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They reached the aisle filled with nail polish and she stopped, staring at the colors. It had been a while since she’d painted her nails. She didn’t notice Kent getting further away.

“Abby? Abby!” She heard him call out.

She turned to him, surprised to see worry and a bit of anger in his face. “What?”

“What did I tell you about sticking by my side?” He gave her several sharp taps on the ass that made her jump. They stung, but didn’t really hurt. However, they did cut through the fog in her head.

“Kent!” She glanced around, thankfully they seemed to be on their own. “You can’t do that in here.”

“Who is in charge?”

Oh shit.

“You are. But we’re in public!”

“If you’re naughty then I’m going to address that where and when I see fit.”

“I’m...I’m sorry I was just looking at the nail polishes.”

He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “Just stay with me, okay? Here, you hold this basket then I can have a free hand to hold yours.”

He led her around the store, adding a few nail polishes to the basket she held. By the time they reached his truck, she was yawning. He helped her inside, doing up her belt.

“Close your eyes, baby. Try to get a bit of rest. I was going to put you down for a nap today, but it’s so late now I’ll just put you to bed early.”

“I don’t need to go to bed early!” She was slightly surprised at the childish note to her voice.

“Well, luckily, you don’t decide things like that. I do. Close your eyes. Rest.”

She sighed and obediently closed her eyes. Images of Max rushed through her mind, each one more terrifying than the last. She opened her eyes with a gasp.

“Abby-girl? What is it?”

“I can’t rest. When I close my eyes, I keep thinking about every bad thing that could be happening to Max. I mean, I know he brought it all on himself, but he’s still my brother. I don’t want him to get hurt or die.”

“I know you don’t, sweetheart.” He squeezed her thigh. “You can’t keep thinking about it or you will drive yourself insane.”

“It’s hard not to think about it.” She rubbed at her temples.

“Headache?” he asked.

“Little bit.”

“Probably stress and exhaustion. When we get home, I’ll run you a bath. Afterwards we can snuggle up and watch a movie. What’s your favorite movie?”

“Um, Fast and Furious?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of Beauty and the Beast.”

“Oh, I do like Tangled.”

“Tangled it is. Just let me take care of you, baby.”

She sat on the sofa and stared at the show on the T.V. screen not really seeing it. Kent was upstairs drawing a bath for her. She chewed at her thumbnail worriedly. Where was Max? Was he okay? Please, let him be okay.

She had this horrible feeling he wasn’t, though.

“Abby?” A hand landed on her shoulder, making her startle with a scream. She whirled to find Kent standing behind her. “Damn, baby, you’re jumpy.”