Read Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey for Free Online

from the strain in your voice that you don’t want to talk about it.” It was obvious to Robbie that he didn’t, but he couldn’t help thinking that talking about it might be good for his new friend.
    “Not really.”
Robbie nodded his head and continued working. Moving to the last stake. “What do you want me to do next?”
“You want to plant corn?” He could hear the tension leave Joey’s voice.
    “Sure.” He was having a great time. He rarely got to do things with other people. At home if he needed something, people often got it for him, and when he practiced, he was alone. This was different and a lot of fun. Finishing up the planting, he sat back and waited for Joey. He didn’t have to wait long, and he felt that gentle, firm touch on his arm, helping him to his feet and guiding him to the next location in the garden. Joey’s hand slid along the skin of his arm and Robbie felt something different, something he’d never felt before.
He became excited, from a simple, soft caress. He felt Joey guiding him back to the ground, and he had to be careful because his pants were suddenly really tight. Every time Joey touched him, he reacted.
    He had to get his thoughts on something else.
Thankfully Joey didn’t seem to notice, and he went about telling Robbie what he needed to do to plant the corn.
    They spent the remainder of the afternoon working together in the garden, sharing stories and jokes. It had been a long time since Robbie had laughed with anyone like he did with Joey. It was great working together, and he just wished he’d be around to see the fruits of their labors, so to speak.
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“You ready to go in for a while, maybe get something to drink?” Robbie nodded his agreement and Joey led him back inside and into the kitchen. Robbie couldn’t remember feeling so tired and exhilarated—or spending the afternoon in the sunshine and fresh air.
    “Did you have a good day?” Geoff asked, as he moved around the room. Robbie thought Eli was there, as well, but he wasn’t sure. “Yeah. I did.” He smiled in the direction of the voice, hoping he saw it.
“I’m glad.” He heard Geoff bring him a cool drink, placing his hand against the sweating glass. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” Robbie sipped the fresh lemonade and sighed as it slipped down his parched throat. He heard Eli respond, confirming for Robbie what he’d suspected. A hand rested gently on his shoulder, and Robbie recognized Joey’s touch. “I’m going to get cleaned up. Do you need anything?”
    “No, I’m good.” The hand slipped away, and Robbie felt a momentary loss as the warmth went with it. He heard retreating footsteps through the house. Robbie took a huge gulp of the tart lemonade, imagining the bite felt like a shot of liquor, trying to screw up his courage. “Mr. Eli, are we alone?”
“Yes we are. That must be difficult, trying to keep track of who’s in the room.” There was a caring kindness in his voice that Robbie found himself responding to.
     
“Can I ask you a question?” Robbie set the glass on the table, feeling carefully to make sure he didn’t spill. He felt self-conscious enough and didn’t want to add a drippy mess to the list.
     
A chair scraped across the floor, and he heard Eli sit down across the table from him. “Of course, what’s on your mind?” Robbie took a deep breath, steeling his nerves. “How did you know you were,” he swallowed wondering how he could get the 30
    Love Means … NO Boundaries
word out, “gay.” He whispered the last word like it was the worst curse word in the history of curse words.
    He felt Eli take his hand and squeeze gently. “It’s perfectly fine to ask whatever you want to ask here.” He waited, hoping Eli would continue. “I’m probably not the best person to ask because my experience is different. I was raised Amish, and being gay was unthinkable. But I wasn’t happy and couldn’t figure out why. My family suggested some time