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J enner slipped into the last song of the evening— His Everything .

It was her favorite song and he knew it. He always sang it last and it always made her want to cry. She swayed to the music.

God, she was tired.

This was the last concert and tomorrow, they got to go home. Immy couldn’t wait for her own bed. Her own things.

And to get away from all of these people. It was draining.

Jenner was so talented and good looking. It was no wonder his popularity was growing. And since he’d hired a new publicist, he’d become even more famous and popular.

Immy should be happy for him. Even though Lauren, his publicist, could be . . . cold? A bit abrupt?

Immy guessed Lauren was just doing her job.

Jenner swung his gaze over to her as he sang. Sometimes, when she couldn’t get to sleep at night, he’d sing to her. Those were her favorite times, when it was just the two of them and no one else.

Why did he have to be a truly lovely, gorgeous, fun guy?

Who was utterly clueless. Sometimes she just felt like . . . like slapping him. Or putting hair removal cream in his shampoo.

But that would rob the world of that luscious hair.

Immy sighed. She knew she sounded like a twit.

Why couldn’t she let go of this obsession? Move on?

She remembered Abe’s words from last night. Maybe Jenner really didn’t see how she felt. Perhaps his time living in the cult had affected his ability to form a relationship.

Or perhaps he was just blind.

Even though she was frustrated as hell with Jenner and his inability to see her, Immy also knew that she had to shoulder some of the blame.

How could he see her, if she wasn’t willing to put herself out there and, well, tell him.

Like Cat said . . . even the most intelligent men could be seriously clueless until you whacked them around the head and made them pay attention.

Problem was, Immy was too scared to tell him.

Jenner hit the final notes of the song.

Then he thanked everyone for coming out.

As he stepped off the stage, his smile hit hers where she waited out the back.

“How did that sound, Twinkles?” he asked with a grin as his band members headed further backstage.

“You were amazing, as usual.”

“Thanks. You going back to the hotel now?”

“Yeah, I thought I would. Are you coming back now?”

“Jenner, we need you in the backstage room,” Lauren called out from a few feet away, looking impatient.

Well, she did until Jenner turned to look at her. She wiped that impatience off her face pretty quickly.

Yeah, Immy didn’t really like her. And Immy liked most people.

“Looks like I have to stick around.”

“Want me to wait for you?” Immy asked.

“No, Twinkles, you head back and rest. You look tired. Make sure you don’t go by yourself, though. Go with Abe, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

“Where is he?” Jenner glanced around.

“I’ll find him. Promise.”

“Good girl.” He slid his hand around the back of her head, then leaned in to kiss her forehead.

“Jenner, we really need to go,” Lauren called out.

“Coming.”

Jenner turned and walked toward Lauren. The other woman gave Immy a strange look.

Immy resisted sticking her tongue out at her. Because that would be rude.

But it wasn’t easy.

She watched Jenner walk away, talking to members of his crew.

With a sigh, she headed off to find Abe. Immy knew that a lot of people would get annoyed by how protective her friends were.

But Immy had grown up with these guys. They were protective because they were her family.

And, honestly, Immy liked being taken care of. They made her feel safe and cared for.

Plus, what did it hurt her to find Abe and head back to the hotel with him instead of on her own? Why would she want to be on her own, anyway? She was used to a house filled with people. Being alone sounded scary.

“Immy? We gotta go. I need to get back to the hotel.” Abe was frowning as he strode toward her.

But that was nothing unusual.

Abe was generally bossy and demanding. He was very driven and smart. She hoped one day he could find someone special who would make him see that there was more to life than just work.

Abe deserved that. He was loyal and he could be really kind. When he took his head out of his own butt.

“I’m ready,” she said cheerfully, wrapping her hand around one arm to guide him along as he tapped on his phone.

He’d been known to bang into people. And walls.

Once he’d actually walked out in front of a car and nearly been run over.

He’d been doing better since then about being aware of his surroundings.

“Don’t need you to guide me, Immy,” he grumbled.

“I’m not,” she lied. “I felt a bit light-headed so I’m hanging on.”

He came to an abrupt stop and turned to her, putting his phone away in his pocket.

Shoot.

What was she thinking? That was the last thing she should have said. Although it wasn’t actually a lie.

“You feel light-headed?” he demanded.

“Just a tiny bit,” she admitted. “But I was also trying to guide you.”

