Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez Read Free Book Online

another word, he grabbed his basketbal from the car and headed toward the court.
    “Why’s he always so cranky?” Nelson whispered to Kyle.
    “He’s not,” Kyle replied. “Why do you keep antagonizing him?”
    “I don’t! At least I don’t try to.”
    “I think you do.” Kyle pounded the tent stakes into the ground. “Ever since this morning—suggesting the dol was his, blasting your music, smoking even though you know it bothers him—”
    Nelson crossed his arms. “Kyle, I’ve always smoked, I always listen to music loud, and his sister said it was his dol. He’s the one who treats me like I’m a freak.”
    “He does not. And that’s not the issue.”
    “Then what’s”—Nelson raised his fingers into curved V-signs for quotation marks—“the Issue?”
    “The issue is you keep teasing and provoking him. Don’t deny it! I know you. And as for your smoking and music, can’t you think about someone besides yourself and what they might like for a change?”
    Nelson clamped down on his jaw, feeling a twinge of guilt.
    When Jason tramped back from the court, Nelson offered his cel phone. “You want to cal your mom and sister and tel them about the bears?” Jason eyed Nelson a moment, then accepted the phone. “Thanks.”
    “Sure. Talk as long as you want.” Nelson flashed Kyle an exaggerated grin. “I’m going to shower.” When he reached the bathhouse, he found it a little decrepit, but clean. The shower curtain didn’t close al the way, but Nelson didn’t care. He was alone anyway.
    He’d dried off and was dressing when Jason walked in.
    “I left your phone with Kyle. Thanks for letting me use it.”
    “Sure. Anytime,” Nelson replied, watching in the mirror as Jason puled off his T-shirt, revealing his smooth olive-skinned chest.
    Although Nelson had always considered Jason good-looking, he’d never been overly attracted to his straight-boy energy. But that was before seeing his tight pecs and ripped abs. Now he had to fight the urge to turn and gape
    “Is there hot water?” Jason asked, stepping into the shower stal in his boxers and puling the curtain as closed as it would go.
    “Yeah. It’s great.”
    Nelson watched Jason’s undies alight on the curtain rod and continued to stare into the mirror, rubbing moisturizer on his face til he’d probably clogged every pore.
    He felt like a total perv for hoping to snatch a glimpse of something, but he couldn’t stop himself.
    “Hey!” Jason shouted.

    Nelson jumped, his heart skipping a beat.
    “I forgot my shampoo.” Jason puled back the top of the shower curtain. Streams of water trickled down his soap-foamy chest while the plastic curtain covered his lower half. “You got some I can borrow?”
    “Sure!” Nelson grabbed his shampoo, dropping it not once but twice as he stumbled toward Jason.
    “Thanks.” Jason grabbed the plastic bottle with his free hand and puled the curtain closed behind him, but not before Nelson caught a peek at his glistening butt.
    Okay, now he really felt like a perv. “Anything else you need?” Nelson shouted.
    “No, thanks,” Jason yeled back. “Kyle bought some food at the camp store. He can probably use your help with the fire.” Kyle who? Nelson wondered. Oh, yeah: Kyle, his best friend. Jason’s boyfriend . Nelson watched himself turn red in the mirror, flooding with guilt. “Okay. I guess I’l go help him.” Nelson hurried out of the bathhouse, although he did try to catch one last glimpse though the gap in the shower curtain.
    You’re such a mess, he told himself as he flip-flopped down the gravel path back to the campsite. How could you try to check out your best friend’s boyfriend like that?
    Kyle stood over the charcoal gril, trying to get the fire going. “What took you so long?” He glanced up. “Something wrong? You okay?” Nelson stared back, his face burning with shame. “Kyle, I—Jason … I’m sorry…. It’s just—God, he’s beautiful…. I mean he’s