Chapter Seven
Jamie
Jamie stood beside the truck, bundled up tighter than he’d ever been.
Spencer had insisted—leather jacket zipped up, scarf wrapped snug around his neck, matching gloves pulled over his stiff fingers.
Jamie hadn’t even argued. It was bitter out, the kind of cold that made your breath curl like smoke, and snow had fallen in soft, lazy flakes.
It was beautiful. Quiet. Like the world had hit pause.
But inside, Jamie felt anything but peaceful.
He climbed into the truck, and Spencer helped him, lifting the bags and tucking them behind the seat like it was second nature.
Jamie watched him, still trying to wrap his head around it all.
The clothes, the stuffie, the boots. No one had ever done this for him.
Not even close. It made him feel warm and weird and kind of scared.
Like he didn’t know what to do with kindness that didn’t come with strings.
As Spencer started the engine, he glanced over. “We’re gonna decorate the cabin for the party on Friday,” he said, smiling. “Two days from now. Nathan’s bringing lights, and Alfie’s got a ridiculous inflatable reindeer.”
Jamie nodded, staring out the window. The party. Right. The mixer. The whole reason Spencer had come down here. To meet someone. Someone new. Someone better.
Jamie’s chest tightened. What if Spencer found someone he liked at the party? What if this—whatever this was—was just temporary? A warm bed and a few gifts before he moved on to someone shinier, less broken.
He didn’t say any of that. Just kept his eyes on the snow-covered trees as they passed the cabin. The one with the black Jeep. Only now, the Jeep was gone.
Jamie’s stomach dropped. He knew that black Jeep.
Knew it like he knew the sound of Daddy Tom’s voice when he was about to lie.
That was his daddy’s Jeep. He’d seen it that morning, but the words had stuck in his throat like ice.
Now it was gone, and too many ugly thoughts swirled in his mind—Was he still here? Did he leave again? Did he even care?
Spencer glanced over, brow furrowed. “You okay?”
Jamie nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Just tired.”
Spencer didn’t buy it. “You’ve been quiet since we left the store.”
Jamie shrugged, eyes still locked on the window. “Just thinking.”
Spencer reached over, resting his hand gently on Jamie’s knee. “You don’t have to talk if you’re not ready. But I’m here, okay? Whatever it is, you’re not alone.”
Jamie swallowed hard, throat tight. He wanted to say I saw my Daddy Tom’s Jeep, wanted to ask what if he comes back for him? But the words wouldn’t come. So, he just nodded again, leaning slightly into Spencer’s touch.
Spencer didn’t push. He just kept driving, hand steady, and his presence solid. And for now, that was enough. Jamie wasn’t ready to talk about Daddy Tom and all the rotten things he did to make Jamie cry for hours.
Jamie followed Spencer up the steps of the bigger cabin, boots crunching in the fresh snow. It was way larger than the one they were staying in—two stories, a wide porch, gigantic windows glowing with warm light. Inside, it smelled like pine and cinnamon, and the heat hit him like a hug.
Before he could even take in the space, Alfie came bouncing over, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’m glad you’re here! I want to get the lights to go around.”
Jamie smiled, tugging off his jacket, scarf, and gloves. “I’ll help.”
Spencer gave him a quick wink and wandered off toward Nathan, leaving Jamie with Alfie and a tangled mess of string lights.
Alfie looked like he’d walked straight out of a neon-lit dream and decided to make it everyone else’s problem in the best possible way. His hair was a bold mix of electric blue and vibrant green, tousled in that deliberate, just-rolled-out-of-a-storm look.
Jamie liked Alfie right away. There was something easy about him—no weird vibes, no guarded pauses.
Just warmth. Alfie had made him feel like he belonged, even though they’d only met that morning over pancakes and coffee.
It was rare for Jamie to feel that kind of welcome so fast, and he didn’t take it lightly.
He watched Alfie’s hands as he talked, the way he gestured with enthusiasm, like everything he said mattered. Jamie felt seen, like he wasn’t just tagging along—he was part of the moment.
“Are you in a band?” Jamie asked, curious. Alfie had a cool energy, like he could’ve been the lead singer in some indie group.
Alfie laughed. “Me? No way. I work at an animal shelter. I’m trying to be a vet.”
Jamie smiled. That made sense. Alfie had a gentle vibe, like he’d know exactly how to calm a scared puppy—or a nervous friend. “I like your hair,” Jamie said, eyeing the streaks of color that somehow looked both wild and intentional.
Alfie grinned. “Hey, I can color yours for you. I did my own. We could look like twins.”
Jamie’s heart did a little flip. He wasn’t used to people offering things like that—not just favors, but connection. Alfie made it feel easy, like being close wasn’t something you had to earn.
