Page 6 of Unfinished Noise

Jamie sniffed, then he took the binky out of the package and stuck it in his mouth.

“Suck and listen.” Spencer spoke as he guided Jamie from the room into the living area, settling into a chair with Jamie perched on his lap, his arms securely around him.

“Since you’re off for two weeks, you are coming on the road with us. We’ll leave in two days. We have different gigs on the way to Rocktoberfest.”

“Are we flying?”

“No, we’re taking Nathan’s van.”

“What about Billy?”

“They will be in another van. Nathan is setting up the stops, hotels, and where we can practice on the way. Keep sucking.”

Jamie’s face turned bright red.

“Hey, Jamie, you can do that sucking later on.”

Jamie rolled his eyes.

“Okay, I’m going to clean up your art room, then pack for our trip. We’re going to have the best time ever. I need you with me.”

They cleaned up the worst of the mess together, Jamie leaning into Spencer every few minutes like he needed the contact to stay steady. In the kitchen, Spencer made sandwiches while Jamie gathered fruit and drinks, their movements quiet but connected. Jamie looked calmer—still tender, still hurting, but leaning into Spencer’s side like he finally believed he wasn’t alone in it.

Spencer checked his messages.

Nathan: Meet us at the stables. Jamie needs to ride.

Spencer: Now?

Nathan: Yes

He turned to Jamie. “We’re invited to ride with Nathan and Alfie. Okay?”

“That’s perfect.”

Chapter Three

Jamie

Jamie loved the stables in the early afternoon—the way the sun hit the hills, the smell of hay and dust, the soft snorts of the horses shifting in their stalls. It was one of the few places where his brain didn’t run loops around itself. Out here, things were slower.

Spencer parked the truck beside the barn, gravel crunching under the tires. Before Jamie even had both feet on the ground, Alfie was already striding toward him, arms open.

“Jamie,” Alfie said, pulling him into a tight hug that smelled like cedar soap and horse feed. “I’m so sorry.”

Jamie hugged him back without hesitation. Alfie was one of the few people he never had to pretend with. “Hey, no. Don’t be. I’m not mad at you.”

“You should be,” Alfie murmured into his shoulder.

Jamie pulled back, shaking his head. “No. You told me the truth. I can always trust you for that.”

Alfie’s expression softened, guilt easing a little. Nathan came up behind him, already carrying two saddles as if they weighed nothing. Spencer followed, quieter than usual, watching Jamie with that worried crease between his brows.

They were leaving in two days. Two days until the road. Two days until Billy and Farlan were back in their orbit. Two days until Jamie had to pretend he wasn’t terrified of history repeating itself.

“So,” Nathan said, setting the saddles on the fence. “We should talk about what we’re packing. It’s a long drive to the first venue.”

“Xbox,” Jamie said immediately.