Page 55 of For One Night

“We’ll buy it if we have to.” I find the live version and rent it as they settle in.

I run off to the kitchen, gathering drinks of every variety I have. As I enter the room, I can see that Faith has fallen asleep, and Hope is propped up watching the movie.

“Shh.” Hope presses her finger to her lip. “Faith’s out.”

“So I see.” I climb onto the bed, pulling the duvet over Faith as I lay beside her.

Hope yawns, sliding down the bed as she does. “You’re not getting under the covers?”

“No, I’m not cold.” I reach over Faith and make sure Hope is snug.

I have no idea the protocol for nieces and uncles sleeping together, but I do know I can’t leave them alone. My chest begins to ache uncomfortably, worry washing over me.

I stay up all night checking on Faith. I wake her around two in the morning to give her an additional dose. Her fever hasn’t broken, and I’m overcome with anxiety. I pace the floor after the last dose until she begins to cool down.

By eight the morning, I’m crashed at the bottom of the bed. I laid down here last night trying to give the girls room. Little did I know I’d wake up with a foot in my face and a body laying across me.

I scrub my hand over my face, fighting to force my eyes open. I gently push the twitching toes from my jaw. Sitting up on my elbow, I check Faith’s forehead, she’s still cool. I lift the mass of hair from around my waist, laying her back down once I crawl past her.

Buzz. Buzz.

I jerk my phone from the nightstand, answering it as I sneak from the room. “Hello,” I whisper.

“Lennox, it’s Laura.” Maisyn’s mom to the rescue.

“Good morning.”

“We’re just outside of town. I wasn’t sure if you needed time to get the girls up,” she says sweetly.

I bite my nail as I try to explain. “I’ll get them up. We had a tough night. Faith ran a little fever, but it’s down this morning.”

“Oh, no.” My stomach lurches. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Children often run one for no reason, but I’ll be sure to keep an eye on her for the rest of the day.”

“Okay, good. I did buy some over the counter medicine for her. I’ll make sure to pack it.” Relief floods my body, and I begin to relax.

“We have some at home, you might want to keep it for next time,” she says as a swear breaks out on my upper lip.

“As in … when I babysit again?”

“We’re here,” she chirps, never answering me.

I turn, sprinting back to the girls to rouse them up. “Good morning, ladies. Your grandparents are almost here, we better get moving.”

The doorbell rings, and they leap from the bed, bounding down the stair as I get their bag and belongings together. I take the stairs in a flash, praying the girls don’t look as bad as I think they do.

“It looks like y’all had a great time with Uncle Lennox.” Jack laughs as he hugs the girls.

Laura walks over, putting her arm around me. “You really did a good job. Maybe one day, you can give us a few more.”

“Huh?” My knees knock at the thought.

Jack laughs as Laura takes the girls’ bag from me. “Hug your uncle. He looks like he could use some sleep.”

“We love you, Unc.” Faith and Hope swarm me, latching on to my waist.

I hold them close. “We’ll do it again soon, I promise.”

“Come on, get to the car.” Jack slaps me on the back and just like that, they’re gone.

The door closes with a bang, and I’m left standing in the rubble of the sleepover. “Dear God, please remind me to always use a condom.” With that, the thought of having a family is gone once again.