Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Thirty
It had been a week since Ann Marie found out about Preston and Robert. Preston hated the way things were left between them; he had been trying to get a hold of her all week. He just always ended up getting her voicemail and all his texts went unanswered. He knew he was just wasting time; she just needed time to get over it. He still didn’t know if Xavier knew yet. How would he take the news, would he act the same way Ann Marie did?  Would he turn his back on him as well? These and so many other questions have been running through his head. He made plans  to go see Xavier today, he felt bad because he hadn’t gone and seen him since he had broken things off with Grant. He hadn’t told him about that either. Robert was working tonight; it was the perfect chance to go see him. He went over to Vera’s place to see if she could give him a ride over to Xavier’s place. Preston knocked on Vera’s door and waited for her to answer the door.
“Hey Preston come on in,” Vera said.
“I just came over to see if you could give me a ride to my cousin’s place.”
“Yeah sure, just let me get my keys.” They rode in silence until Vera asked, “what is on your mind, you look like you’re in deep thought.”
“I’m just thinking about what my cousin is going to say when I just show up on his doorstep. I don’t know what he knows yet; God only knows what Ann Marie has told him. I feel bad because I haven’t seen him since I broke up with Grant, which by the way I never told him about it.”
“Wow, so you didn’t think about calling him before coming out to his place?”
“I did, but I just think if he knows he will just hang up on me.”
“So you don’t think he will slam the door in your face?”
“No, I know he wouldn’t and if he doesn’t know, it would be better if I told him everything in person. I just hope Cynthia isn’t there.”
“Oh the girlfriend that isn’t ok with gay people. Don’t worry I got your back if she says anything to you.”
“How did you know about that, I don’t think I have ever mentioned it to you before?”
“You didn’t but Robert did tell me about it.”
“Does he tell you everything?”
“Well yes I’m like his best friend; we don’t have secrets from each other.”
“So everything you and I talk about, do you tell him about it?”
“No what we talk about stays between us and what I talk about with him stays between me and him. So don’t get any ideas on what you want to find out about him. Besides I think he tells you everything anyway.”
“Yeah your right he does, that is what I really love about him, and he doesn’t hide anything from me. If I want to know something, he will tell me.”
“You know he wasn’t always like that. He would only tell his sister Nora about anything that was bothering him. I have never seen two siblings as close as those two are. I guess cupid must have really struck him good if he fell for you so fast, it’s not easy for him to trust anyone.”
“Trust is a hard thing to earn sometimes; I hope we will always have it between us.” Vera stopped the car in the parking lot of the apartment building.
“We’re here; do you want me to come with you?”
“Hum yeah I could use a friend just in case something doesn’t go right or if Cynthia is there.”
“Ok let’s go” they walked in silence into the building and up to Xavier’s floor. Preston went up to the door and knocked. As Preston waited for Xavier to open the door, he was hoping Xavier would give him a chance to explain everything before judging him.
“Hey Preston and friend, come on in. Excuse the mess; I haven’t had time to clean up lately.” Preston was surprised Cynthia would allow the apartment to get this messy.
“So who is your friend?” Xavier asked.
“Oh sorry this is Vera, and Vera this is my cousin Xavier.”
“It’s nice to meet you Vera. So to what do I owe this visit, here I thought you had forgotten about me.”
“Yeah I know I’m sorry, I just haven’t had time to really come see you. So how have you been?”
“Hum I guess I’m good, thinks could be better.” Preston hadn’t really notice until now, but Xavier had changed his look. He looked like he used to before he started going out with Cynthia.
“Zay where is Cynthia?”
“Well I guess I should tell you now, I was going to wait until we were at home for Christmas. I broke off the engagement with Cynthia.”
“What, why did you do that and when did this happen?”
“It was about three weeks ago, in fact it was the day you came to see me. We had gotten into an argument about you; I wanted you to be my best man. She didn’t want you in the wedding party, she said and I quote ‘I’m not going to allow a homo to be a part of my wedding. I don’t need him in my wedding photo to remind me that I married into a family that has a homo in it.’ When she said that I just knew I couldn’t be with her if she couldn’t accept my family for who they are. I told her I didn’t want to marry her and she flipped out on me and trashed the place. It looked a lot worst before, but that is why it looks the way it does.”
“I’m so sorry Zay, I just feel like it’s my fault. I would have understood if I couldn’t be part of the wedding. I just hate that you broke up with her because of me.”
“Hey that is nonsense; you are my family and I’m not going to let some prejudice girl come between us. Don’t worry one day I will find the right girl for me. It will be someone who is going to love my family for who they are and someone who will not try to change me.”
“Your right and you will find they girl one day.”
“Thanks man, so how are you and your boyfriend Grant doing, kind of surprised to not see him with you.”
