Apples to Oranges Read Online Free

always careful never to make it
obvious. And why did he write that note and give it to Jace? That was so unlike
him. He never cared what others thought about him before now.
    He’d see Jace this weekend. Maybe they’d get a chance to chat
again one on one without anyone else around like Mike. Shit! There it was
again, rearing its freaking ugly head. “You’re fucked,” he said, turning on his
side towards the wall. “Think normal. Think straight.”
    ****
    “I’ll pick you up first and then we’ll get
Brandon
,” Mike explained, after classes ended
the next day.
    “
Brandon
?”
Jace asked. His heart fluttered at the mention of the guy’s name. “He’s going
with us?”
    “Yeah, you don’t mind do you? He hasn’t got many friends and I
thought it would be shitty to not include him.”
    “No, not at all. It sounds good to me.” Jace felt strange. His
cheeks were hot as hell and he was definitely blushing. He swallowed hard to
release the lump that had formed in his throat.
    “I have the van and that can sleep two easily and there’s the
tent for you and Brandon. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags and
gear.” Mike smiled wickedly. “If I’m lucky, I’ll get lucky.” He waggled his
brows. “Anyway, man, that’s the plan. I was telling
Brandon
earlier today and he’s cool with it.”
    Jace and Brandon sleeping together? Well, not together, but
within an enclosed space? He hoped that someone was bringing beer, because he
was going to need it.
    “I almost forgot,” Mike recollected. “
Brandon
’s bringing beer.”
    “Good stuff, I’ll head home and get things together. What time
will you be around to pick me up?”
    “Six-thirty,” Mike replied.
    Jace would have more than ample time to eat and pack.
    “Man, don’t look so friggin’ down.” Mike patted him on the
shoulder. “We’re celebrating your birthday, remember? Fun times and all that
jazz.”
    Mike was right. He definitely needed to loosen up. “My birthday
was a month ago.” Mike shot him a look of annoyance. I’ll be fine. I’m a little
wired is all. It’s all good. ”
    ****
    Brandon
had managed to avoid any direct interaction with Jace all day, so far. At one
point, he couldn’t stop stealing glances at him in one class and the news that
they’d be sharing a tent together on this overnight outing thrilled him, to say
the least. He should have said no to this trip, but he would have come across
as being weird, and he didn’t want that.
    Brandon
glanced at his watch and went over his mental list of things to take along. He
had almost everything in place and it was nearing six-thirty. When he heard someone
coming up the driveway, he looked out the door. It was Mike and he was early.
With the sleeping bag tucked under his arm and the two-four of beer under his
other, he headed towards the van with another bag dangling from his hand. It
was fucking heavy.
    “Bud,” Mike said, greeting him. “You look like you’ve prepared
for the end of the world.” He smirked. “Tons of shit and uff.”
    “Something like that.” They put everything in the back of the
van and when
Brandon
climbed inside, he noticed that Jace wasn’t there. Disappointment washed over
him. “Your cousin didn’t come?”
    “I’m picking him up next.” A cigarette dangled from Mike’s mouth
as he spoke. “On to our next destination.”
    When they pulled up in front of Jace’s house,
Brandon
nearly held his breath, but was quick
to hop out of the van to greet him. “Let me take that,” he offered, grabbing
the bundled sleeping bag from Jace.
    Jace smiled sheepishly at him and
Brandon
blushed slightly and returned a smile
of his own.
    “Can you manage?” Mike yelled as he leaned out of the van.
    “Yup,”
Brandon
replied. “I’ll put this with the rest of the gear in the back.” After that task
was completed, he watched as Jace climbed into the van and settled on the back
seat. Jace had a cute little butt. Again,
Brandon
tried not