Page 32 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)

Back at Camp Pride, Joshua and Trent helped Colin climb out of the van and ease himself onto his scooter.

Everyone had gathered in the dining hall, and a huge banner hung across the stage area reading Welcome Home Coach!

When Colin entered, he was instantly surrounded by campers, all patting his back and applauding.

Nate was on the stage, a microphone in his hand, leading the entire group in a rousing cheer: “Co-LIN! Co-LIN! Co-LIN!”

Joshua took a step back, letting Colin have this moment with the youngsters to whom he had become a hero, while Trent stayed at his side, not letting the campers crowd too close to his injured leg.

Feeling exhaustion wash over him, Joshua perched on a nearby table, his chest tightening as he watched Colin’s tired face brighten, the pain briefly replaced by happiness.

After a moment, Joshua bowed his head and slumped forward, overwhelmed by weariness.

When he looked up again, Colin was bent over, talking with one of the campers. Joshua couldn’t see who it was until Colin stood again, his hand still resting on the boy’s shoulder, and he felt his heart swell with pride and love. Alex! Colin ruffled his hair, and Joshua saw Alex smile.

“How’re you doing?” Trent asked, appearing at Joshua’s side.

“Other than exhausted? I’m fine.” He tilted his head toward the group. “Look at that .”

They watched in silence as Colin leaned down to whisper something to Alex, whose eyes went wide before breaking into a grin. The boy’s shoulders relaxed, and he stared up at Colin, his eyes filled with awe and gratitude.

Trent nodded. “They love him, that’s for sure. But I wouldn’t let that go on for too long. He’s more exhausted than he’s willing to show, and he’s still in a lot of pain.”

Joshua nodded and strode forward. He scrubbed his fingers through Alex’s hair, then edged past the other campers until he reached Colin’s side. “You guys are wonderful,” he told them. “But Coach is pretty tired from last night and needs a bit of rest.”

Colin checked his watch. “Baseball practice at 2 p.m.!” His voice was strong, though the dark circles around his eyes betrayed his fatigue.

“Thunder Bats, we’ve got a big game coming up.

Don’t let me down!” Another huge cheer went up, interrupted by David, who moved onto the stage and grabbed Nate’s microphone.

“Lunch is served!” he called out. Line up and grab your trays. ”

Joshua looped his arm around Colin’s waist, feeling a slight tremor in his husband’s body. “Let’s get you to bed before you collapse,” he murmured, trying to keep his voice light through the ache in his throat.

Colin leaned against him, sagging, and gave a soft moan; his lips pressed into a thin line.

Alarmed, Joshua tightened his grip. “Are you OK?”

“Just tired, babe.”

“In pain?”

“A little.”

“Come on. When you confess to a ‘little’ pain, I know you’re close to passing out.” He leaned his head against Colin’s arm, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Please, don’t forget … I need you, too.”

Colin lowered his head and pressed his lips to Joshua’s dark hair, drawing strength from the familiar scent.

They had almost reached the door when Nate scampered to his side and touched his arm. “Colin? Can I get you anything?”

Colin smiled down at him. “I wouldn’t say no to some lunch, buddy.”

“I want to get him back to our cabin,” Joshua said. “Can you bring it there, Nate? He’s really hurting.”

Nate bit his lower lip and nodded. “I’ll bring it.” His hand tightened on Colin’s arm. “Anything to drink?”

“Sure,” Colin said. “Coke, Pepsi, whatever’s in the cooler.”

Joshua got him to their cabin and helped him stretch out on the bed.

He handed Colin a bottle of water and then shook two pain pills into his palm and extended them toward his husband.

“Don’t even bother to argue,” he said, holding them out.

“I’ll hold your nose and force them down your throat if I have to. ”

Colin shook his head and accepted the pain medication without comment. He swallowed the pills and then fell back on the bed, clearly exhausted. “Not this time, bud,” he murmured. “You’ll get no argument from me this time.”

By the time Nate arrived with Colin’s lunch and drink, he was fast asleep. Exhaustion and the numbing effects of his pain medication had done their job. Joshua set the tray on the chest of drawers and motioned to Nate. “Let’s go sit on the porch,” he whispered. “Let him sleep.”

Nate nodded, looking down at Colin, and Joshua saw his chest hitch as a tear slid down his cheek. “He’s going to be fine, Nate. I promise you.”

Nate nodded again, then bent and kissed Colin’s cheek before moving onto the porch with Joshua. “I know I seem silly,” he murmured as they sat down together on the porch steps.

“You absolutely do not ,” Joshua told him. “I know you love him … and he adores you .”

“He’s my big brother.”

“I know he is.” Joshua glanced at his watch and grimaced. “Dammit! He wants to do a baseball practice at 2 p.m. and it’s 1 p.m. now! That’s only an hour! He needs more sleep than that!”

“Screw baseball practice,” Nate snapped. “It’ll keep ’til tomorrow. Let him rest.”

Joshua picked up his phone and sent Trent a quick text message. “Maybe Trent can do it.”

“Of course, he can do it. And the kids will understand. They’re all worried about him.” He nudged Joshua’s shoulder and pointed.

Trent was walking toward them with Jeff at his side.

“He asleep?” Trent asked.

“Out cold. But he told the kids he’d do practice at two!”

Trent wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Nah! Let him sleep. My guess is he’ll sleep the whole night through if you let him. His body needs it. I’ll handle practice.”

Joshua scrubbed his hands through his hair, then eased out a long sigh. Fighting off tears, he buried his head in his arms.

“You want my opinion?” Trent continued. “You need it as badly as he does.”

“I can’t stand it,” Joshua moaned, his voice muffled against his arms. “I can’t stand to see him hurt and broken this way. I’d a thousand times rather it was me. A million times!”

Trent laid a hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Josh, you both had a bad night. Me too. Alex too. But by tomorrow, the light will be back in his eyes, and he’ll be up and rarin’ to go.” He gave Joshua a gentle shake. “I promise you.”

Joshua nodded.

“Now go in there and lie down beside him. Give yourself a few hours free of Camp Pride worry. You’ve got plenty of people here willing and eager to step up.”

Jeff ruffled Joshua’s curly hair. “Let your friends take up the slack … just for today.”

Joshua looked up at them, then nodded again. “God, you have no idea how good that sounds.”

Trent pointed to the cabin. “Go.”

Joshua pulled himself to his feet. “Thank you,” he whispered, then turned and stumbled to the door.

When he entered the cabin, Colin was still sound asleep, his injured foot resting on a pillow. Joshua eased a blanket over him, then crawled into the bed beside him and positioned himself as close to the edge of the bed as possible, fearful of accidentally bumping Colin’s ankle.

Joshua felt utterly drained. He knew Colin would recover completely, yet the idea of Colin being incapacitated still chilled him. I have to stop being so codependent , he thought. It’s not fair to him.

He heard Colin murmur his name, then felt his arm wind around him and tug him back against his body. Colin pressed himself against Joshua, nuzzling the back of his neck. “Honey,” he murmured, trying to squirm away from Colin’s embrace. “Please don’t. I’m scared I’ll bump your foot.”

“Stay,” Colin’s voice was a cracked plea, raw with exhaustion. “I need you here. I need to feel you … to believe I’m home.”

Joshua fought back the tears that clawed at his throat, swallowing the nearly unbearable ache.

He laid his hand over Colin’s as it rested against his heart, lacing their fingers together.

“You are home, my beloved husband. And so am I. Please get some sleep, my darling boy. I’ll be right here beside you. ”