Page 20 of Unfinished Noise

Spencer cracked the door open.

Farlan stood there, shoulders tense, eyes wide. “Is Billy here?”

Spencer’s eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness from the hallway. “What? No, he’s not here. He’d never be.”

Farlan let out a gigantic sigh and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “He stayed at the bar after the show. I went to check on him, and he was gone. I’ve looked around the block twice. I’m worried he’s… well, at another bar. Or doing something stupid.”

Jamie sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. Farlan wasn’t usually rattled. Seeing him like this made Jamie’s stomach twist.

Spencer opened the door wider. “Do you want me to help look for him?”

Farlan nodded. “Yeah. I asked Nathan, but he had to discuss it with Alfie first.”

Spencer turned to Jamie. “Do you want to come? Or stay?”

Jamie didn’t even hesitate. “Stay in bed. You go.”

He didn’t want to wander around Bakersfield at night looking for Billy. And he didn’t want Spencer worrying about him while trying to deal with Billy.

Spencer gave him a soft look—half gratitude, half apology.

Before he could say anything else, another knock on the door. Louder this time.

Spencer opened it again.

Nathan and Alfie stood there, both out of breath as if they’d jogged down the hallway.

Nathan said, “I’m going with you guys.”

Alfie stepped inside immediately, already kicking off his shoes. “I’ll stay with Jamie.”

A rush of relief hit Jamie. Alfie was good company, and he wouldn’t let him spiral about anything.

Spencer threw on a shirt then grabbed his wallet and keys from the dresser. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Nathan clapped his shoulder. “Local bars first. Billy gravitates toward neon signs and bad decisions.”

Farlan sighed. “That’s the problem.”

Spencer paused at the door, looking back at Jamie. “I’ll be back soon.”

Jamie nodded. “Be careful.”

Spencer gave him a small smile—soft, reassuring—and then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him as the three of them headed down the hallway.

Jamie sank back against the pillows, Alfie flopping down beside him with a dramatic groan.

“Well,” Alfie said, grabbing the remote. “Looks like it’s you, me, and whatever terrible movie is on cable.”

Jamie laughed, tension easing a little. “Sounds perfect.”

But as he sat propped up against the hotel pillows, knees pulled to his chest, his teddy bear half‑buried under the blankets, he kept glancing at the door, waiting for Spencer to come back safe.

The room seemed way too big without Spencer in it—too quiet, like every worry in his head suddenly had space to get louder.

Alfie settled beside Jamie in the bed, adjusting the pillows as if he planned to stay awhile. He always had this calm energy, like nothing could rattle him for long.

“So,” Alfie said gently, “how’s it going so far?”