Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

job and move out. You'll never have to see me again." He'd throw a party and get stark raving drunk the first day he was on his own again. Hopefully, Stone would be with him--now, that would be perfect.
    "Why wait? There's an opening for a financial analyst in the Kansas City office. You're perfectly qualified."
Kansas City! Jesus Christ! "What about therapy?" Preston could feel his heart clench at the thought of moving so far away.
    "They have perfectly qualified therapists in Kansas City." He sat down in the wingback chair next to him. "The bottom line is that if you're well enough to stay out all night, you're well enough to support yourself and get a job."

    A denial and explanation was on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back. His father was right. Fuck, he hated when that happened. "Okay, I'll give you that. And I agree. I should get a job." The surprised look on his father's face turned into a smile.
    "So I can tell the department manager to expect you in two weeks?"
"No. I'll get a job on my own." The last thing he wanted was a job his father picked out for him, and with his father's company, no less. Milford's eyes narrowed. "I think it best that you get away from some of the influences you've been under lately."
"Like what, Dad?" Preston was beginning to see where all this was coming from.
"I think a change of scenery might get you on the right track socially."
    Preston had been right. "Dad, I'm gay. Moving across the country or around the world isn't going to change that." Preston softened his voice. "Being gay is just part of who I am. I know this is hard for you." He reached out and touched his father's hand. "But you didn't do anything to make me gay, Dad." Preston watched as his father turned toward him.
    "I know that." His eyes were hard again, and he got up without saying another word and left the room.
"SOWHATare you telling me?" Stone asked skeptically.
    "That I've got two weeks to find a job or my dad will force me to take the job in Kansas City." The thought damn near made him sick, and he swallowed the bad taste in his mouth.
"I'm sure that Geoff would hire you," Stone replied, looking hopefully into his eyes, and for a moment, Preston seemed to forget about everything else..
    "I can't work here. I don't have anything Geoff needs." Stone reacted to his tone, and Preston huffed lightly and took his hands. "I have skills and I'll make inquiries. Who knows, I might get lucky." Stone could see that Preston was trying to put the best face on it he could. "And if you don't, then it's good-bye Stone, hello Kansas City." He tried to keep his pain from showing, but couldn't.

    "I don't want to go anywhere." Preston tugged lightly, and he bent down so he could hug him. "I want to stay here, but I may not have a choice. My father controls where I'm living, and he even controls my trust fund."
    "Then what do we do?"
Stone saw the glint in Preston's eyes. "Nothing right now. Tonight I'll punch up my resume and get some letters of inquiry out." "What do we do now?" Stone asked as Preston tightened his hug and leaned forward, kissing him softly before teasing his tongue along his lips.
    "This feels good to me." Stone's lips parted, and Preston resumed their kiss, letting his tongue explore a little. He wished he could get up those stairs and take Stone to bed so he could make love to him and show him just how much he meant to him.
    "How long can you stay?" Stone returned his kiss.
"Not long enough. Jasper brought me over so I could talk to you, but this is so much better than talking."
They kissed again, and then Stone stood up. "I'll help you get to the car."
He felt Preston's hand move to his. "I don't want to go."
"I know." Stone helped Preston get out to the car and watched as the taillights dimmed in the snowy afternoon.
Adelle was waiting back in the kitchen. "Is everything okay now?"
"No." Stone felt Preston's loss.
"Did he do something?"
    Stone smiled. "When he's here, I'm happy, and when he's gone, I feel lost and the doubts start again." He looked up at Adelle as he thought of Preston moving away. "Sometimes life just sucks. Just when you're happy, something happens to pull it away."

    STONE sat on the sofa with Preston beside him, the two of them holding hands. "I've inquired with every company in town, banks, brokerage offices, and those that would see me all told me that I was qualified, but they weren't hiring." Preston was constantly worried and not sleeping well. "Maybe your dad will give