“I see Ann Marie hasn’t talked to you lately either.”
“No I haven’t heard from her in like a month, but that is no surprise. She has always been too busy to hang out with me, but why would you bring her up?’
“Ok I don’t really know how to say this, but here it goes, I broke up with Grant about three weeks ago. I walked in on him with my roommate Noah.”
“Oh my God Preston I’m sorry, so where have you been staying?”
“I have been staying with Robert.”
“Robert as in Ann Marie’s ex-boyfriend, but why didn’t you call me to see if you could have stayed with me? What did Ann Marie say about you staying with him?”
“The reason I didn’t call you was because I knew with Cynthia around, she was just going to make my stay here uncomfortable. Ann Marie wasn’t happy when I told her I was staying with him, but that’s not my biggest problem.”
“What do you mean not your biggest problem?”
“Zay what I’m about to tell you will probably change how you feel about me. I did something that is not easily forgiven. Not only am I living with Robert, but we are dating as well. I know that I’m such a terrible person for going out with my cousin’s ex, but I love him. I have loved him since that first day I met him at the mall and he feels the same way about me.” Preston waited to see what Xavier’s reaction would be, but all he could see was a blank expression on his face. He knew he was going to hate him for it; he was going to side with his sister. Not only has he pushed away his dad and Ann Marie, he was going to end up losing Xavier as well.
“Zay will you please say something?” Preston was on the verge of breaking down and crying.
“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming” Xavier finally said.
“What you mean?”
“I could tell you and Robert had feelings for each other the day we were supposed to have dinner, but he left early. He was giving off a vibe as if he was uncomfortable; beside I knew he and Ann Marie weren’t going to last much longer. I’m assumed he stayed with her to be around you.”
“Yes but how did you know all this?”
“Bro the way you two were talking was so natural and how you two would look at each other. It wasn’t easy for everyone else to notice, but I did see it.”
“Are you mad at me for going out with him?”
“No, yeah its messed up that you are going  out with Ann Marie’s ex, but there is someone out there for everyone and it’s not yours or Robert’s fault for meeting while he was going out with Ann Marie.”
“Thanks, that is such a huge weight off my shoulder; I thought you were going to hate me.”
“Preston nothing you do could ever make me hate you, you are the closest thing I have to a brother. I can’t just let little things get between us.”
“I wish Ann Marie would feel that way.”
“Oh so she knows already?”
“Yeah I just felt terrible when she saw us; I didn’t even get a chance to tell her. So right now she isn’t talking to me and she pretty much hates.”
“Hey don’t worry about it; she will get over it in time.”
“I know thanks.”
“No problem that’s what family is for and I have always liked Robert, he is a good guy. Just tell him that if he hurts you I know a person, who knows a person that could get rid of him. I’m just saying.”
“Ha ha ha very funny Zay, so I guess I didn’t really need you to come up with me, had I known the witch wasn’t here anymore.”
“That’s fine; it gave me a chance to meet this cousin of yours that you always talk about.” Vera said.
“So you talk about me to other people, I didn’t know you loved me that much bro. I hope it has been all good?”
“Well he never mention how good looking you were or how funny you were.”  Vera said.
“Well thank you and may I add you are quite beautiful yourself. So Vera tell me about yourself, you got a boyfriend and if not you want go out some time?”
“Oh my God, didn’t you just get out of an engagement?” Preston asked
“I’m just making small talk Preston; beside I’m sure she does have one anyway.”
“Actually I don’t and if you’re really asking me out, the answer is yes.”
“Really?” Xavier said.
“Yeah here is my number just call me whenever you want to go out.” Vera wrote her number down on a piece of paper and handed it to Xavier.
“Well Preston I’m sorry to cut this short but I have to get back to my schoolwork, unless Xavier can take you back.” Vera said.
“No I’m ready to go, it was nice seeing you Zay, I promise to come by more often.”
“Ok bye, and Vera I will talk to you later.” Xavier said as he winked at her.
“I’ll be waiting for your call.” Vera said as she walked out. Vera was waiting at elevator, when Preston came out.
“So you and my cousin, I bring you for support and backup and you leave with a date from my cousin. I don’t know what to think about that, but I know I’m ok with it. You’re a big step up from that witch he was going to marry.”
“Well thanks, what can I say, I really liked your cousin. Who knows he might be my soul mate.”
“True beside you two will make cute babies.”
“Oh shut up, we are just going out on one date.”
“Yeah like it’s just going to stop at one date, I can see it a year from now you two will be engaged. Mark my word and just wait and see.”
“Ok sure Preston whatever, come on I want to go home and finish my work.”
“Ok let’s go Mrs. Shaw.” Vera just shook her head, got into the car, and headed for home.