Page 74 of Unfinished Noise

Jamie tilted his head up slightly. “What do you think about?”

Spencer hesitated—not because he didn’t know, but because saying it out loud made it real. “I think about waking up next to you every single morning like we do now. I think about… us traveling and trying new things for fun.”

Jamie’s eyes softened in that way that always made Spencer’s heart feel too big. “I think about us wearing cute matching slippers and pjs.”

Spencer brushed his thumb along Jamie’s cheek. “Fun furry animal slippers, right? Santa might bring them if you put them on your list.”

Jamie settled back down, curling into him again. Warm weight pressed along Spencer’s side, and the quiet in the room deepened, settling like a soft exhale. With the lights low and the hum of the air conditioner filling the background, the entire space had shifted to make room for the two of them.

A slow breath left Spencer as he adjusted, letting his arm slide around Jamie’s shoulders. The movement brought Jamie even closer, his head resting comfortably against Spencer’s chest. The steady rise and fall of Jamie’s breathing blended with Spencer’s own, creating a rhythm that eased the last of the day’s tension from his muscles.

Against his ribs, Jamie murmured something soft—more feeling than words—and it vibrated through Spencer. He brushed his fingers through Jamie’s hair, letting the strands slip between them. The simple motion grounded him, pulling him fully into the moment.

From the hallway came a distant door closing, but inside the room everything stayed still. Spencer shifted slightly, not to move away but to make the space more comfortable for both of them. Jamie responded by tucking his hand lightly against Spencer’s side, a small, instinctive gesture that said more than any spoken reassurance.

Spencer let his eyes drift half‑closed, listening to Jamie breathe, feeling the soft weight of him, letting the closeness speak for everything they didn’t need to say out loud. Nothing about the moment felt rushed. It just… existed. Easy. Steady. Right. And Spencer held him, letting the night wrap around them both.

“I like when you talk about the future,” Jamie said.

“I like that you’re in mine,” Spencer said.

Jamie didn’t respond right away. He pressed closer, letting Spencer’s heartbeat guide his breathing. He tightened his arm around Jamie, pulling him in a little more.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jamie

They landed in Ridgecrest after ten, the heat rising off the pavement in shimmering waves. Jamie stepped out of the van and caught the sharp scent of gasoline drifting from a nearby pump. Sunlight bounced off chrome handlebars lined up outside the rental shop, bright enough to make him squint. A dry grit clung to his lips, the kind that tasted like sand and engine exhaust mixed.

He grinned. Dirt bikes. Sun. A whole day with their friends. Exactly the break he needed.

Nathan kicked at a patch of loose gravel. “Feels like we’re standing inside an oven.”

Alfie shaded his eyes. “An oven with cool toys.”

Spencer nudged Jamie’s shoulder. “Are you ready?”

Jamie nodded. Heat pressed against his shirt, but anticipation cut through it. The desert spread beyond the parking lot in cracked basins and uneven ridges, terrain ready to swallow a bike whole. The metallic tang of fuel hung in the air, mixing with the rubber scent rising off the tires. The entire place felt primed for noise and speed.

Farlan walked past a row of bikes, running his hand along the handlebars. “These look solid.”

Billy stayed quiet, eyes hidden behind dark lenses.

Jamie didn’t care. The sun glinted off Spencer’s bike, throwing a sharp flash across the ground. He felt a lift in his chest, steady and bright. A whole day out here with Spencer and the others. Dust in his teeth. Wind in his face. The chaos made everything feel alive.

He stepped closer to the bikes, fingers brushing the warm metal. The heat soaked into his skin. The desert hummed around them with promise. This was exactly the day he wanted.

“Ready to eat dust?” Spencer asked.

Jamie smirked. “Only yours.”

Nathan groaned behind them. “Please don’t flirt before noon.”

Alfie nudged him. “Let them be cute. It’s better than you two fighting.”

Farlan and Billy trailed behind, sunglasses on, looking like they were auditioning for a music video.

While they waited for the rental paperwork, Spencer turned to Farlan and Billy. “So. Jamie and I are getting married on Christmas Day.”