Page 27

No, he couldn’t. He’d never been anyone’s Daddy. And he wasn’t . . . he couldn’t be with Immy that way.

Immy shifted around on the bed, whimpering. Jenner’s heart leaped into his throat.

Was she having a nightmare? What should he do? Should he wake her?

He hated the thought of her being upset.

“No, no, Jenner!” she cried.

Was the nightmare about him? Shit.

“I don’t . . . I just want him to notice . . . no, no,” she said. “Of course I don’t want that!”

Didn’t want what? Wanted him to notice what?

Okay. This was probably way overstepping. It was one thing to come in and check on her. It was something he did at least twice a week. Sure, that was probably a bit creepy, but it was the only way to stop himself from worrying about her.

But to listen to her dreams . . . yeah, that seemed a step too far.

However, he also couldn’t leave her in this state. He couldn’t just walk away while she was so upset. Making a decision, he sat on the side of the bed, facing her. Her head was thrashing back and forth, her gorgeous hair flying around her head.

“Immy! Immy, baby, you’re having a nightmare.” He grasped hold of her shoulder and gently shook her.

The last thing he wanted was to give her a fright, but he also didn’t want to leave her stuck in a nightmare.

With a gasp, she sat up, looking around. “Where am I? Who are you?”

Shit.

Sometimes this happened when she woke up suddenly. Immy was a deep sleeper. So it could take her a while to fully wake up.

He had to admit that sleepy, half-awake Immy was his favorite.

“It’s Jenner, baby. I’m here. You’re safe.”

“Jenner?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.

When she was in her half-asleep state, she often sounded and acted younger than her years.

It was like all of her defenses were eroded. So there was just Immy.

“Yes, baby.”

“Where am I? I don’t think I like it in here. I want to go home.”

Immy crawled out of bed and over into his lap. She wrapped herself around him, her legs straddling his hips and her arms tight around his neck.

“Don’t wanna stay here. Wanna go with you. It’s too dark and scary.”

He ran his hand up and down her back, hating the way she was shaking. She was scared of the dark, which is why she slept with a nightlight. He didn’t know why exactly, but he guessedthey’d all been left with demons from living at the Camp. As much as they had tried to protect Immy, they hadn’t been able to shield her from everything.

At least he hoped there wasn’t something she was keeping from them.

Don’t do it.

Don’t ask.

“Immy?”