Billie's POV
The doorbell rings at 8:01 a.m. sharp.
I'm still in my hoodie and pajama pants, standing in the hallway like I'm about to meet the Grim Reaper instead of two toddlers.
I haven't even had coffee. My stomach's in knots, and I don't know if it's dread or hunger.
Probably both.
There's a woman from the agency at the door warm smile, clipboard in hand, annoyingly chipper. She steps aside like she's revealing a prize on a game show.
And there they are.
Two tiny little humans. Two girls. Matching backpacks. Puffy jackets that are a little too big. Skylar clutches a stuffed dinosaur like it's the only thing keeping her alive.
Mackenzie hides behind the woman's leg, peeking out with wide brown eyes that remind me way too much of my own when I was a kid.
Shit.
"This is Skylar and Mackenzie," the woman says, gently nudging them forward.
They don't move.
I don't either.
It's quiet. Too quiet. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Wave? Crouch down? Offer them a snack? This isn't Coachella I don't know how to perform for an audience that doesn't speak full sentences.
I clear my throat. "Hey."
Skylar blinks at me.
Mackenzie hides again.
Awesome.
"They're a little shy at first," the woman says, like that's news. "Would you like to show them where they'll be staying?"
No. I would like to go back to bed and pretend this isn't happening.
But instead I nod stiffly and gesture down the hallway. "This way."
They follow me like ducklings who aren't sure if I'm trustworthy or just a really weird adult. Which... fair.
The guesthouse is spotless. My team had it cleaned top to bottom.
New bedding. Toys. Nightlights. A little bookshelf. It's nice. Cozy, even. Not that I had anything to do with it.
Skylar finally lets go of the agency lady's hand and walks toward the toy bin like she's testing the waters. She pulls out a toy truck and sits down on the floor without saying a word.
Mackenzie stays glued to the woman's side.
I glance at the clock. 8:13 a.m.
How am I gonna survive two weeks of this?
The woman crouches next to Mackenzie. "Sweetie, this is Billie. She's gonna be taking care of you for a little while, okay? You're safe here."
Mackenzie looks up at me again. Like really looks at me.
And I feel something shift in my chest. Just a little.
Not in a love at first sight kind of way. More like... oh. You're a real person. Not just a PR idea.
Her lower lip wobbles. "Do you have snacks?"
I blink. "Yeah. Uh yeah. I got... fruit snacks. And Goldfish. And... dinosaur chicken nuggets?"
She lights up. "Dino nuggies!"
Skylar looks up, now interested too. "Do they roar?"
I snort. "Only if you bite 'em right."
YOU ARE READING
Unexpected Family
AdventureBillie Eilish doesn't do kids. She doesn't like them, doesn't understand them, and definitely never wanted any of her own. But when her management team sets up a temporary foster care publicity stunt two toddlers, a camera crew, and a whole lot of c...
