“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.”
Chapter Eight
Jamie
Spencer didn’t push. “Let’s take a little walk outside,” he said, like it was an offer, not a demand.
Jamie hesitated when Spencer suggested the walk. It wasn’t a direct order, and that alone made Jamie feel a little safer. Still, he wasn’t sure what was waiting for him out there—more feelings, more questions, and maybe even more hurt.
He followed Spencer to the coat rack, tugging on his jacket, the one Spencer had bought him. The one that meant more than Jamie could ever explain.
He remembered the first time he’d walked into the boutique alone, heart pounding, eyes scanning the racks for the perfect leather jacket. He’d wanted to match Daddy Tom—look cool, look wanted, look like he belonged beside him. Daddy Tom had told him to go inside and pick one out while he made a phone call. Jamie had waited, clutching the sleeve of a jacket he loved, imagining Daddy Tom walking in, smiling, saying, “That’s the one, baby.” But Daddy Tom never came. He never paid. He never even looked. Jamie had stood there for what felt like foreveruntil the sales clerk gave him that pitying look, and Jamie realized he’d been left behind. Again.
That jacket had stayed in the store. And Jamie had walked out feeling smaller than ever.
But this jacket—the one Spencer bought him—was different. Spencer had gone with him. Had walked through the store beside him, not ahead or behind. He’d asked Jamie what he liked, not told him what he should wear. He’d held up options, encouraged him to try them on, waited patiently while Jamie hesitated. And when Jamie had slipped into the one that made him feel strong and soft all at once, Spencer had smiled and said, “That’s the one. Do you love it?”
Jamie had nodded, and Spencer had paid. No hesitation. No disappearing act. Just quiet care.
The shopping trip had felt like something out of a dream—like being chosen, not tolerated. Like being seen.
Now, as Jamie tugged the jacket tighter around himself, he looked over at Spencer and said softly, “Thank you for this. Really. This jacket means more than you’ll ever know.”
Spencer didn’t say anything right away, but Jamie saw the way his eyes softened. And for once, Jamie didn’t feel like he had to explain the ache behind his words. Spencer already understood.
As they stepped outside, the snow was still falling, soft and steady. Jamie kept his eyes on the path, trying not to overthink whatever this walk was supposed to be.
Spencer broke the silence. “Do you like Alfie?”
Jamie perked up a little. “Yeah. He offered to color my hair like his. What do you think?”
He wasn’t sure why he’d asked. Maybe he wanted Spencer’s approval. Maybe he just wanted to keep talking so the quiet wouldn’t swallow him.
