Read Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey for Free Online Page B

around the house. His mom did it all, and maybe, just maybe, it was time he helped out.

    Maybe it was time he earned his keep.
    "Of course." She looked at him skeptically, but went into the refrigerator and hauled things out, placing them on the table. "You could make the salad." She handed him a knife, and he went to work chopping vegetables and, when he was done, setting the table for the two of them. "Do you know how long it's since we did anything together?"
    Preston stopped what he was doing and looked at her, thinking before shaking his head.
She'd taken him everywhere he needed to go, but they hadn't done anything together, really together, in years. "Not really."
    She didn't turn around, but he could hear her voice get slightly deeper. "You were about fifteen, and we went to the lake to visit my sister. You had more fun that week with your cousins." She kept her back to him, and Preston knew she was trying to keep from crying. "Helen didn't want her kids eating sugar, so we'd sneak off and get ice cream together."
    Preston did remember that. When he thought about it, his mom had been pretty cool. "Has it been that long?" She nodded, and Preston thought back. After that summer, he'd gone on to high school, and his friends had been more important than his parents. After high school, he'd gone on to party away four years of college. Dad had paid the bills, and he'd done just enough to get by and keep from being cut off financially. Even after he'd graduated, he'd gotten a job he'd absolutely hated, but he couldn't keep it after the accident. "When you were younger, what did you do for fun?"
    His mom turned around, smiling. "I sang in the choir, and your father and I used to go camping when we were first married." She wiped her hands on her apron absently. "That was before we had you and his career took off." The wistful look on her face faded. "Then I took care of the house and raised you." The timbre of her voice shifted--Preston hated that sound. He'd heard it before, whenever she remembered that he was grown and wouldn't need her anymore.
"I was thinking," Preston said as he brightened his voice, "if you'll drive, why don't we go see a movie after dinner, just the two of us?"
    The look of surprise and delight on her face warmed his heart. He had indeed been a complete shit to her and to everyone else. All she wanted was a little of his time and attention, just like he'd wanted from her when he was growing up. "I'd like that." She began bringing dishes to the table, and the two of them sat down to eat, their usual quiet table replaced with laughter and a happy banter he'd never thought he could have with her. Yeah, his mom was pretty special.
    PRESTON was in the car with Jasper, and his friend hadn't said a thing since they'd left the house. "Come on, Jas, you can't stay mad at me forever." He turned toward his friend and batted his eyes at him. Jasper tried but failed to suppress a smile.

    "You shit." He batted his hand at him as they approached the farm.
    "I know, but you love me." He kept up the harmless flirting until they pulled into the driveway and up to the barn. Jasper pulled out the hated wheelchair, and Preston maneuvered himself into it. "I'll be so happy when I can burn this thing," he grumbled as he wheeled himself away from the car and through the packed snow into the barn.
    Huge, majestic heads peeked out of stalls and watched as he glided down the aisle and then out through the passage into the indoor riding arena. He saw Joey and Stable Boy. He suppressed the thought--Stone, his name was Stone. "Hey, guys." He put on his best smile and wheeled himself over to where they were standing. "Are you ready for me?"
    He saw Stone nod his head to Joey and then walk back toward the barn. "Sorry." Joey got closer. "We got a little behind, but Stone will be right back with Belle."

    Preston's first instinct was impatience, and he worked to push it away. It probably wasn't their fault, and it wasn't as though he