Apples to Oranges Read Online Free Page A

to think about it…It being what he wanted to do to that little butt.
    “You okay?” Mike shot him a strange look.
    Brandon
slammed the door and buckled his seatbelt. “Yeah, I was off in space there for
a moment.”
    ****
    “It’s small and easy to set up.” Mike handed the two-man tent to
Jace.
    It didn’t look like much. “That’s it?” Jace held it up. “Two
people are supposed to be able to sleep in this?”
    “It’s cozy and better than sleeping out in the cold,” Mike said.
“It’s different when it’s set up.”
    Brandon
stepped between them. “Let’s see it. I’ve slept in tents before. I had one as a
kid and my dad used to take me camping.”
    Jace handed it over and watched as
Brandon
searched for a place to set it up.
“This is a good spot,”
Brandon
said. “It’s flat and dry.” He knelt on the ground and unrolled the tent. He
then turned to look back at Jace and Mike. “I’m going to need help with this.”
    Some of the other kids from school had started to arrive and
were busy setting up their own camps. Jace walked over to
Brandon
. “Tell me what to do and let’s get
this thing up.”
    “It really isn’t that bad,”
Brandon
said. “Once we get the sleeping bags
inside it’ll be quite comfy.”
    Jace blushed at the thought.
    “So, it’s your birthday. I guess I should say happy birthday.”
    “My birthday was actually last month, but Mike thinks I should
celebrate it now because we hadn’t bothered to. It was his idea and really just
an excuse to party.”
    “You didn’t want to come?”
Brandon
asked. He held up one tent pole and examined it before inserting it in place.
“You should have told him you didn’t want this.”
    “Mike’s a good guy. His intentions are good. He’s been doing his
best to get me more out there and involved with everyone.”
    “Mike’s okay. He was one of the first people at school to notice
that I was alive. Most haven’t been friendly. You two are cousins, right?”
    “Yes. He’s more like a brother and since my dad’s death, he’s
been there for me when I’ve needed him.” It was true. It was Mike who had
pushed him to keep living, to move on and get through each day when all he
wanted to do at the time was drop into that dark hole along with what remained
of his dad. The wake and the funeral had been a nightmare.
    “That sucks about your dad. He sounds like he was a great man.”
    “He was.” Jace smiled. This was a nice side of
Brandon
. The guy was much deeper than he’d
initially thought. Appearances were definitely deceiving. “Thanks for that
note,” Jace said. “It was a good gesture.”
    “No problem,”
Brandon
dismissed. “Hand me that tent peg.” He pointed to a small pile of pegs near
Jace. “Hold it still while I pound it into the ground. Nice and straight like
that.”
    Jace did as
Brandon
directed and
while kneeling next to
Brandon
,
their shoulders touched. Jace caught
Brandon
’s
masculine scent and drank him in. He smelled of clean soap with just the
slightest hint of cologne. Three strikes and the peg was in place.
Brandon
checked it and as
he did, his hand brushed the side of Jace’s. They both froze. Jace’s mind went
blank as he pulled his hand away. “You liked living in the city?” Anything to
restart their conversation.
    “I sure did. It was awesome. I plan on going back after I
graduate. I’ve had enough of this town.”
Brandon
backed away from the tent. “A couple more pegs and we’re done, but first, I’m
going to grab a beer. Want one?”
    “Sure.” Jace watched and waited for
Brandon
to return.
    “Here you go.”
Brandon
twisted off the cap and handed a bottle to Jace.
Brandon
took a swig from his own brew and
then belched. “Back to work.” He looked up at the grey sky. “It looks like we might
get rain. The sooner we’re set up the better.”
    ****
    Brandon
was right about the weather. In less than an hour it was pissing down rain.
Mike and a few others,