." Preston shivered. "That's what being nice gets me, hurt and dumped, again!"
    "Christ! You know, Pres, but everything isn't about you! Did you stop to think that he might have reacted that way because of something else other than you? You said you had a good time, right?"
    "Yeah, a little heavy, but good. He told me how his dad used to hit him, and then how he threw him out because he was gay." "You've had it easy, Pres. Your mom accepts you, and your dad may not understand, but he didn't throw you out."
"I guess. But Stone looked at me like he was afraid of me."
    "Maybe he wasn't afraid of you. Maybe his reaction had nothing to do with you. Did you ever think of that? After his dad threw him out, did he tell you where he was living or what he'd been doing?"

    "Not really."

    "Pres, being young and alone isn't a picnic, especially when you have nothing. If your parents kicked you out, you'd still have your trust fund and a college education to fall back on."

    He heard Jasper shift, and a low growly noise came through the phone. "Maybe something happened to him and what you did brought it back, or maybe you just moved too fast for him. I don't have the answer, but he does."
    "So what should I do?"
"Try being a friend first and ask him. You like him, right?"
"I do, Jas, I really do. I don't know why, but I do."
    "Then put yourself aside and ask him. You were never very patient, but if something did happen to him, he may not be ready to tell you. But follow your heart, it won't lead you astray."
    "I'll try."
"Good." Preston was about to hang up. "Oh, and one more thing."
"What?"
"I'm proud of you."
That stopped Preston in his tracks. "What for?" He felt his forehead wrinkle in confusion.
"You'll figure it out."
    Preston placed the phone in the cradle, his anger forgotten as he replayed the evening in his mind, looking for clues, but all he kept coming back to was that sweet, unforgettable kiss.
    THE lights of the farm appeared on his right. Stone wiped his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time since pulling away from Preston. He knew he'd been operating on adrenaline brought on by near panic, and now that was wearing off, replaced by shame and worry. Pulling into the drive, he parked the car next to one of the trucks and sat still, breathing deeply, trying to regain control of himself. Taking one breath and then another, he looked toward the house, grateful that no one came outside.
    After another huge breath and a sigh, he opened the door and climbed out of the car. He took a step and his knees nearly buckled beneath him, but he managed to keep himself upright and walked toward the house.

    Entering the back door, the house appeared quiet. He thunked off his shoes and stepped inside, seeing Adelle wiping down the counters, humming quietly to herself.
    "You're back so soon?" She must have gotten a good look at him, because Stone found himself guided toward a chair. "Are you okay?" "No." Stone put his hands over his face to hide his shame.
    "Did that boy do something to hurt you? 'Cause I'll whoop him if he did." Stone shook his head. From her tone, he knew she would, too, and it made him feel better in some twisted way.

    "He didn't hurt me, not directly, anyway."

    Stone heard a chair scrape across the floor. "You lost me." Then he felt hands against his, lightly pulling his fingers away from his face. Rough fingers slid against his palms, holding them tight, massaging lightly.
    Stone lifted his gaze and looked into her deep, brown eyes and felt his stomach relax a little.
"He kissed me and I liked it."
"There ain't nothin' wrong with that, is there?"
    "No, but on the way to his house, he touched my leg." Stone started to shake as everything he'd been trying so desperately to forget flooded through him. "I know it sounds stupid, and I think I hurt him and I didn't mean to." He continued shaking, and he felt Adelle's arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her.
    "It's okay, Baby Boy, it's okay." Then he was being rocked back and forth like a child, and he clung to her. She didn't ask what had happened, but he told her anyway. The whole story came out in gasps and sobs, and this sweet lady held him through it all. Stone wasn't even sure anyone could understand half the words he'd said, but he'd said them for the first time to