Immy was a terrible liar. But she also wished she hadn’t mentioned being light-headed. Because she could tell from the look on Abe’s face that he was about to go all mother hen on her.

Immy had been really sick as a baby and her immune system hadn’t recovered. So now, it was easy for her to get sick and when she did catch something, she tended to get sicker than everyone else.

It sucked.

But it was what it was.

“You look pale.”

“I always look pale, I’m a natural redhead,” she said quickly.

“No, no. Paler than normal.” Abe placed the back of his hand over her forehead. “And you feel hot.”

“I do not feel hot.”

“You do.”

“Don’t you have some work to do?” she asked desperately. “Where’s your phone? You should be on your phone.”

“You are more important than work,” he told her, taking her hand in his.

That was so sweet and she would have appreciated the sentiment under other circumstances.

“Come on, let’s get you back to the hotel and into bed. Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t well?”

“Because I’m fine, Abe,” she said with exasperation. “Why won’t you listen to me?”

“Fine? Being pale, dizzy, and running a fever is not fine. That tells me that you’re ill. I’m going to message the others.”

“No! Don’t message the others!” she cried, trying to reach for his phone. She held onto his arm, but he used his free hand to type out a message.

Cupcakes!

Why did he have to be so good at typing one-handed?

“Abe! I’m fine. I don’t want to go to bed on my own.”

“Who the hell would you be planning to go to bed with?”

No one.

Sure, she might dream about Jenner falling madly in love with her and taking her to bed. She wanted her first time to be with him. She was certain he’d treat her like a princess.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she muttered. “I just don’t want to go to bed early.”

Abe grunted as he started moving again.

This time, he had his arm around her shoulders and his phone was in his hand, but he wasn’t on it.

Unicorn poop.

She was definitely in trouble. When Abe was on his phone working, she could usually get away with anything. But when he decided to focus on something, he gave it his full attention.

And that included her.

He walked outside and headed to a waiting town car that would take them to the hotel. Opening the door, he ushered her in as his gaze moved around their surroundings.

“Is everything okay?” she asked worriedly.

Why was he acting so alert? As though he anticipated a threat around every corner?

Her nerves started to jitter.

“Nothing,” he said as he climbed in. “I just get a weird feeling every now and then.”

Reaching over, she clasped his hand. “It’s all behind us, you know. We’re free.”

And they were.

They’d been free of the cult for years. They’d all gotten out safe. Some of them a bit more battered and bruised. But safe.

“Yeah, I know,” Abe said grimly. “Just sometimes it feels like there’s someone watching. Or like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know? As though the evil that was that place isn’t done with us yet.”

She tightened her hand on him as the car started to move. “Do you really believe that?”

“I don’t know . . . you know, of course I don’t believe that. You know me, I like to worry about everything. That’s my job, to think of all possible scenarios and how to troubleshoot them.”

She eyed him for a long moment. Was he just placating her? Telling her that to put her at ease?

“Why aren’t you wearing your seatbelt?” he suddenly barked.

“What? Oh. Yes, Sorry.”

She immediately drew her seatbelt on and buckled it in. Her mind was stuck back in the past.

She hadn’t been certain she’d leave the cult alive. The guys had always been completely positive. Certain that Cat would come through and save them.

And she had.

But there were times that Immy had cried herself to sleep, worried about her friends. Worried that not all of them would make it out.

And even if they did, that they’d be changed people.

“Immy, honey, don’t stress, yeah?” Abe said, squeezing her hand. “I should never have said anything.”

“I’m not going to break. You can tell me stuff.”

“Of course I can.”

She knew he was just saying that. Because she wouldn’t be the first person he came to with anything that was concerning him. Which was okay, as long as he talked to someone. The last thing she wanted was his blood pressure going through the roof or for him to get an ulcer.

“Have you told anyone about your feeling?” she asked.

“Honey, it’s just a feeling. It’s dumb and there’s no need to worry anyone with it. Guess I was just left with a heightened sense of awareness, you know?”

Yes, she got that.

But she thought they’d all settled down after a few years out of the cult. And she’d never noticed Abe being this jumpy before.

Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out, sighing as she looked down at the group message.

“You sent out a group message?” she asked tiredly.

Cupcakes. Maybe she really was getting ill.

“Yes. Everyone needs to know that you’re ill so we can all take care of you.”

“Abe! I’m fine.” Her phone started to buzz and she groaned at the number of messages from the others. “They’re all going nuts, thinking that I’m ill.”

