Page 40 of Unfinished Noise

Nathan nodded slowly. “I will. I swear.”

Spencer exhaled, the anger draining out of him, leaving only exhaustion. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. “I shouldn’t be yelling at you either.”

Nathan looked up. “You’re scared.”

“Yeah,” Spencer whispered. “I’m scared.”

Nathan moved from the chair to sit on the edge of the bed. “We’ll find them.”

Spencer shook his head. “I don’t care about just finding them. I care about them being okay. Jamie’s probably panicking. Alfie’s probably crying. And I’m here, lying in a damn hotel bed like everything’s normal.”

Nathan rested a hand on Spencer’s shoulder. “We leave tomorrow at noon. We’ll get a call. Tom’s checking everywhere. They’re not alone.”

Spencer closed his eyes, letting the words settle even though they didn’t soothe him. “I need Jamie to know he didn’t ruin anything. He didn’t ruin our comeback. He didn’t ruin my dream.”

Nathan nodded. “He’ll hear it from you.”

Spencer rolled onto his side, clutching his pillow as if it might keep him from falling apart. “I just want him here with us.”

Nathan stayed sitting there with guilt written all over him. “Me too.”

Spencer tried to sleep. But every time he drifted, Jamie’s handwriting, those little hearts, and the apology he never should’ve had made. Since he couldn’t sleep, he took a shower, and when he got out, Nathan had fallen asleep on Jamie’s side of the bed. And that man needed a shower.

And Spencer lay awake until dawn, waiting for a phone call that didn’t come.

Chapter Sixteen

Jamie

Jamie woke up to the soft sound of breathing beside him. Alfie lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as if it were telling him bad news. His eyes were puffy from crying until sleep finally dragged him under.

Jamie stretched, feeling the ache of yesterday settle into his shoulders. He didn’t regret leaving—he regretted how they left. Spencer was probably awake by now. Probably worried. Probably angry. Jamie tried not to think about that part.

He nudged Alfie gently. “Hey. You okay?”

Alfie blinked. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

Jamie didn’t push. He knew that tone. He’d used it himself plenty of times. They got up, showered, and dressed for the stables. Jamie’s red phone and Alfie’s lime one sat on the counter, accusing and demanding their attention.

We should’ve called last night.

Spencer’s probably freaking out.

But Alfie needs space. And I need to breathe.

He grabbed Alfie’s car keys. “Come on. Pancakes first.”

Alfie nodded, grateful for something normal.

The pancake house smelled of syrup and butter and comfort. Alfie ordered a stack bigger than his head, and Jamie got blueberry pancakes with extra whipped cream. They ate quietly, the kind of quiet that wasn’t awkward—just tired.

Alfie finally spoke. “Do you think they’re mad?”

Jamie swallowed. “Probably confused. Maybe worried.”

He didn’t say Spencer’s probably losing his mind. He didn’t want to scare Alfie more.

The stables, with their familiar scent of hay and leather, offered a sense of belonging that no other place could match. Morning sunlight spilled through the open doors, dust floating in the air like tiny sparks. Daisy whinnied when she saw Jamie, nudging his shoulder with her nose.