Jamie didn’t laugh. He stared into his root beer, the brown liquid reflecting the neon lights above. “I don’t know,” he uttered. “I hope not.” But he didn’t trust himself. Not around Tom. Not after everything. He had every reason to make a shameless scene and humiliate him there. He was no longer afraid of Tom with Spencer as his daddy.
“Whatever happens, I’ll stand with you.” Alfie dipped two fries into the ketchup.
“Tom did things I can’t even talk about,” Jamie added, voice barely above a whisper. His chest tightened. The memories were still there—handcuffs, threats, and broken promises. Theway Tom had made him feel small, disposable. Like love was something you earned by staying silent.
Jamie swallowed hard.Daddy Spencer would never do that. Daddy Spencer made him feel seen.Safe. Wanted. But what if Daddy Spencer didn’t ask him to stay? What if he was just a warm place to land for a little while?
The fear slithered in silently and cold like a deadly snake.What if I’m not enough to keep him?
He looked up at Alfie, trying to smile but not quite making it. “I just don’t want to go back to being afraid.”
Alfie’s expression turned deadly serious. “Then don’t. You’ve got people who care about you now. Don’t let him take that away.”
Jamie nodded, gripping his beer tighter. He didn’t know what would happen at the mixer. But he knew one thing for sure—he wasn’t the same boy Tom left behind. Not anymore.
Alfie’s face softened. “Was he mean to you?”
Jamie nodded. “Fuck yeah. He threatened me. Punished me a lot. Always when he’d promised to take me somewhere and then didn’t.”
Alfie leaned in. “How did he punish you?”
Jamie hesitated, then said quietly, “He used his handcuffs so I couldn’t leave, or he would lock me in the bedroom. And like an idiot, I never left when they were off. I was afraid of him.”
Alfie didn’t say anything for a moment. Jamie continued, voice low. “He never once said he loved me. I was just his closet toy. Being with Daddy Spencer… it’s been eye-opening.”
“Wasn’t Tom out?”
Jamie shook his head. “No. He’s the chief of police in Brentwood. I lived with him, but he never took me anywhere in public. Had to be seen with women, not young men. He made me feel like his dirty secret.”
“Why did you stay with him?”
“I thought I loved him.” He paused. The pain reignited inside him. “I believed if I did everything he wanted, he’d love me back. And when I did, I was fucking miserable. And even with all that shit I took from him, he distanced himself.”
“Hey! I made mistakes before Nathan too. Don’t beat yourself up. Shit happens. You’re over him, and you have Spencer.”
“I hate Tom now. Really hate him like I never hated anyone before. The man took all my innocence and goodness and turned it all into ashes. He left me with nothing.”
“No, Jamie. He didn’t take all of you. Nathan and I feel connected to you. And you’re good for Spencer. If you were ashes, you wouldn’t be able to be acceptable to Spencer.”
“Daddy Spencer is perfect for me except that he lives in Montana. He’s a Geographically Undesired.”
Alfie looked like he wanted to punch something. “What did Tom do to you to make you hate him?”
Jamie’s eyes flicked toward the lanes, watching a kid knock down a strike and cheer. “Knowing Daddy Spencer made me strong,” he said, avoiding Alfie’s question again. “Daddy Spencer’s the best thing in my life.”
Alfie smiled. “Nathan and I are going to Montana for Christmas Eve. Staying for a week.”
Jamie’s eyes widened. “Really?”
The words hit harder than he expected. A week in Montana. With Daddy Spencer. At the ranch. Snow, horses, quiet mornings. The place Daddy Spencer had described with that soft look in his eyes. Jamie had pictured it more than once—waking up to the sound of wind in the trees, helping with chores, maybe learning to ride. Maybe just being close.
But Daddy Spencer hadn’t asked him to come.
Jamie tried to keep his face neutral, but something in his chest twisted. He took a sip of his drink, hoping it would hide thesting.Why didn’t he invite me too?They’d shared a bed. Shared more than that. Daddy Spencer had held him like he meant it. Had looked at him like he was something worth keeping.
And yet… no invitation.
Maybe he didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep. Maybe he was waiting to see if Jamie would run back to Tom. Maybe he didn’t trust that Jamie was really his. Or maybe—maybe he just didn’t see Jamie as part of that future.
