Friends with Benefits - Nicole Blanchard Page 0,34

said defensively. At least, I didn’t think I did.

“Do, too,” Tillie retorted.

“I’m sorry, my sweet babies. I’ll try to see what I can do so that I don’t keep you awake again. We’ll talk about it more after school, but we have to get moving. I have an early shift this morning, and we still have to drive out of town to Tripp’s parents’ house.”

“Are you sure we have to go?” Tillie blinked up at me with owlish eyes. Guilt swamped me for having to leave them overnight with Tripp’s parents. I wished I didn’t have to work or go to school at all, but someone had to earn a paycheck to keep them clothed and fed and pay for doctor’s visits and whatever else. “What if I can’t go to sleep at their house? Or what if they leave us alone like Mommy did?”

My heart squeezed inside my chest. I knelt down at their level and laid a hand on each of their shoulders. “Tripp’s parents are good people.” I winced internally when I realized the statement could be interpreted to mean our parents weren’t, but the twins didn’t notice. “They have the number at the station and my cell phone. I’ll call you when you get off school and again before bed.”

“Will you call in the morning when you’re on your way to pick us up?” Molly asked, hopefully.

I traced her nose with a finger. “Of course I can. And they won’t leave you alone. I made them pinky promise.”

The twins shared a glance. “Really?” Tillie asked.

“Of course. I wouldn’t leave you with just anyone without a pinky promise.”

“Do you think Mrs. Wilder will read us a bedtime story?”

“I’m sure she will if you ask, sweetheart. Now let’s get going before we’re all late.”

I made a mental note to call Tripp’s mother and request that she read them a bedtime story. Then I hoped for a miracle shift because the twins weren’t the only ones who were tired. I hadn’t been able to sleep properly since…well, Tripp. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“C’mon, Emmy. I thought we were going to be late,” Molly said, pulling her thumb from her mouth.

They were so dang cute with their shouldered mini backpacks. Their hair was thrown up in identical ponytails, and their matching green eyes twinkled up at me. I grabbed my overnight bag that contained sleeping clothes for work, headphones, a tablet, chargers, and a change of clothes, along with the girl’s overnight bags containing about the same.

I was going to be on edge the whole night wondering how they were doing, so I wouldn’t be getting any sleep, but we didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t afford daycare for both of them, and I trusted Tripp’s parents more than anyone else. I’d seen how they were at his games over the years and how they’d responded when he got injured. They would be good to my sisters.

Probably better than our own mother, who I still hadn’t heard from. She didn’t even care enough to check on the kids she had abandoned.

“Alright, twinkies, let’s hit the road.”

Whatever fears they had abated by the time we arrived at Tripp’s parents’ house, thank goodness. They were all smiles as I herded them up the drive to ring the doorbell, which they argued over. Finally, they settled on ringing it together.

Mrs. Wilder—Janet, I corrected myself—answered the door. If I could have dreamt up what a mom should be, by all appearances, Janet would be it. She wore a pair of khakis with a soft pink sweater. Her hair was styled in a sleek bob, and her makeup was subtle and classic. The scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the open door. I couldn’t recall a time my mom had ever made breakfast, let alone worn something that wasn’t stained or reeking of cigarette smoke. And when it came to makeup, subtlety wasn’t exactly her strong suit.

“Good morning,” Janet said cheerfully. “I hope you’re hungry.”

The twins shared a look before nodding enthusiastically. They barely waited for me to give them a hug and kiss goodbye before they dashed inside.

“Thank you again for all of this. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Don’t you worry about it. We’re going to have a great time.”

Already, I could hear the girls giggling inside, and the knots in my stomach loosened a little. Maybe everything would be okay.

“I’ll be back tomorrow morning around the same time.” I handed her their overnight bags and school