Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

the seat, he shifted himself onto his shaky, but strengthening, legs and onto the seat. He then folded the chair and maneuvered it behind his seat. Strapping himself in, he closed the door and fastened his seatbelt.
    "I'm sorry I yelled. It's just important that I do it myself."
    "I know." She turned to him and smiled. "I just forget and want to help." She started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. Preston had to admit that his mom had been as good and supportive as he could have hoped. She'd carted him wherever he needed to go and took time off work so he could get to his therapy appointments. "Your father called. He'll be home in a few days."
    "Oh goody." Preston actually whirled his finger in mock excitement. In stark contrast to his mother, Preston's father had seen his accident as yet another way he'd imposed himself on their lives. His father was the main reason he wanted to be out of the house. The man tended to be overbearing and self-centered on his best days.
    "Pres, your father works hard," his mother soothed as they continued their drive toward the west, turning on Lake Drive.
    "Don't defend him, Mom. Not to me." Preston's father had nearly had a stroke when he'd told him he was gay. After about a week, he began parading every girl he could find through the house because Preston "just hadn't met the right one yet." It was embarrassing for him and the girls when he told each one that he was gay. Eventually his father had stopped, but Preston knew he hadn't given up. Milford Harding the Third never gave up; he just bided his time before he struck again. It was only Preston's accident that had called a truce between them. "At least we have a few days of peace left."
    His mother didn't respond, and they rode in silence until she pulled the car into the circular driveway before parking in the three-car garage. Preston opened the door and slid out his chair, opening it before climbing on and making his way to the back door, where a ramp led into the house.
    The ramp was the only concession to his injury that he'd let his mother make. To her credit, she'd looked into elevators and adding lifts to the house, but Preston was determined that he wouldn't need the chair forever. So they'd moved his bedroom from the second floor to the first and that was it. "I'm going to lie down for a while." The therapy always made him tired. He wheeled himself to his room, turning before entering. "Thanks, Mom, for everything." He smiled at her. She smiled back and he knew everything was all right. He made a note that when this was over, he was going to do something very special for her. She deserved it.
    He shifted himself out of the chair and onto the bed, covering himself and closing his eyes.

    He'd just started dozing off when his phone rang. He picked it up from the bedside table and smiled when he saw the name. "Hi, sexy." Preston beamed into the phone, everything else forgotten.
    "How'd therapy go?"
He loved the sound of Kent's voice, always had. "Good. I was able to make it all the way this time."
"That's great." There was strain in his voice.
"Are we still going out tonight?" Preston had been looking forward to it all through therapy.
"That's what I was calling about." Kent's voice suddenly sounded strange.
"If you don't want to go out tonight, we can get together tomorrow."
"Preston, look, I don't think I can do this anymore."
Preston sat up in bed, using his hands to lift himself. "What are you saying?"
"It's over, Preston. I've met someone else."
"You selfish son of a bitch!" Tears threatened, but his anger held them back. "How long have you been sleeping around?" "David and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks."
    Preston didn't need to hear any more. He closed the phone and squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to scream and throw the phone against the wall, but that wouldn't accomplish anything anyway. "How could I have been so stupid?" He knew he should have seen it coming, but he hadn't wanted to.
    His phone rang again and he swore he was going to chuck it outside if it was Kent. It wasn't.
"Hello."
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Jasper's voice filled with concern.
"Kent just dumped me."
    "I'm on my way." The phone went dead and he closed it, placing it on the table before lying back down. He covered himself up, but even in the warm room, he began to shiver. Closing his eyes, he let the tears come. Turning his face to the pillow so his mother couldn't hear, he wet the pillowcase as he let his pain run