Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Seventeen
Dinner with his family wasn’t too bad; he was expecting a lot more chaos from his sister Rose. She was actually on her best behavior, which shocked Robert and Nora.  He still felt bad for leaving early from Ann Marie’s house. He knew that Preston was pretty pissed at him for not telling him that he was Ann Marie’s boyfriend.  He decided to call Preston and apology for not telling him.
“Robert I don’t feel like talking right now.” Preston said, his voice was hoarse like he had been crying.
“Preston what’s wrong? Did Grant do something to hurt you?”
He heard Preston let out a small chuckled. “You really don’t like Grant do you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You always assume he is the reason I’m crying.”
“Well he did make you cry the day I met you, so you can’t blame me for jumping to that conclusion.”
“Well I guess you have a point there and no he isn’t the reason I have been crying.”
“Let me guess it was your dad.”
“Yes” Preston let out a string of sobs.
“I’m sorry Preston, what happen this time?” Robert waited for Preston to finish and to tell him what happen.
“Well he just basically finds me disgusting and he can’t stand to look at me. I still have to stay here for three more weeks until school starts but I don’t think I can take it much longer.”
“Hey you shouldn’t let it get to you, just keep your head up and the next three weeks will fly by like nothing.”
“I guess you’re right. Oh by the way when the heck were you going to tell me you were going out with my cousin?”
“Damn I thought you would forget about that. Well ok, here’s the story; I didn’t know you were Ann Marie’s cousin until like two days ago. When I found out, I didn’t know how to tell you. I just got the feeling you would get mad and think I knew all along that you two were cousins.”
“So the day we meet you didn’t know who I was? You just came up to a complete stranger and started a conversation?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“Do you always start conversations with complete strangers?”
“Actually no, but for some reason I felt drawn to you. It looked like you needed  someone to talk to.”
“Well I’m glad you did, you have been a great friend.”
“No problem, I am always here when you need a shoulder to lean on.”
“Well I’m going to let you go, I’m really tired but we can hang out sometime if you like and we can invite Ann Marie and Grant. Since we all know each other now and you can see for yourself how much of a good guy Grant is.”
“Yeah sure we could all hang out before we all start school.”
“Great we can do it sometimes this week. I’ll just get with Grant and Ann Marie and tell you when we can meet up.”
“Ok well goodnight and I will see you then.”
“Oh wait I have one more question?”
“Ok what?”
“What’s with the glasses?”
“I wear contact lens most of the time; I just forgot to get myself some new ones. So I had to wear my glasses.”
“So hazel isn’t your normal eye color then?”
“Yes it is, I just wear clear contacts. I just don’t like wearing glasses, I feel like a nerd.”
“Aw you don’t look like a nerd; I think you look really handsome with them on.”
“Ha ok if you say so, well I guess I better let you go. Goodnight Preston.”
“Ok night Robbie.” Preston chuckled.
“Ha ha very funny, please don’t call me that.”
“Oh I see only Ann Marie can call you that?”
“Well no, but she refuses to call me Robert. Robbie is special because she is the only one that calls me that.”
“Why don’t you like the name Robbie?”
“That sweetheart is a story for another day, I will tell you some other time.”
“Ok but I’m going to hold you to it. Goodnight Robert and talk to you later.”
“Ok talk to you later.” He couldn’t believe he just called a gay person sweetheart, what a way to lead him on you idiot. He told himself as he smacked himself on the forehead. Thank god, Preston didn’t say anything maybe he didn’t hear him.
“Why are you hitting and talking to yourself?” Nora asked as she came into his room. She looked like she was in a better mood; she was actually smiling for once.
“Do you always come into people’s room without knocking?”
“I did knock you were just too busy beating yourself up to hear me.”
“Oh sorry, what can I do for you?”
“Well I have some good news and I just had to tell you.”
“Ok what is it?”
“Um Vince just called me and asked me out.” She said gleefully to the point she was jumping up and down. He was glad Vince finally asked her out, but he knew once Rose found out she wasn’t going to be happy about it.
“That’s great, but what about Rose? Did he break up with her?”
“He said he was going to tell her tomorrow.”
“That’s not going to be pretty; no guy has ever broken up with Rose. Therefore, this is going to be great and I hope he does it here. We will have front row seats for it.”
“Hum yeah that’s going to be great.” Nora let out a nervous laugh.
Robert knew she was worried about what Rose was going to do when she finds out Vince dumped her for Nora.
“Hey I know what you’re thinking and don’t think that way, you know she will never do anything to you while I’m here.”
“I know, but what about when you’re gone? Once you’re gone she will do everything in her power to torment me.”
“Just leave that to me ok.”
“So why were you talking to yourself?”
“Oh it’s nothing really, just something I did and I feel dumb about.”
“Oh I see you just don’t want to tell me.”
“Ok fine, I’ll tell you. Well it turns out that the day we came back from our vacation I ended up meeting Ann Marie’s cousin and I didn’t know. So when I went to dinner at her house, he saw me and wasn’t too happy about that. He thought I knew the whole time, but I didn’t until two days ago. After I explained to him, he was ok with it.”
“Ok so this is Ann Marie’s gay cousin, but why would you be calling yourself stupid if it all worked ok?”
“Ok that’s not the reason, the real reason is he wants to hang out with me and Ann Marie and his boyfriend.”
“So you don’t like the boyfriend, what is he like a jerk?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yes it is, and if you weren’t straight I would think you’re jealous.”
“What me jealous of that douche, I don’t think so.” He couldn’t believe anyone would think he was jealous of Grant.
“So why don’t you like him?”
“In my opinion I think he is a jerk, but in Preston’s eyes he is the greatest person ever.”
“Maybe you just need to get to know him, and maybe you will like him.”
“Well you do have a point; I guess I could give him a chance.”
“Ok good that’s a start, goodnight big brother.”
“Sweet dreams little sister.” He watched his sister happily skip to her room, he was glad she was finally happy for something. She was a good girl who deserves it and should enjoy it. Now he just had to wait and see when he was going to have to hang out with Grant and he hoped he doesn’t do anything that is going to ruin his friendship with Preston.