An Unexpected Summer by Kate Sands

Author:Kate Sands [Sands, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-29T05:00:00+00:00

THE LAKE resort was a great place to run. There were scenic walking paths around the cabins, plus the hiking trails that provided rougher terrain. It was hard work for Brendan, pushing his body to move faster and run up and down the hills, but it gave him a positive to focus on. He really did love working out; it helped push any stress and confusion out of his mind, helped him approach his thoughts with more clarity.

On his cool-down walk back toward the main lodge, he couldn’t help but reflect on his summer so far. How it was going with Tobin, who never strayed far from Brendan’s mind these days.

The situation between them had gotten better. Easier.

And in some ways, it was worse. Far worse than he’d ever imagined. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but in a way that was going to frustrate Brendan for the rest of the summer and maybe into senior year too.

It was easier in that Brendan and Tobin… they were friends. Despite their differences and what people at school would say, it was surprisingly simple. They had similar tastes when it came to TV shows, movies, and comic books. There were some differences, but neither seemed to mind. Brendan knew absolutely nothing about putting on plays or about the drama club, which were Tobin’s favorite extracurricular activities, but Tobin made it sound interesting. And Tobin didn’t mind when Brendan talked about the hockey team, for all his previous posturing about all jocks being jerks.

Once in a while, Tobin would mention his ex-boyfriend, casually and in passing, like a movie they’d gone to, or the hiking trip they’d met on the past summer. Brendan wasn’t jealous about it but he was envious and curious. He didn’t know how to ask, so he let it pass by as a natural part of conversation, hoping he didn’t send any red flags Tobin’s way. He reveled in the fact Tobin was at least becoming his friend, and that was all he had the right to hope for.

Being coworkers and roommates and friends had gotten worse because… because it wasn’t a crush anymore. Brendan liked Tobin. Really liked him, to the point he wished he could ask Tobin out on a date. Wished he could one day lean over a stack of towels they were folding and kiss him. Hanging around Tobin quickly became Brendan’s favorite part of the summer. It got to the point Tracey complained she never saw Brendan anymore, except when the three of them ate meals together, but she always ended it with a wink. She was on board with his and Tobin’s friendship.

Tobin could be sarcastic and cranky but in a funny way. He was actually a nice guy and smart too. He was all that Brendan noticed during the school year, but he was more because he was Brendan’s friend. When he smiled at one of Brendan’s stupid jokes, or paid such close attention when Brendan spoke, it was like Brendan was the center of someone’s universe.

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