Genealogists try to be specific when stating relationships between individuals. Your relative from Omaha might not be as specific when discussing family members. Grandma may have written “Cousin Myrtle” on the back of a photograph. The relationship might not be as clear as it seems.
If the person referring to their cousin is still alive, try and get them to be more specific about the relationship, if possible. Don’t suggest what the relationship is. Sometimes “cousins” were were actually cousins (just further down the line than you thought), were related by marriage, or were just neighbors with whom the family was close.
It’s not just a cousin for whom the relationship may be confusing. An aunt may be the sister of a parent or the spouse of a parental sibling. It’s also possible that an aunt may be a grandparent’s sibling as well or that the sibling is actually a half sibling. Always be open to the possibility that a relative is not stating a relationship as clearly as you think they are.
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Going through old papers I came across a hand written note to my husband and me upon our marriage. Both our names are stated. It is signed “Grandma Hunt”. I have no memory of seeing this 50 years ago. In 1974 neither of us had a Grandma Hunt. I do have Hunts on both sides of my family. She would be 2nd great or 5th great and dead. A mystery most likely never to be solved.