Jamie wondered if Alfie knew anything about Spencer. After all, Alfie’s boyfriend Nathan was best friends with him. Maybe Alfie had insight, or stories, or just… a sense of who Spencer really was. Jamie wasn’t sure if he wanted to ask yet, but the thought lingered.
For now, he just let himself enjoy the moment. Alfie was real. And Jamie hadn’t felt this kind of real in a long time.
They got to work, looping the lights around the windows and across the beams overhead. Alfie was chatty, tossing out ideas for the party—music, snacks, maybe a snowball fight if the weather held. Jamie mostly listened, nodding occasionally laughing when Alfie got tangled in the cords.
They decorated the long wooden table next, laying out a red plaid runner and setting up little pinecones and candles. It looked festive, like something out of a holiday magazine. Jamie felt a weird mix of joy and nerves. He had done nothing like this in years.
After a while, Alfie flopped into one of the chairs and cracked open a soda. “Break time,” he declared.
Jamie joined him, sipping his own drink, the cold fizz sharp against his throat. “How long have you been with Nathan?”
“Two years. He’s a great daddy.”
“That’s awesome.” Jamie wished he were as happy as Alfie looked. He was brimming with positive energy, like a tightly wound spring. So happy. What was happy anyway?
“So,” Alfie said, eyes twinkling. “You and Spencer… are you a thing?”
Jamie blinked. “Uh… I don’t know what we are.”
Alfie tilted his head. “He helped you out, right?”
Jamie nodded. “Yeah. He found me on the side of the road. I didn’t have anything. He’s been… really kind.”
Alfie leaned in, voice dropping a little. “Spencer has had no one. Daddy Nathan told me. Said he’s a good daddy. Like, really good. Any boy would be lucky.”
Jamie felt his cheeks warm. He looked down at his soda can, fingers tracing the rim. “I wish he’d take me as his boy,” he whispered, almost surprised he’d said it to another person.
Alfie smiled. “Then tell him. Or show him. He’s not the type to play games.”
Jamie nodded, but his stomach twisted. “What if he meets someone at the party? Someone better?”
Alfie frowned. “You think he’s looking past you?”
Jamie shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… I don’t want to be left behind again.”
Alfie reached over and squeezed his hand. “You won’t be. Not if you let him see how much you want to stay with him.”
Jamie didn’t answer. He just looked out the window at the falling snow, heart thudding. The party was two days away, and the thought of being alone again scared him more than he wanted to admit.
“Another thing, he told Daddy Nathan he didn’t think he would find a boy in one week and he also feared no one from here would want to move to Montana. What about you? Would you move to Montana?”
“I don’t know. My biggest fear is he would move me and then later dump me and I’d be stuck in Montana. I love it here.”
“Let me tell you about Spencer. We visited him in Montana. It’s a big ranch. All sorts of animals and tons of horses. If he moved you, he’d keep you.”
“Do you know about any of his other boys?”
“Since I’ve been with Daddy Nathan, he has had no one. But I heard about one when he was in the band.”
“Can you tell me about him?”
“Daddy Nathan said Spencer loved this guy named Billy. He was Daddy Spencer to Billy for two years, then Billy decided to cheat on him with another guy in the band. There was a big blowup. Spencer didn’t talk to either of them while they played.
Then, six months later, Spencer’s grandfather died, and he said he needed to leave the band to run the family ranch.
Daddy Nathan wants him to return to the band.
The other band member and Billy left because Daddy Nathan made their lives miserable. ”
“Wow! I think that happened to me, but I was too stupid to know that was happening until I was dumped into the snow.”
“Did your last daddy drive you here from Brentwood?”
“Yeah. He told me to look for a jacket, said he had to make a phone call, and then just… left.” The memory still stung, sharp and cold like the snow he’d wandered into. “I kept walking until I couldn’t anymore. That’s when Daddy Spencer found me. I mean—Spencer.”
He winced at the slip, but Alfie didn’t tease him. Instead, he glanced past Jamie’s shoulder, and Jamie turned to see Spencer standing there. His heart did a weird little flip.
Spencer stepped closer and pressed a soft kiss to Jamie’s head. It was gentle, grounding. “I liked hearing you call me Daddy Spencer,” he said.
Jamie flickered his eyes, caught off guard. “You do?” As he stood, his chest tightened in a fluttery way that made him feel both exposed and safe.
“Yes, do you know why?”
Jamie shook his head, suddenly shy.
“Because it came from you.” Spencer wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I heard what you said about what happened. I’m so sorry.”
Jamie turned to face him fully, cheeks burning. “I didn’t want you to know.”