Page 3 of Unfinished Noise

Nathan grinned, relief flooding his features. “Deal.”

“And you’re telling them,” Spencer added. “Not me.”

“Already did,” Nathan said. “They’re in.”

Spencer groaned. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Fine. I hate this.”

“That’s fair.”

Spencer leaned back, staring up at the sky. Black Shadows was officially back. And so were all the ghosts he thought he’d buried in Montana.

He was still staring at the clouds when his phone buzzed. He glanced down, expecting Jamie.

It wasn’t.

Alfie: Hey, Spence. Are you with Jamie? I’ve been trying to reach him for an hour. He’s not answering. Just checking he’s okay.

A cold ripple slid down Spencer’s spine.

Jamie always answered Alfie.

Always.

And suddenly, Rocktoberfest wasn’t the only thing twisting his stomach.

Spencer stared at Alfie’s message a second too long, the words blurring for a moment before snapping back into focus. His stomach dipped a small drop, but enough to make his pulse pick up.

Nathan caught on instantly. He always did.

“What’s wrong?” Nathan asked, leaning forward, brows pulling together.

Spencer swallowed. “Alfie said he can’t reach Jamie. He always answers Alfie.”

“Yeah, he does.” Nathan frowned. “Isn’t he home?”

“Yes. I thought he was.” Spencer’s voice came out tighter than he meant. Jamie had been home when Spencer left that morning—barefoot, hair messy, wearing one of Spencer’s shirts while painting something he wouldn’t let Spencer see yet. He’d kissed Spencer goodbye, soft and lingering, but there’d been a tension in it. A question he didn’t ask. A fear he didn’t voice.

And now he wasn’t answering.

“Text him now,” Nathan said.

Spencer didn’t argue. He typed quickly.

Spencer: Where are you?

He hit send, then looked up. Nathan nodded his head forward—keep going, don’t panic yet. Spencer shook his head once—I’m already panicking. Nathan lifted his eyebrows—breathe. Spencer rolled his eyes—don’t tell me to breathe. Nathan pointed at the phone—focus.

It was stupid how fluent they were in silent arguing.

Then Nathan looked down, his attention on his own phone.

“Did you just text Alfie?” Spencer asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan said, thumbs moving fast. “I’m asking if he told Jamie why we were meeting.”