“You don’t look well.”

She shot him a dark look and her phone buzzed again. With a sigh, she read the messages.

Sampson: What do you mean, she’s ill? What sort of ill?

Isaiah: You’re taking her to the hotel?

Jenner: I just saw her before. She seemed fine. Maybe a bit tired. I shouldn’t have left her.

Abe: I’ll call a doctor when we get to the hotel.

She shot Abe a grumpy look. “I will take your phone off you.”

Abe snorted. “No, you won’t.”

No. She wouldn’t.

Crumbles, it was hard when the person she wanted to be mad at knew her so well. And was only trying to look out for her.

Isaiah: I’ll find one now.

Jenner: Guys! Chill.

Immy raised her eyebrows. Was Jenner going to be the voice of reason?

Jenner: There’ll be a hotel doctor. I’ll call ahead to the hotel.

Immy groaned. That had disaster written all over it. She could see the headlines now.

Jenner Knight Inquires About A Doctor.

Is Jenner Knight Ill?

It was amazing how the press could make a mountain out of a molehill.

“For fuck’s sake, Sampson better not let him do that,” Abe muttered. “I’ll do it.”

Immy: Guys! I’m fine! Abe is overreacting. I don’t need a doctor. I’m fine.

Jenner: Are you sure? Are you running a fever? I don’t know about this . . . I think a doctor is a good idea.

God.

This is part of the reason she loved him. It had started off as a child’s love. Adoration for the guy who was her protective big brother. Over time it had morphed into more.

Immy wasn’t sure when she’d started to see him as more than a big brother. Sometime after they’d moved in together. At first, it had been a silly crush. Something she’d hidden from everyone until she’d confessed her feelings to Maeve.

She’d tried to squish her feelings into a tight box.

However, that box was starting to disintegrate.

Immy: No doctor. I’m fine. And all of you need to quit it. The end.

There. That told them.

Abe glanced over at her. “The end?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Imms, I don’t want you to get sick.”

She felt herself softening. She knew that Abe was remembering all the times she’d been in ill the past. Reaching over, she squeezed his hand. “I’ll go to bed when we get back to the hotel. And you can take my temperature. If I’ve got a fever, we’ll call for a doctor. Fair?”

“Fair.”

Jenner rushed through the hotel, Sampson at his heels.

“Don’t know why you hired that woman,” Sampson grumbled.

Jenner sighed. “She’s just doing her job.” But yeah, he was kind of annoyed too. He’d hired Lauren to help his career and she was doing that.

But it meant that he hardly spent any time with his family, with Immy.

And he fucking hated that.

Reaching her door, he banged on it frantically. The last group message had simply said that she was fine. But what did that mean? Had Abe gotten a doctor to check her over? Was she coughing? Did she need to go to the hospital?

All right . . . maybe he was overreacting. But Immy didn’t have a good immune system and she went downhill quick.

The door opened and Abe looked at them both knowingly.

He stepped in to find Immy lying on the bed and Isaiah sitting up at the end of the bed on his laptop.

“Jenner! Sampson! What are you guys doing here?” She sat up.

“Stay where you are,” he urged, rushing toward her. Sitting on the bed facing her, he reached out to place the back of his hand on her forehead. “How are you feeling? You seem warm. Has the doctor been?”

“I don’t need a doctor,” Immy told him. “And I don’t have a temperature.”

“You took it?” he asked Abe.

Abe rolled his eyes. “I did.”

“Give me the thermometer. I want to make sure.”

“I know how to take her temperature,” Abe told him. But he handed over the thermometer and Jenner gently placed it in her ear.

“Hmm. This seems borderline. I think we should get a doctor.”

Immy gave him a stubborn look. “There’s no such thing as borderline. I’m fine. Just tired.”

“You’re sure? No light-headedness, no nausea?”

She patted his hand. “Nope. And shouldn’t you two be at some VIP event? What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you,” Sampson said from where he was now sitting in an armchair next to Abe.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry! You should go back.”

“We’re not going back.” Jenner carefully lifted her over into the middle of the bed. Then he lay down next to her, on top of the covers. “We’re staying here. With you.”

He placed an arm over her, pulling her against him so her head lay on his chest.

“You can’t do that. Lauren will be mad,” she said to him.

“Who cares? There’re more important things than publicity events. Like family.”

Like you.

And this was exactly where he was meant to be.