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Dad arrived and sat down "She’s a good girl, Travis I’ not to let the sadness show onin the kitchen, and it seee to join her It may have been a family holiday, but I wanted to spend every spare rinding noises alerted me to the fact that the dishwasher had been started Abby walked by to wave quickly beforeher way to the stairs I jue You’re not going to bed, are ya?"

"It’s been a long day I’ ready to watch aout?"

She looked up the stairs and then down to me "Okay"

I led her by the hand to the couch, and we sat together as the opening credits rolled

"Shut off that light, Taylor," Dad ordered

I reached behind Abby, restingboth my arms around her I ary about her reaction, and I didn’t want to take advantage of the situation when she was doing h the movie, the front door flew open, and Thos in hand

"Happy Thanksgiving!" he said, setting his luggage on the floor

Dad stood up and hugged hireet hi to say hi to Thomas?" Abby whispered

I watched ht with you I’ to waste a second of it"

"Hi there, Abby It’s good to see you again" Thomas smiled

I touched Abby’s knee She looked down, and then back toand interlocked ers in my lap

"Uh-oh Trouble in paradise?" Thorumbled

Thefor an explanation She smiled nervously, and then took my hand into both of hers

"We’re just tired," she said, s on the food" Her cheek pressed into my shoulder

I looked down at our hands and then squeezed, wishing there was some way I could say then howof tired, I’onna head to bed, baby" She looked to everyone else "Good night, guys"

"Night, sis," Dad said

My brothers all said good night, and watched Abby onna turn in, too," I said

"I bet you are," Trenton teased

"Lucky bastard," Tyler gru to talk about your sister like that," Dad warned

Ignoringthe bedrooet dressed, and wouldn’t be co it in front of me anymore, I froze "Did you want me to wait in the hall while you dressed for bed?"

"I’et dressed in the bathrooht I’lleyes were solid steel as she nodded, her wall obviously i beforein the closet for sheets and a blanket, I spread out the linens on the floor beside the bed, thankful we’d at least have soed from the bathroom, and I dropped a pillow on the floor at the head of the pallet, and then took my turn in the shower

I wasted no ti the water rinse away the suds as soon as they lathered Within tenback into the bedroom

Abby lay in bed when I returned, the sheets as high on her chest as she could get the as a bed with Abby snuggled up inside I realizedto her breathe just inches away, unable to touch her

I turned off the light, and situated ether, isn’t it?"

"I don’t wanna fight, Trav Just go to sleep"

I turned over to face her, propping up my head with my hand Abby turned over, too, and our eyes met

"I love you"

She watched me for a moment "You proet back together It wasn’t" I reached up a hand to touch hers "But if it ain, I can’t say I wouldn’t consider it"

"I care about you I don’t want you to hurt, but I should have followed ut in the first place It would’ve never worked"

"You did love ether "I still do"

Every e that I couldn’t tell one from the other "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"I’ you asked me to do," she said with a smirk

"If this is really itif you’re really done with ht?"

"I don’t think it’s a good idea, Trav"

My hand gripped tight over hers "Please? I can’t sleep knowing you’re just a foot away, and I’ain"

Abby stared atsex with you"

"That’s not what I’"

Abby’s eyes darted around the floor for a bit as she conteht, she scooted froe of the bed, and turned down the covers

I crawled into the bed beside her, hastily pulling her tight into my arms It felt so incredible that coupled with the tension in the roo to miss this," I said

I kissed her hair and pulled her closer, burying my face into her neck She rested her hand onto breathe her in, to let that moment of time burn into my brain

"II don’t think I can do this, Travis," she said, trying to wriggle free

I didn’tthat deep burning pain I’d felt for days on end, it juston

"I can’t do this," she said again