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“For fuck’s sake, Immy,” Sampson grumbled. “Who said you’re a fucking drain?”

“I can’t believe you’ve been thinking this way,” Abe said, looking pale. “I’ve always thought of you as my sister, Immy.”

“I feel that way about you too,” she said.

“Then you should know that family is never a burden. Family is a blessing,” Abe told her.

“You’re right. I know you are. It’s just . . . my father always told me how he wished I was a boy. I think that’s why he was better when you lived with us, Abe. Because you were the boy he always wanted. I was only good for breeding. I wasn’t smart or clever or beautiful or athletic. I was childish and stupid. It just . . . it got into my head. His voice is so often in my head.” She smacked her hand against her forehead.

“Hey, stop that.” Jenner grabbed her hand, pulling it down. “Immy, Cat has always been filled with mischief and she needed the rest of us to ground her, to keep her from getting into too much trouble. Maeve, she was our joy. She’d make us smile and laugh. All of us hated her leaving, but knew she had to do it. But do you know who you’ve always been for us, Immy?”

She shook her head.

“You’re our heart. You brought all of us together, kept us together. Without you, we might have all fallen apart. We’re all better people because of you. We take care of you because we want to. Not due to necessity or pity or whatever you’re thinking in that head of yours.” Jenner tapped her forehead lightly. “You are wanted. You are loved. You are not what he said.”

“And you want to let your Little fully out, then fucking go for it,” Sampson grumbled. “She peeks her head out a lot anyway. You are her and she’s you.”

Everyone stared at Sampson in shock.

“What?” he snapped.

“We’re just not used to you being so insightful,” Abe said with a smirk.

“Shut the fuck up.” Sampson smacked his hand against Abe’s arm, pushing him. “I can be insightful.”

“No, you can’t,” Jenner said. “You have the emotional intelligence of a rock.”

“Dick,” Sampson muttered.

Immy grinned at them all. This is what she loved. When they were all together. Well, Isaiah and Maeve and Cat weren’t here. But this was filling her bucket and the water was starting to overflow over the top.

“You guys really think that about me?” she whispered.

“Yeah, Imms,” Abe said, looking at her incredulously. “We fucking love you. And we just want you to be happy. The last thing we’d ever want was for you to feel like you couldn’t be yourself or that you’re asking too much.”

“You can never ask too much, Immy,” Jenner told her. “Not ever. No matter how much you ask, it won’t be enough.”

This time when she leaned forward, he didn’t move away. Jenner gathered her into his lap, holding her tight as Sampson and Abe joined them in a hug.

“We’re a family, baby,” Jenner whispered to her. “You’re ours and no matter what, we want you, we love you, and we’re gonna take care of you. The same way you always take care of us. You always cook our favorite meals when one of us is down. Every birthday and holiday is extra special because of you. Because you love on us. And we just want to love on you back.”

He had to stop. She could feel the tears forming and sliding down her cheeks. So she pressed her face into his neck and just held on.

And they held onto her for a long, long time too.

28

This couldn’t be happening again.

Immy glanced up as Sampson entered the kitchen. She was mixing together the ingredients for some chocolate chip cookies. Sure, she could use the industrial level mixer that Jenner had gotten her for her last birthday.

But she needed to do something to get rid of this fear-fueled energy coursing through her.

It was happening again.

Tobias was on his phone at the island, frantically calling and messaging people.

Cat had been kidnapped.